Booker’s getting a boyfriend !

[BookerTRabbit]

Well, we hope she is! A friend of mine has a 5 yr old Male Mini-Lop who she doesn’t have time for and het kids are allergic. We are thinking about adopting him and bringing him to our house. Booker needs a BBFF (Bunny Best Friend Forever).

I just had a few questions I was hoping you guys could help me with before we start this bonding process:

1. Booker is only 1 year old, and Benny is 5, will the age difference cause any problems ??

2. Benny is not fixed, Booker is fixed. Can I bring Benny home, keep him in a seperate area of our house for 2-3 weeks after he is fixed and then introduce them ? Should I get him fixed and have my friend watch after him until we are ready to start bonding ? (I’m just worried about territory issues with Booker. She pretty much has full run of the house. She has never been in our basement so I think that might be a good place to start introductions, what do you guys think ??)

3. I have read that Halland Lops are often very mild tempered and relaxed, Booker is a bossy little thing. Doyou think that being different breeds with make bonding harder ??

 

We are excited to get started, but I want to make sure I have all the prep work done before we start. Thanks so much !!

 

 

[Colin]

I would wait at least a full month after getting him altered before you start bonding them. We started bonding Digby and Yoshi 4 weeks after Digby was neutered, and he definitely still had a good amount of hormones in his system.

I wouldn’t worry about them being different breeds. You may find that a bunny who’s bossy with people will be a complete pushover with another bunny (or vice versa).

[RachelF]

I don’t know much about bonding and am getting ready to soon get my bunnygirl a new friend— so I wish you luck and will be stalking your post! Its great you are taking another one in– feels so good doesn’t it ? =)

[Beka27]

the age difference really does not matter. some people have concerns because the older bunny might pass away much sooner than the younger one, but one of a pair always has to go first anyways. i don’t think it’s a good idea to not bond a pair b/c one might die someday. what matters is they have love and companionship during their lives. let’s say Benny lives to be ten, they still get 5 great years together and then you can always adopt another bunny for Booker at that time.

breed and size do not matter. breed generalizations are also not always accurate. it really will depend on the two individual buns.

what is your plan for bonding? you say that Booker gets free-range, i would begin to limit that now in anticipation of the bonding. where are you planning on having their permanent bonded set-up? and what kind of pen or condo will you be doing? what i’d recommend is that they are housed in the same area so they begin getting acclimated to each other’s scent. have them in side-by-side pens or condos and switch them between each side every night. leave all the items (litterbox, food, water bottle, etc…) only switch the bunnies. you can continue to do this for the full month after Benny’s neuter. you want to wait a full month so the hormones are decreased and the incision is fully healed.

that’s good that you have a neutral location for bonding. try and do at least a half hour (longer if possible) every day. be prepared that it might take a couple weeks, up to a couple months of daily sessions. it’s hard to tell how one bun will react with another based on individual personalities.

here is my favorite bonding article… read it, print it, and then re-read it. there’s wonderful info there… http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

[BookerTRabbit]

Thanks so much for all the advice and encouraging words ! I am nervous about it but I am sure it will all work out.

Bookers current living arrangements:

She currently lives in a XL metal dog kennel it is about 4 feet by 3 feet and we have added a shelf.

Bonding plan:

We are building a big NIC condo that will be their new shared home. When Benny comes to our house he will live in the kennel until we are ready to start bonding.

 

I don’t to sound like a total cheap skate, but I do have a concern that if I get Benny fixed (which is about $200), what if they don’t get along. Do you think all bunnies can be bonded? OR will some just hate each other no matter what ?

[Beka27]

fixing him will be better for his health, behavior and happiness. even if they don’t bond, it would be better for him so it’s worth the money regardless. i think that most bunnies can be bonded, but it’s important you don’t give up if you experience some speed bumps along the way.

an important question to ask is: will you keep them both even if they do not bond and must live separately? that’s another thing to take into consideration. it’s not fair to take in the bun and then at the first sign of trouble, give him up. i hope when you take him, it will be a lifelong coommitment to his well-being, regardless of the outcome of the bonding.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh yes, no matter for bonding-neutering is something you should get done no matter what It has so many benefits and will definitely make bonding much easier If you can keep at the bonding if it gets hard, they probably can be bonded-with time and patience; But like Beka pointed out you should be at least prepared to house them seperate should you need to! You never know how it will work out-my first bond was no process at all-an intro and they were bonded. My second was quite the ordeal, with Rupert being highly highly aggressive-at most points I didn’t think he’d ever get along with anyone. However if you really stick ‘to your guns’ and keep at in time many people believe any two rabbits can be bonded.

[BookerTRabbit]

I think that Benny will live with us no matter what. I think his life at our home will be the very best place for him. I just hope they can get along ! Only time will tell!! Thanks again for all the advice. I will keep you posted on our progress.

[Beka27]

that’s great! i’m sure at 5 years old he’s probably been shuffled around more than enough… it’ll be nice for him to be able to “retire” at your home and live out the rest of his days… however long that might be!

[Author]

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