Should I introduce a new rabbit?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 1sd reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 3 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 01/25/2018 at 1:25 PM
  Marianna
  Participant
  2 posts
  I rescued my current bunny about 7 months ago.. She was not with any other rabbits and was kept in
  
  her cage all the time. I don’t know her age but the vet estimated about a year and a half.
  
  Now she’s almost completely a free roaming bunny. I know in the wild they are very social animals and
  
  like to be around others. She is the only bunny I have right now and I feel like she might be lonely. I thought
  
  it would benefit her to have another bunny. Any time one of my cats or dogs walk in to her room she gets
  
  very excited and seems like she wants attention from them (they don’t give it). I thought this was a good sign
  
  that she may want another friend to stay in her room with her (not cage.)
  
  She has never seemed aggressive until today she was grunting and lunging at my hamster in the
  
  hamster ball. I’m not sure if she was being territorial because she has never done this to any of my other
  
  animals. She could be afraid of the plastic ball with a hamster inside it.. or she’s territorial and maybe I
  
  shouldn’t introduce her to a new bunny.
  
  I know it’s a process to introduce new bunnies & can take months… but I’d hate to try just to have to re home the new rabbit because she won’t like it.
  
  Is this a bad sign?? Should I try to introduce new rabbit?
- 01/25/2018 at 6:38 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  First off, is she spayed?
  
  I do think most rabbits are happier with a rabbit companion, but she will need to be spayed first, and hormones allowed to drain for several months. (I’ll also throw in she should be spayed to prevent cancer regardless, but you might already know that!)
  
  The hamster ball thing could have just been because she was confused about what she was seeing! I doubt it means anything regarding how she’ll be towards other buns.
  
  Is there a rabbit rescue near you that will allow you to take her on some speed dates? Dates do not guarantee a bond will work, but they can help determine which bonds definitely will NOT work (some rabbits immediately hate each other, for reasons we humans will never know)! The rescue also might provide some help with bonding. My rescue actually lets me foster while working on bonding, and then I don’t formalize adoption until I know the bond will work out. Not all rescues do this, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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