Bonded vs. single

[bigsis7]

I was wondering do you think bonded rabbits or single are better? I was thinking I wouldonly get one future bun because I read one place they bond with you better and another place that it doesn’t matter. But you always see these bonded buns that you can tell really love eachother! What do you think?

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Bigsis. Rabbits are very social animals and like us humans love to have another rabbit to hang out with and relate to. Not only this but they do live longer. While single bunnies may be more affectionate towards humans most of time, they really do benefit from living a long life of happy companionship with a bunny buddy. Besides who can clean their ears better than another bunny?

[Beka27]

you also need to make sure you can handle having two rabbits tho.  if you were thinking of getting a bonded pair while you’re still living at home, remember that it’s necessary to buy food for two and be able to provide vet care for two.  vets don’t give “buy one get one free” specials… lol.

[MimzMum]

This is actually something I am a bit concerned about. In my hopes of bonding Pip and Mimzy, I have to wonder about the following:
1.) Will they even like each other, or will they fight? And if they do not bond, will they be territorial/unhappy with just my daughter and I as human companions, or…
2.) Will they wind up liking each other SO much they cannot stand to be separated for any length of time?
3.) Also, how likely is it that if one is ill, the other will become ill? (I worry about our two indoor cats and the one outdoor communicating diseases constantly!)
4.) And finally, how do I help one cope with the loss of the other due to the inevitability of death?

Would anyone please like to comment?
Lots of stuff to think about. (nods)

[kimberleyanddarren]

animals such as cockatiels will not like humans if they have another bird friend but animals like rabbits wont be like this as they are so sociable they cannot have enough friends including dogs cats etc! so dont worry you will go to wherever to get a bunny and one will just catch your eye bonded or not you will no when you get there i wasnt going to have lionhead as i didnt want all the grooming infact i wanted a small lop and they had a load of them there but i just couldnt help coming back to hopscotch i knew in my heart he was the right one for me even though not only was he not what i had in mind he was what i was sure i didnt want but now i adore him and wouldnt change him for the world even if i do have to sit with 3 different combs and brushes and go through his furr everyday hehe! dont think to much about it, it wont matter anyway once you go, just follow your instincts!

[KatnipCrzy]

Personally if it was me- if I was to get a pair of bunnies- I would want bunnies that had been paired after spaying/neutering- basically bunnies that have had some 1 on 1 human bonding previous to bunny bonding.  I do not think that I would like to get 2 young littermates and always have them together.  My bunny is young right now- 4 months- and I would not even consider getting another bunny until she is quite a bit older.  I would feel like dividing some of that attention between more than 1 bunny would lead me to miss some of her “childhood”.  I would rather have this time with her now and face the challenges of bonding later.

But I would get 2 bunnies at the same time time if they were adult and already bonded.  It sounds like rabbit rescues do a great job of bonding pairs together while in foster care.

My hubby says “no more bunnies” (we only have one).  But he is such a big marshmellow that when or if Cotton and I are ready for another bunny he would totally cave.

Bunnies are very social- and I would probably feel worse about only planning on have 1 for awhile- but I mostly work from home and we have dogs and cats that Cotton can have supervised playtime with.

[Gravehearted]

I think that bunnies who are bonded tend to have more fun and be happier, since they are so social creatures. My pair of bunnies are very bonded with each other, but us too. Bonding is a lot of work – however, many rescues have already bonded pairs seeking good homes.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I vote for bonded! That being said, some buns need to be single

[babybunsmum]

i think bonded buns are better too.  BUT you have to consider your situation first since more buns = more $$ & time to care for.  while most of us are lucky enough to be able to swing the time plus the diet & litter costs for 1 or 2 buns, it’s the vet bills that’ll often be the deal breaker.  if you can afford bun insurance this could help out after altering is taken care of. 

other considerations would be… if you have the means to start out with 2 already bonded buns, you’d have to consider your physical space & that they would need more room ro roam.  if you would be adopting 2 buns to bond them yourself, then you’d have to add in extra costs still for separate enclosures & plan for a lot of extra work & patience in cleaning up territorial marking.  if you’re nutso like me then the extra work would be fun

i’m looking forward to trying to bond baby & pinky buns after pinky’s spay but i always have the option that they could choose to be single buns.  especially given that baby bun is an old girl & long-time ‘head of houshold’.  either way they each have the dog at their disposal so they won’t feel too lonely

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Time and money sooo need to be considered. Since I had stuff and experience I thought adding a second bun wouldn’t be that difficult, and a third….
I swear the amount of work is exponential to the amount of bunnies!!!

3 bunnies^3 work=27 times the work of one bunny (Can you tell I”m exhausted!! haha )

[MarkBun]

I personally don’t know if bonded pairs live longer than single buns but buns are social creatures and if you don’t have the time to dedicate to pourin’ on the love, a playmate might be in order.  The only reason I decided on getting a partner for Maryann was that my schedule was becoming more and more hectic so I didn’t have the time to dedicate to just me and her.  I figured getting her another bun would help keep her happy.  It’s been a struggle but I think it will be worth it in the long run.

My place is rather tight to have two buns, and I don’t have unlimited finances.  But I SERIOUSLY weighed these against my bun and decided that I could swing it.

Now, to answer a few of Miz’s questions:

 
1.) Will they even like each other, or will they fight? And if they do not bond, will they be territorial/unhappy with just my daughter and I as human companions, or…
2.) Will they wind up liking each other SO much they cannot stand to be separated for any length of time?

There are many who believe that any two buns can be bonded – it just will take time and dedication to do so.  If I were you, I’d investigate into a professional bonding ‘company’.  I can’t believe the results that I got from SaveABunny and they said that the results would have been twice as good if I brought them there in the first place.  I suppose the main issue about getting a new bun is – are you willing to invest in the time to bond them.  Also, after being bonded, the buns should not be seperated for any length of time.  It isn’t that they cannot stand it but that the bond could begin to deteriorate between the two.  When one needs to go to the vet, I take them both in the same carrier.

3.) Also, how likely is it that if one is ill, the other will become ill? (I worry about our two indoor cats and the one outdoor communicating diseases constantly!)

I would say anything bacterial or viral would spread to the other bun.  But, since they’re indoor buns, catching a disease is a bit low on the risk table.  However, most issues with buns (in my experience) have been related to digestion and that can be a stand alone situation.

4.) And finally, how do I help one cope with the loss of the other due to the inevitability of death? 
The only way is through extra love and support.  Remember that the living bun should spend some time with the dead one to realize that the other bun is gone.  This greatly helps the bun in the greiving process.  In addition, you could go on bunny dates.  You may feel like you’re quickly replacing a loved one but it is often best for the other bun.  You can grieve and love at the same time.

 

[kimberleyanddarren]

keep us posted on which u get!

[MimzMum]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. ^^ I just want what’s best for Mimzy and Pip, and if they wind up enjoying each other, so much the better and if not, well they will still get individual attention and space and be doted on in the most loving way I and my daughter can. I didn’t realize until Mim came into my life, but a bunny is the best companion I could think of having. So I do hope to share the love!

Markus you had some great things to say. Goodness, do you volunteer at a shelter or something? You really know your stuff!

Ahh, I wish I had a place to do bunny bonding here. Sadly we have few facilities currently that will even support bunny vet care, much less anything like ‘dating’. This is why I was so shocked to see that our local big pet store seems to be gearing up to sell bunnies again in time for Easter. (It’s bad enough the amount of ferrets that get dumped in classifieds or out on the road up here because people find out AFTER they purchase what a responsibility they are!) I just wish I could take a mallet to these profiteers, not to mention the folks who decide ‘it’s not their problem anymore.’

ANYWAY (rant over) I was thinking about the bathtub bonding idea, and then realized, ‘Hmmm…my tub is a little on the shallow side.’ So I’m currently trying to think of something I can do to make the sides a little more ‘boing-proof’. This should be interesting.

And yes, K&K, the time spent with bun is voluminous, but imminently satisfying. ^^ The only thing that would be better for me is if he could snuggle with me on my pillow at night (like my kitty does) but I know better, as I would wind up waking to bedding that looked like Swiss cheese! 0.o

[jellyrose]

We had Edward for about 2 years before we bonded him with Josephine. He is so much happier now….. his personality has really come out and him and Josephine really love each other (most of the time). He still loves his daddy though (he’s always had a close bond with my bf) and gives out lots of licks! We had a really stressful bond which took about 6 months but it was so worth it. That being said I had a bunny before who was a single bun and lived to the ripe old age of 13 1/2!

[MarkBun]

I wouldn’t worry about your bathtub being too shallow. My first bonding was done in a shower stall. The main purpose of the bathtub is both that it is unfamliar territory and the ceramic makes their footing a little bit uneasy (even through the towels on the bottom). It gives them something else to focus on than each other.

Remember, it can take a few months to bond, you just have to perservere.

[Author]

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