and bunny makes three?

[clowder]

Hello bunnymaniacs

We are the happy owners of two bonded, neutered males. we got Snowy first, and then a couple months later adopted Toshi, and we had a remarkably easy bonding with the two of them. They adore each other and spend much time snuggling, grooming, etc. Snowy is the older one (almost 2 years approx) and Toshi is not yet a year, maybe 9 months? He is quite the energetic & frisky bunny, while Snowy is our more mellow boy. Snowy seems to be the dominant one – not that he behaves dominantly, more that Toshi is submissive to him, putting his head down to be washed and that kind of thing.

We had been considering the possibilty of adding a third bunny to this mix, thinking a girl would be the best bet, and have now fallen in love with a beautiful Rex female at our shelter. She is about a year and a half and has had a terrible life up to being surrendered. Just to give you an idea, her sister who came in with her is no longer alive  Despite her difficult beginnings she is sweet and friendly and I know this breed is supposed to be pretty mellow from what I have read.

Now I know every rabbit scenario is unique but I’m wondering if anyone has any input on adding a third to a bonded pair, adding a girl to boys, will the boys fight over her, could her entrance possibly unbond them? We are moving very slow on this as she is recovering from a severe calcium deficiency so is obviously quite fragile. The shelter is not letting her go anywhere till her bones are stronger and they will also be giving us a better idea of the vet’s prognosis this week – but they seemed to feel that with a proper diet she would recover well – maybe someone here has some experience with this particular condition.

Would love some input, thanks in advance!

[Monkeybun]

Toshi isn’t being submissive, he’s demanding grooming which is the dominant behaviour

it could work. If she is a nice little quiet bun that isn’t a dominant personality type, she might just mesh nicely with no issues. I would still bring the boys in to meet her first, before you adopt, just in case. It could be hate on first sight.

[clowder]

oh that’s interesting, I hadnt heard that before. I guess I was thinking of it like cats, where the washer is the boss.
We would definitely bring them in one at a time to meet her first. Their suggestion was to have the more mellow one come in first, which would be Snowy.

[Les huit scaroles]

In my opinion, this is not a good idea …

You’re lucky to have two bonded males, this is the hardest cohabitation to obtain. If you add a female to that couple, you’re taking the risk, just like you said, to unbond them. That risk would even exist with a male & a female, but here, with two males, it’s even bigger because even neutered, our rabbits keep their natural instinct.

The best way to have 3 rabbits together is to adopt them all at the same time. When a cohab works, it’s a big risk trying to add one or more rabbits.

Of course it can work, but keep in mind you might have to keep one of your rabbits alone if it does not – then adopt the female only if your home is big enough. ^^

[bunnyfriend]

I think that if you introduce your bunnies to the girl and things looks good than go ahead with it I really want a trio some day.

[Les huit scaroles]

For a trio the best is two females and one male, or 3 females, because here the two males may feel as they’re in competition with each other.

[Elrohwen]

I disagree with the last statement – generally females are much more territorial with each other than males. For a trio I actually think two males and a female are the best possible combo, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. If you’re going to do it, just be prepared that the original bond might break or you might end up with a single girl (and then end up getting a fourth bunny to be her friend 😉

[clowder]

LOL about getting a fourth bunny – that just might be my biggest fear!   (j/k)

I guess there is really no way to know unless we try it, though it is interesting to read the different perspectives on this topic. If only bunnies could just all love each other automatically! You know, like how we love them!

The shelter might not even want us to take her if they feel it wouldnt be a good match for her with our other bunnies. We got both the boys from this same place so they know us and know we have all their best interest at heart – it is just hard when you fall in love, isnt it! And then when you hear what a bun has been through… you just want to take that bunny home and love on them all day long so they know what a real home is. The shelter has also told us that they dont get a lot of people coming in interested in a rabbit, which I believe. Our Snowy sat there for 9 months waiting to be adopted, and he is the sweetest thing, its not like he was a biter or anything like that that would discourage people. I know they are being very careful with this one too to make sure she goes to the right home.

We wont even be able to do any introductions until she is stronger, they are supposed to talk to the vet today and let us know what sort of time frame we might be looking at.

I confess we did already get a hutch  - someone had it advertised in the paper and it was very cheap so I couldtnt resist, too good to pass up. (confession of a bunny addict) The idea would be for her to have her own hutch but in the same room as the boys. They have another room where they do their binkying when they are out  – it sure would be nice for them to all be together when they are out and about  – thats the dream anyway!

I certainly appreciate all the input! We were so pleasantly surprised at how easily the boys took to each other – it is important to know how things can go the other way.

[Les huit scaroles]

That is true females are more territorial, but even neutered the natural instinct of competition between males in order to have the female exists, which is not the case of females. It’s necessary to take both of those instincts in consideration.
Even in nature, females can stand each other or even being friends, but this is not the case of males. I know as our rabbits are neutered things are slightly different, but they still are rabbits. ^^

Actually, this is better to have 2 couples, or to have 3 bunnys since they were babies so they already know each others – even if, of course, they may need to be seperated when they become mature, until they are neutered. Most of the time it’s better to have a male and a female, which works 99% of the times even if it can be long (only saw it fail 2 times, and it was because the females were really really territorial), then it’s 2 females but it can work great as much as it can fail, and the hardest one is between males.

Here, Clowder is really lucky to have two males bonded, because as I said this is the hardest cohab to obtain. If you put a female between them, the big risk is to break their friendship.

 

PS : I’m sorry if I’m not really clear, but I’m doing my best with the few vocabulary I have to talk about bunnies & about their social interactions.

[clowder]

yes, my biggest worry is that it would interfere with the boy’s relationship.

[Les huit scaroles]

It would interfere even if you had 2 females or a female and a male anyway, because they are going to decide again who is the boss. ^^

[clowder]

yes that is true, isnt it!
Still waiting to hear from the shelter about her prognosis, will definitely let you all know what happens.

[clowder]

Shelter called today, it will be at least a month of her being on a special diet to build up her calcium levels. We will try to go see her this weekend. Im not sure they are even letting her out much as they said they dont want her jumping around, she is that fragile.  Poor thing has spent her whole life shut up in a cage . At least now she is safe and fed and there is hope for her to have real bunny life.

[Elrohwen]

Poor bunny!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

LHS, I’ve actually read of nearly as many boy boy and girl girl pairings as I have boy girl. They are harder to find, probably because most people choose to have 1 of each sex to begin with. And there hasn’t really ever been any studies on the issue, so I personally wouldn’t make such blanket statements that can easily be proven less right with a little digging

[Author]

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