Do buns need to be bonded?

[Basil the Bun]

Hi everyone,

 

First time poster, still learning about buns and their quirks

I have an almost one year old neutered neutered (Holland Lop), Basil. He is our 1st bun. Personality wise, he doesn’t like being held or pet (will allow petting while he’s eating) however comes alive at night binking and loves to give my husband and I kisses

Since he’s nearing one years old, I’ve started to think about possibly adopting another rabbit for bonding. Here’s the thing – I have a very full, busy household already. Between our two young children, dog, work, bun, etc., I’m non-stop. I’m not sure I want the additional work in having another being to keep alive and never mind the time needed to work on bonding. However, if necessary for long-term happiness, I’ll definitely consider a 2nd bun.

Thoughts? Are rabbits OK living out their lives alone? Our bun is around the “action” in our house and comes to hang out with us when he wants. He has free reign but chooses to stay in “his” room (our living room).

[BB & Tiny]

Yes they can exist on their own. I had my boy for a year before thoughts of another bunny, he seemed bored. In regards to caring for two vs one, really not much more work, extra salad, pellets.

Bonding time depends on the bunnies, some are quick and some take time. Mine were relatively quick.

[Reeem]

Rabbits are okay being alone as long as they get loads and loads of attention. Is he scared of the dog ? Many rabbits will bond with a cat or dog. The only hard and time consuming part will be the bonding process.

[Basil the Bun]

That would be more concern if trying to bond; the time that may be associated with it. I’d hate for it to either be time consuming or worse, unsuccessful.

[Basil the Bun]

Thankfully, he’s not scared of the dog. He’ll hop around and sniff the dog but again, much like he is with us, he prefer to be in control of the relationship

[manic_muncher]

If your bun is happy among your family, I would say leave well enough alone. Once bonded with another bun, they will form their own little tribe and be less interested in everyone else. That is my experience with bonding two out of three of mine. Even the third, single bun, who lives alone (all buns live in the living room where all the action is) when he comes out for floortime, all he wants to do is run around the bonded buns enclosure and antagonize the other two buns. He no longer plays with the dogs or runs around our feet in mischief.

When it was just the one bun, he was happy with my dogs and my husband and I, he ran around the dogs, begging for treats and binkied around happily with them, now all he thinks about are the other rabbits.

[LeafyRabbit]

Basil sounds a lot like my bunny, Ty. Thanks for asking this question, I’ve been thinking about bonding Ty too.

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