Considering a second bun?

[Molzy]

Hey all!

I have had my bun, Riley, for 4 1/2 years now. He is a 5-year-old neutered male netherland dwarf. I did bunny dates a few years ago with my local HRS, but none ever “clicked”…at the same time, Riley was never aggressive or too interested in the other buns.

I have since moved away from an area with an active HRS, but I went to my local animal shelter earlier today to play with the dogs and cats. I was really surprised when I got there and found two rabbits in the cat room (it is a smaller city shelter, mostly strays). One of the buns really tugged at my heartstrings, he is a year old harlequin lop that was found as a stray. Now, this is a small shelter, so most animals aren’t spayed and neutered before adoption, so he is still intact. I am a little worried for him because I live in a college town, and I think college students might be tempted to think a rabbit would be an easy pet (I know, cause I’ve been there, hence Riley!).

Now, my question is whether you think that having Riley and him meet to see how they get along would be a good idea. Like I said, he isn’t neutered, so I don’t know whether it would be helpful or not. But I don’t really want to get a second bunny without seeing how they get along. I live in my own apartment, and I have enough room for a second cage during bonding, but I don’t think it would work long-term. Riley is used to being out whenever I am home, and while I am ok with that changing temporarily while they’re bonding, I don’t want to permanently change his quality of life.

Maybe I’m overthinking this, and more than likely I will decide to not do it (don’t know if I want to rock the boat), but I have always loved seeing bonded pairs, and sometimes feel guilty that I don’t provide Riley this.

Thanks for any advice!

[Stickerbunny]

Since he is intact it will be harder to judge if they’ll get along, since hormones can cause males to become more aggressive. Also, not all bonds work out and even when they do, it can take a while for some. If you don’t have enough space to house two buns separately (a month to heal then potentially months to bond) and don’t want the bun as much for yourself as for Riley, I would stick to providing Riley with the quality of life he’s used to and reconsider a second rabbit after you move to a place that has more space.

[Elrohwen]

There’s nothing wrong with adopting him *if* you’re prepared to keep him separate, forever, if necessary. Introducing them is likely to go poorly since the new bun is likely to be aggressive since he’s unfixed. That doesn’t mean that they’ll never bond – just that it’s so hard to know when one is unfixed. If you really want to give this bun a home and are prepared to keep them separate for a long time, then go for it. If you only want him because you think Riley is lonely, then I wouldn’t do it – if you really just want a second bun to keep him company, stick with those that are already fixed so you can get a good idea of how the bonding will go.

[Molzy]

Thanks for the advice. I’m still thinking about it – I could block off my hallway/kitchen for one of them, and leave Riley with the living room/dining room that he currently uses the most, so it *is* possible….just a question of whether I can afford a neuter right now, and having to find a rabbit vet down here in Iowa.

He was definitely a cutey, and I am so tempted, but want to be fair to my current critters as well!

[Monkeybun]

If you aren’t sure if you can afford the neuter, I would wait. Bunnies can get expensive, and 2 are more expensive than 1.

[Molzy]

Monkeybun – I totally agree with you! I should have clarified that I have thousands in savings in case of emergency vet care, I just wanted to figure out what neuters cost around here. I don’t like taking out of my savings, and I try to add to it each month, so I try to live off of just part of my paycheck! In Minneapolis it cost me over $300 to get Riley neutered (and do blood work). Here I was just quoted $90 by a vet recommended by HRS…quite a difference!

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah, prices vary by where you are and how many exotic vets are around – I only paid $95 for my rabbits neuter (with a vet who has been seeing rabbits for 20 years). Blocking off part of the house could work, if you don’t mind that arrangement to be long term if needed. I currently have two rooms of my house blocked off for Stickers, until I can bond my two, just make sure they can’t fight through the gate since injuries can occur that way if you do end up adopting him.

[Molzy]

Thanks Stickerbunny. I have figured out that I can keep him in my bedroom until he is neutered (and for a few weeks after that while his hormones settle) – and after that during bonding he can have the run of the hallway and kitchen. If it doesn’t work out, I can permanently rabbit proof my bedroom for him (something I have avoided doing since Riley lives in the living room!).

I’m going to see if he is still there on Friday, and if he is, I will apply for adoption I think. The shelter has funky hours (12-5:30), so I can’t make it there until Friday due to class and work. And that will give me a couple of more days to think about it. I think that honestly the main thing holding me back is that I know my Mom won’t like it (which shouldn’t matter now that I live on my own!) and that is only because she thinks one pet is enough for anyone – thus, she tends to judge my small zoo!

Thanks again everyone, I definitely needed to think out the logistics of it in case it doesn’t work!

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