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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by tobyluv.

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- 07/28/2016 at 3:57 PM
  BasilsPops
  Participant
  5 posts
  I’m so glad I found this forum. My wife and I adopted a lop from one of her co-workers in June. I didn’t think we had done enough research, but once she sets her mind there is no changing it. Our bunny is named Basil (pronounced Ba-sil, not like the herb) he’s a male, and unaltered and she was told he is roughly a year old. Basil is the first rabbit we’ve owned so, I’ve been doing a ton of reading and youtube’ing.
  
  Basil has to be the center of attention, he’s not yet litter trained so we follow behind and clean up after him. He doesn’t chew (thankfully) but he is an incessant nipper and tries to mount everything except the teddy bear that is for that purpose. He is a house rabbit, and gets along with our other animals so there is very little restriction on where he can and cannot go. The only time he is not permitted to roam the house is when one of us cannot give him direct supervision.
  
  He uses me as his jungle gym, and I think we have a good bond. As for the wife, she get’s frustrated at the aforementioned issues so needless to say, Basil is my piggy ( he grunts and snorts)
- 07/29/2016 at 10:37 PM
  MoxieMeadows
  Participant
  5375 posts
  Welcome to BB! If you have any questions, we’d love to help.
- 07/29/2016 at 11:09 PM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  Most of the issues that frustrate your wife would most likely clear up after neutering.
- 07/31/2016 at 12:49 AM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  Hi there and welcome to the forum
  Basil sounds like a real character. I agree that neutering would help clear those problems.
- 07/31/2016 at 10:04 AM
  LuvFurBabies80
  Participant
  185 posts
  Welcome!!
- 08/01/2016 at 12:37 AM
  BasilsPops
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thanks Ya’ll! We will definitely be looking into neutering in the near future. I do have a question, I’ve watched a lot of youtube videos, and a majority of them say that rabbits will live happier and healthier lives if they are part of a bonded pair. I’m not opposed to getting a second rabbit if that really is the case, but the issue I’m running into is that I’m not 100% sure of what breed he is. I would assume that they would both have to be the same breed?
  I’m pretty sure he’s a French Lop, I think he’s too big to be a Holland, and his ears don’t hang down near enough to be an English Lop. Also I don’t think his stature is that of an American Lop. I don’t know if they can do genetic testing like they do with dogs, I don’t see why they couldn’t or don’t though. Not sure how much it would cost either.
- 08/01/2016 at 12:54 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17026 posts
  It is true that most bunnies are happier if they have a bonded friends (there are some exceptions, buns that won’t accept another bun on their territory). The bonded buns don’t have to be of the same breed. Breed is a human construct, all house buns are of the same species, oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit).
  
  For practical reasons you might want to choose a 2nd rabbit that’s about the same size as your bunny, but it’s not really required. Personality is key for a successful bond. The best thing is if you can take your bun to a shelter that arranges bunny speed.dating. If a bunny can choose his/her partner, the chances of successful bonding is greater. Your bun would (obviously!) have to be neutered and healed first.
  
  I don’t know if genetic testing is done on rabbits to determine breed, ie if there are reference databases with the genetic make-up of all breeds.
- 08/01/2016 at 6:53 AM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3311 posts
  Welcome to Binky Bunny!
  
  Breeds don’t matter. Since you are thinking of getting a companion rabbit, it would be good to go ahead and get Basil neutered now, so that he would be ready to meet another rabbit when you are ready to start looking. The easiest bonds are normally with a spayed female and a neutered male. If you go to a rescue, the rabbits are usually already spayed or neutered, so that will save you time and trouble as well as money. Some shelters/humane societies spay and neuter rabbits too.
  
  I have bonded 5 pairs of rabbits over the years, all male & female combinations, and they were all easy bonds, but that’s not always the case. It can sometimes take a while and in rare cases, the rabbits never get along and have to be kept separated
  
  Here are 2 good articles on bonding:
  
  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx
  http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/
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