Would like to buy another bunny but need advice first

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This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 6 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 05/19/2020 at 3:11 PM
  Bwawee
  Participant
  1 posts
  Need advice please! I currently have a bonded pair of French lops, buck and a doe who are actually siblings. They have such a close bond and are just under 2 yrs old. My buck has been neutered but my doe hasn’t been spayed as I have seen several articles where a doe has been spayed and then became aggressive so I didn’t want to risk it when my bunnies get on so well. They live in a large cage but also have the run of the garden when I’m home along with lots of toys. They are very spoilt and always affectionate towards me as I handle them alot. I would really love to get another french lop doe as I have seen a kit that I’ve fallen in love with but before I do I just wanted advice as wouldn’t want to risk upsetting my bonded pair who are very content. If I were to get a doe she would be housed in her own cage, ideally side by side so I can ensure that they are both in the shade. I would also like to be able to let her run around the garden when my other two are in their cage and alternate. My only concern is that many years ago I had another bonded pair of french lops who weren’t related and again the buck was neutered but the doe wasn’t spayed, they were a year old and a friend of mine asked if I would rehome her french lop buck for her who was about a 2 years old and he hadn’t been neutered. I agreed to help her out, however when I bought him home it wasn’t a good result as my other bunnies were in their cage and as soon as he went near the cage, they started to fight with each other so I asked my friend to take her rabbit back as I didn’t want to risk upsetting my bunnies. Unfortunately, I lost them to myxi about 6 months later and I was devastated as you can imagine. Do you think this would happen again if I were to get a doe? If I were to get a new bunny, I was thinking about keeping her indoors and out of sight for a few weeks, touching her so I would then have her scent on my hands and then stroking my current bunnies so over the course of a few weeks or months they would become use to her scent plus swap a couple of their toys over so she would also become use to their scent. Once they seem relaxed then put her outside in her new cage. Do you think this would work? I’m sorry for the essay!
- 05/19/2020 at 4:10 PM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  I’m sorry you lost your pair to Myxo 😥
  
  Fighting is to be expected between unbonded bunnies. Bonding is a long process that includes weeks of prebonding and proper face to face bonding sessions, as well as having all of the rabbits spayed and neutered beforehand. I would reconsider having your girl spayed. There are exceptions as you’ve experienced first hand, but most of the time trying to bond intact rabbits doesn’t work out. More importantly though, intact does have an above 80% chance of developing reproductive cancer by age 4. That’s a good reason to consider spaying, even if bonding wasn’t an issue.
  
  Have you considered housing your rabbits indoors? It would decrease the odds of them catching Myxo dramatically.
- 05/19/2020 at 9:08 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Hi Bwawee,
  
  Ditto everything Hazel said (esp concerning indoor housing and spaying). I have never heard of doe’s becoming aggressive post spay, but reproductive cancers are a real risk and tend to cut females life span by half on average.
  
  Some bonded pairs are fine with neighbors, some get upset about other rabbits nearby, it depends on the pair. Hormonal buns especially can really trigger fighting in bonded pairs, but having all rabbits involved neutered/spayed should help a lot.
  
  Also not sure where you are in the world, but RHDV is currently spreading in northern Mexico and southwestern US, so it’s strongly recommended to bring rabbits inside.
  
  . . . 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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