Already bonded sisters wanting to add more buns

[BooBooHouse]

Hi

 

We have two sisters who have been binded from birth and are 2 years old.

We worry about how they’ll manage if one were to pass and wanted to bond additional bunnies to avoid that issue.

We also thought that adding more bunnies may help them have better matching friends as one is very playful and adventurous and the other likes to rearrange the living space (this is the dominant bun).

The timing is ideal as we move in 3 months and can look for bunnies now which can be spayed/neutered in that time and be ready to move in when we move.

We thought that the fact our buns will have a new space that is unclaimed May make bonding there easier.

We also thought that males would be easier to add than females.

We also thought that two new buns would be best so that noone is a third wheel and everybun might have the chance at a well suited partner.

 

Can you please advise whether we are right or wrong about our assertions and advise the best way to prepare?

 

Thank you so much for reading, this is the most important thing for us, as our bunnies are the most important creatures.

 

 

[attemptedquad]

Just my personal experience, I did the same thing a little over a year ago and got 2 buns to add to my couple. After putting all 4 together, the 2 new additions kept attacking each other while stressing out the bonded pair so I tried to just focus on bonding the 2 new ones and it was a mess. I just recently gave up and am going to try for a trio and keeping one of them single for now. If you do get 2, I’d look out for getting an already bonded pair.

[DanaNM]

Are your current buns spayed? I’m also a bit curious as to what makes you think your buns aren’t well suited for each other now. Do you see any aggression between them?

If you feel your current buns are not tightly bonded, the more likely scenario is that attempting to form a group could lead to their bond breaking and you could end up with some combo of bonded and single buns.

Do you have any bonding experience? I’ve bonded I think 6 pairs at this point, and still found trio and quad bonding to be really difficult and I ended up with two bonded pairs because my quad failed.

Going into group bonding you have to be prepared for the possibility that you could even end up with 4 single buns if your current bond breaks and none of the bunnies bond.

. . . 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.  

[BooBooHouse]

Our current pair are spayed and are bonded. We say they aren’t well matched in terms of personality, one really likes to explore and its adventurous while the other likes to rearrange housing and its more chilled.

We thought that introducing more bunnies may give them both another bunmy that has a similar personality

[DanaNM]

I don’t think those differences in personality are a problem at all in terms of their happiness. It’s also pretty hard to predict how a rabbit’s personality may develop over time in a new home.

Bonding a quad is a lot of work (as is having four rabbits in general). Not trying to discourage you necessarily, just saying don’t feel pressured to add more rabbits for your current rabbits’ happiness, because I’m sure they are quite happy as is (and might actually be pretty UNHAPPY with new rabbits coming into their territory). 🙂

 

. . . 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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