A third bun?

[Firsttimer]

Oh dear, I’ve fallen in love with a beautiful four month old homeless bunny. But I probably need someone talk me out of getting a third rabbit.

[Beka27]

i’d never talk anyone out of getting a bun that needs a home. you do need to consider the pros and cons of the situation and your own limitations.

does s/he still need to be spayed/neutered?

can you afford to provide food, hay, and veggies for a third bun?

can you afford vet care for all 3 buns for the duration of their lives?

would you be willing to keep this bun separately from your other two in case they cannot or will not bond for whatever reason?

do you have space for separate housing and play-space, or do you have time to let them out separately for runtime in the same area?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I also got a third bun because I found one who was in a sad situation. It’s hard to say no.

[kralspace]

watch out!!!!! everytime I hit an odd number with my bunnies, I just HAD to get them a friend……lol

just kidding, I wouldn’t give any of my six up, but there IS this gorgeous brown bunny on craigslist (smacks head agains wall, no! no! no!)

Kathy

[MooBunnay]

I agree with Kralspace, whenever you have a single bun there is always the temptation to get a third

I currently have 8 so I’m in no position to talk you OUT of a third, but all of the things that Beka mentioned are important questions to ask yourself. I think the most important part to consider is if you are willing to house them separately if they do not bond. Another important consideration is if you let the bunnies run around in the same territory is that it might kick off some poop wars, or pee wars where the bunnies will mark the territory that another bunny runs on. In my case, all of my bunnies get their free run around/exercise time in different areas of the house so they do not cross territories.

[kralspace]

I sorta involuntarily took in my 5th bunny when a friends father passed away and no one could keep his beloved bunny. Poor Simba had never been around other rabbits, but once he discovered my 2 bonded pairs, he became obsessed with ‘belonging’, and got very depressed when he was violently rejected by both pairs.

So when I drove to Dallas to the sanctuary on a hay run I was actually thinking of asking if they had had anyone looking for a lionhead, when I saw this beautiful little brown bunny Hershey. Simba is 6, Hershey was 7 and had just lost her mate, so instead of rehoming one, I came home with #6!

I don’t regret it one bit, Simba’s happy and I finally have my dream brown bunny. But since 2 of the couples must share a room, in separate condos, there is a lot of territorial pooping that goes on in the commom play area. so you have to be prepared for a bit more cleaning time, dealing with some rabbitude and being careful to rotate so both pairs in the room get time out to play.

I didn’t plan on running a bunny rooming house, but I do love it, wouldn’t give any of them up. But if you plan on bringing home more you have to be prepared to have your routine turned upside down and go with whatever happens. I would LOVVVVEEE to have one big warren with all the buns together, but not with these egos……lol

good luck! Kathy

[bunnytowne]

Oh you dont’ know how bad I want another lionhead from my friend. She has the most calm easygoing buns. I would love to have her as she is a sable point.

However I am not into the poop pee wars and the extra work if they don’t get along.  Nor having them in seperate areas to play.  And still would have pee poop wars.

It is hard to say no but … also I do not want to spend $ to get yet another one fixed.  Well not that I wouldn’t but after a while I will be spending on buns and not myself.    OH and the extra work.  I learned my lesson with getting more buns. 4 were too much 3 just enuf. 2 perfect.

However for you, your situation may be better and different than mine.  You may have a bigger house than I  and more $ to spend on them.  If you do get another bun I will be very happy for the 2 of you. Well also for your whole bun family.

You may also have more patience than I do too.  Don’t let me get all negative on you. We all have different situations.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If it weren’t for Dave, my rabbit shelter would live at my house (permanently) LOL

So doesn’t sound like we’re being the ‘angel’ on your shoulder and talking you out of it-are we? Sorry!!1

[ChubbyBunny]

I started out with only 2 buns (male/female pair) and they ruled the house for almost 2 years, until I brought home a 3 rabbit- unplanned- last September. It took a long time for my girl Peanut to accept Nibbles (female), eventually I was able to house all 3 together. Recently Peanut has become extremely aggressive and would attack Nibbles, so now Nibbles is in her own cage. I am very tempted to get a 4th so Nibbles can have a companion but at the moment I cannot take in any more animals. I never thought they’d be in his predicament and I really wish they’d all get along and live in harmony.

As long as the rabbit will be loved, happy, and well cared for – welcome it in to your home I say! There are so many homeless rabbits out there, I wish I could have a farm of critters!

[KatnipCrzy]

I know that you are trying to get your bunnies to be free reign and there are some issues with the couch and some unauthorized piddling.  Bringing another bunny into the house will most likely put a set back on litter box behavior as the 2 established buns will most likely feel the need to claim what is theirs- either thru pee or poo.  But if you are able to set up accomodations for the new bun and existing buns to keep this manageable- then a 3rd bun is a good possibility.

BinkyBunny’ers always seem to see an increase in their rabbit population at home even then they are all spayed and neutered!  I guess they are like potato chips, can’t have just one, or just two, etc…. (I am guilty of this and have 2 bunnies).

 

[Firsttimer]

Thanks for all your replies.  I think I am no further forward in deciding but may be swaying towards staying at two.  The homeless bun is beautiful, four months old and is currently in the rehoming section of our nearest city pet store ‘Pets at Home’.  So part of me is thinking that he is young and pretty so someone else would surely snap him up.

My two buns have now been ‘free range’ for week and while initially Pepper kept weeing on the sofa there haven’t been any more incidences.  However, Pepper used to have immaculate litter training and it was only when Dylan arrived that she appeared to forget where to poop and pee.  She never returned to fully using the tray for her pellets. 

They currently have the run of the living room and when I’m home they are given access to our porch (their favourite play area is the porch cupboard) and the kitchen.  During the summer this may be extended.  If I were to bring another rabbit home it would have been placed in their old cage in the living room.  I’m not sure what I would do if it never bonded, I am also sure that if they did bond I would definately begin to think about evening numbers, I laughed when you all mentioned this because I had already joked about it with my husband.

[Beka27]

do you have any friends or family members who are animals lovers and would be able to properly care for a rabbit (the right foods, housing, vet care?) even if YOU can’t take the bunny (which i understand completely) you could possibly try and find it a good home with someone else…

[Firsttimer]

No, it’s not really a common thing around here to house bunnies in your home. I think family and friends think I’m crazy haha.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL No worries our families think we’re crazy too!! In fact I’m the ‘crazy bunny lady’ wherever I go!

[Author]

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