Contemplating another bun?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 11sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by Elrohwen.

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- 02/08/2011 at 7:30 PM
  peppypoo
  Participant
  1945 posts
  I’ve always been planning to adopt a friend for Peppy; the idea is to find another bunny once my boyfriend graduates in December, starts working, and moves into his own more spacious apartment with a designated bunny room. We figured that with his 9-5 work hours, she would appreciate having another bun to spend time with while he’s gone all day. But lately, we’ve been thinking of adopting even sooner than that.
  
  Currently, Peppy lives with my boyfriend (and me when I’m in town). Her space consists of his small-ish bedroom when somebody is around, and her 3-story NIC condo when we’re busy. One of my concerns is that this wouldn’t be enough space for a second bunny, especially during the bonding process. However, the main advantage to adopting in the near future is that both of us have a lot more free time now then we will have next year. If we wait until he graduates, he will essentially have to find time after work to go on bunny dates, find a bun, and bond the two all by himself. Right now, I’m much more available to help, and a school schedule is easier to work with.
  
  Also, something I’ve always kind of been apprehensive about. Peppy is absolutely the most affectionate little girl; she follows us around (although she’s spayed), cuddles under the covers with me, and absolutely looooves giving kisses all over! She’s actually very serious about grooming us; sometimes she won’t let us pet her because she’s too busy licking the hand . Can I expect this behavior to subside once she has a bun hubby? I guess it’s just me being selfish, but I have to say I’ll be sad to not be showered with bunny love.
  
  For those with bonding experience, would you say it’s better to go ahead with the process now, or hold off, considering the current and potential future circumstances? Thanks everybody
- 02/08/2011 at 8:11 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Where is Remi at?
- 02/08/2011 at 8:21 PM
  peppypoo
  Participant
  1945 posts
  Remi is my family’s pet and lives at my childhood home. Peppy and Remi have never met, and I do not ever plan on bonding them. However, my family has also mentioned a few times finding Remi a friend, but that’s completely separate from the Peppy situation.
- 02/08/2011 at 11:15 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Ahhh gotcha. Well, if the 2 of you think now is better than later, go for it. It’s amazing where you can find room for a bun when it is needed Smudge took up half the living room until recently lol
- 02/09/2011 at 12:17 PM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  We decided to get Hannah while I was unemployed – I realized that once I had a job again neither of us would have any time for bonding. I’m so glad I did it! It was tough sometimes to do it by myself without an assistant at home, but I managed. Now that I’m working 9hrs per day I can’t imagine coming home and sitting with them in the bathroom for 3 hours like I could while I was unemployed. The space thing is annoying, but I think it’s more important that you have the time to devote to the bonding.
- 02/09/2011 at 12:41 PM
  highway234
  Participant
  72 posts
  i’m curious to get some opinions on this too. right now i have banjo as a solitary rabbit and i do work a regular 8-hour day, and i vacillate pretty wildly, a couple of nights ago i freaked out to my GF (we have a long-distance relationship) that omg, banjo is just horribly miserable and lonely and i have to get her a companion rabbit! and GF was all, why are you saying this? is she acting lonely? and i have to be honest, she seems totally fine and i spend a lot of time with her at night and on weekends and she doesn’t seem to be pining away or anything. and i too worry that if i get another rabbit, banjo won’t pay enough attention to me me me. lol. so i’m torn. if i did get a second rabbit it wouldn’t be until i got banjo spayed, which probably won’t be for a month or so yet anyway so i’ve got time to brood on it and seek advice.
- 02/11/2011 at 3:42 PM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Highway, in my experience a lonely and bored rabbit is obvious. When we got Hannah she was extremely hyperactive and would carry her stuffed toy around and groom it. She was obviously anxious and unhappy in her previous home (she had a good owner, but didn’t get enough exercise and was alone in a small cage a lot). Otto was quiet and laid back, but really never expressed that he wanted a friend in the way Hannah did (it sound like your bunny is similar to Otto – just being a bunny and not unhappy).
  
  Unhappy buns are usually destructive and anxious, not laid back and calm. It’s easy to think rabbits are depressed when they just hang out in one area and don’t do much, but usually that means they’re content! A lazy bunny is often a content bunny.
  
  There’s nothing wrong with getting a second bunny, but do it because you’re ready, not because you’re worried about your first bun.
- 02/11/2011 at 4:00 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  Highway, I’ve had one bunny, Chacha for over a year. She is the only rabbit that I have. I have wondered whether or not if she is lonely, but she does not show any signs. Of course, she is very naughty at times, but that is just how she likes to be.
  
  She is a flopping machine and loves taking naps, so I can tell she is quite content.
  
  I used to work 7 hour days at my previous job and I would come home to see an excited bunny ready to come out and play.
  
  I would say, it depends on the rabbit and the rabbit’s personality!
- 02/20/2011 at 12:21 AM
  peppypoo
  Participant
  1945 posts
  If we were to adopt another bun, would it be wise to keep him/her in the same room as Peppy initially? My boyfriend lives in a shared apartment, so putting Peppy or the other bun out in the living room isn’t really an option (plus the room mate has a rather large pomeranian that runs around the apartment). There’s some pretty significant space limitation; the room is pretty cozy to begin with and has only about a 5’x5′ open space left in the middle. Not sure where the second bun would go, but we’ve considered cordoning off one floor of Peppy’s NIC condo for the second bun until the two can be bonded. Would this be a problem since it would be essentially introducing the second bun to Peppy’s territory? Does this just sound like a bad idea in general? lol.
  
  Any input on potential behavior changes toward me post-bonding would be appreciated too!
- 02/20/2011 at 2:06 AM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  It should be okay, as long as they can’t get to each other
- 02/22/2011 at 11:16 AM
  Bren
  Participant
  149 posts
  Well I am sure this situation occurs alot. My Nilly seems content, but as you have expressed, I too would like a companion for her. There are weekends we go away and have someone checking in on her but I would feel better to know she has another companion besides the cat. (dont worry, they are bonded quite nicely! lol)
  
  I am going to look this Friday at a neutered male rabbit the is being fostered by the Rabbit Society. I have had to jump through some hoops to be approved, but I feel it is worth it and they have great information! The bun I am going to look at sounds quite similar to my own bun now in characteristics. I know it will take some time to bond, but at the same time, I think it will be worth it in the end.
  
  I think Nilly would be fine with or without a new companion. It is hard to predict. I know I had gotten a second dog thinking it would be a great companion for our existing dog and it turned out to be a disaster! They competed horribly for our affection and had to find a new home for her since I felt that was unfair to our existing dog. You just never know I guess. I think rabbits are a bit different though.
- 02/22/2011 at 11:35 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Peppy, having them in the same room will be just fine as long as they’re well contained. Otto and Hannah lived next to each other until they were bonded.
  
  It’s hard to tell if her personality will change post-bonding. I think a lot of bunnies do become less interested in their humans right after bonding, because they have a new friend to follow around and learn about. After a couple months though she’ll probably be back to herself. Hannah has only gotten more friendly since she was bonded – she was nervous about us before, but after spending time with us and having Otto to keep her company she’s much calmer.
  
  Otto was never cuddly, though after 8 months with us he had finally learned to enjoy being petted. Once he was bonded he changed his mind and went back to no touching 🙁 It’s been 10 months now and sometimes he’s ok with it, mostly he’s not, but otherwise his personality hasn’t changed much.
  
  Both bunnies do tend to be more interested in hanging out with each other than hanging out with us. Otto used to spend the whole evening in the living room with us, but now if Hannah goes back to the cage he often wants to follow her. The longer they’re together the more comfortable they are with relaxing in different rooms and not being attached at the hip.
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