New bunny & bonding?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 8 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 07/06/2021 at 5:33 AM
  CooperVT
  Participant
  13 posts
  We have a 2 year old Dutch dwarf, Cooper. We love him so much and he is our world. We are considering getting him a friend. I’m not sure what the best combo is (male & male, male & female). We found a potential spayed female that is 2 years old. The owner said the female lives with 2 other bunnies (1 male 1 female) and does great. Though, I would have to have them do supervised play dates for a while. She said she couldn’t guarantee they would bond but thinks they could since the female has been around other bunnies.
  
  I’m super conflicted. I want our bun to be as happy as possible and I know they’re pack animals. I’m also sooo afraid of the bonding process not working out. And is a neutered male with a spayed female a good combo? Our bunny is very dominant already and has a big personality. I just don’t know what the best decision is…
- 07/06/2021 at 7:48 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I have a bun named Cooper too! 🙂
  
  So, it’s always good to have a back-up plan in case a bond doesn’t work out, and plan for bonding to take a while. That said, most bonds do work out, and male-female (neutered and spayed) is the most common and usually most successful combination. Sometimes you need to do more work than you planned to bond them though! My toughest bonds took 3-4 months I think , but those bunnies were also super tightly bonded by the end of it, so it was worth it.
  
  Could you possibly take Cooper to meet the other bun in a “speed date”? Speed dating isn’t always that reflective of how bonding will go, but can at least show you if the buns hate each other. Just make sure it’s on neutral territory.
  
  Just out of curiousity, is the female bonded to the other two rabbits? Or does she just get to play with them sometimes?
  
  . . . 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.
  - 07/06/2021 at 1:17 PM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    That’s my biggest worry… that the bonding won’t work out. I don’t know what I would do. Cooper is very dominant already. I just don’t know if he will be happy forever as a single bun? My fiancé works from home and I am a teacher so I have summers off. We give him lots of love and attention. I was going to ask the person if we could take Cooper to do a meet and greet, or speed date. The female sounds like she is bonded to the two other rabbits, but that they hang out separately? It was a little confusing. It sounds like all 3 of them play together at times. What if it doesn’t work though… should I ask her if she would take the bunny back? I feel like that’s rude haha…
- 07/06/2021 at 2:53 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  If they have a bonded trio, it’s pretty weird that they would want to separate them. But maybe they aren’t really bonded but share a play area? Did they mention why they are looking to rehome one? You might ask if they would allow a trial period while you try to bond them, sort of like fostering?
  
  Dominance has nothing to do really with whether a rabbit would be happy bonded, and it’s very hard to tell how a rabbit will be with other rabbits based on their personality with people. I think that most rabbits are happier with a companion, but there is also no need to rush into something if you aren’t sure or your situation isn’t right for it yet (you need time and some neutral space to work with for bonding).
  
  A recent survey by the UK rabbit welfare association found that the vast majority of attempted bonds DO work out: “For male–female pairings, owners reported 2396 attempts, of which 95% (2278/2396) were successful. For groups of three or more rabbits, owners reported 566 attempts, of which 84% (474/566) were successful. For female–female pairings, owners reported 391 attempts, of which 89% (346/391) were successful. For male–male pairings, owners reported 382 attempts, of which 86% (330/382) were successful.”
  
  full article: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/further-reading/owner-rescue-centre-and-veterinary-professional-experiences-of-rabbit-bonding/
  
  . . . 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.
  - 07/06/2021 at 5:12 PM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    Thank you! This information is SO helpful. She said 4 of her 5 bunnies are bonded and it sounds like they’re trying to sell them and will no longer be breeding. She said normally they don’t do meet and greets but would be willing since we live close by. They said they would set up a playpen in the shade and we could see how they interact. They also have a first right of refusal that if bonding doesn’t work out, the bunny would go back to them. So that’s good too!! Nervous but I want Cooper to have a friend. I feel like he gets lonely sometimes.
- 07/06/2021 at 6:20 PM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  So they used these rabbits for breeding? How long has she been spayed? Seems unlikely that they are bonded if they have been intact and breeding until recently, considering it would take at least 2 months of recovery and bonding after surgery. Wouldn’t make sense for them to bother with that if they want to get rid of them anyway.
  
  Seems kind of a fishy situation. If you get her, make very sure that she’s really spayed, some people just aren’t trustworthy with that kind of stuff and you don’t want to end up with a pregnant doe.
  - 07/06/2021 at 7:49 PM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    I was wrong. She was spayed February 2021 and they said she turned 2 in February.
    
    (Edited by Wick – link removed)
  - 07/06/2021 at 7:50 PM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    she said she was spayed 2019. She’s 2 years old apparently. She said we could come and meet the bunny. Should I trust it?
    
    (Edited by Wick – link removed)
- 07/06/2021 at 7:52 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  I have removed the links from your replies CooperVT. You sum up the info in your reply and we want to minimize links to rabbit breeding/whatever may directly encourage it, as the topic of intentional breeding is prohibited on Binkybunny.
  
  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.
  - 07/07/2021 at 4:36 AM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    Oops, my apologies. So sorry!
- 07/07/2021 at 5:22 AM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  Well you could always ask for documentation showing that she was spayed if you like. Even if they don’t have it on hand it would be easy enough to get from their vet. Or you could just call their vet to confirm it.
  - 07/07/2021 at 5:51 AM
    CooperVT
    Participant
    13 posts
    Good idea!! I will definitely do that and ask for documentation.
- 07/08/2021 at 7:33 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I completely agree that you should get some proof that she was spayed given the circumstances!
  
  . . . 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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