For those of you who have more than one bunny…

[bunny-yawns]

 Did getting another bunny make your previously single bun happier, or did it make much of a difference?  

[skibunny8503]

I first had Archie and we decided to get him another bunny, Gracie. He used to hang out with us a lot but now he spends all his time with Gracie. He does seem pretty happy with her. We also started fostering and ended up adopting Sandy. We tried to bond them but it was just so frusturating and they kept fighting so she’s technically a single bun living next to them. But Sandy seems perfectly happy being a single bun. She loves the attention from us. I think it depends on the bun and also how much you can handle another bun.

[Deleted User]

I agree with skibun. It depends on the rabbit. Some rabbits are happy either way, but many people say they miss the one-on-one interaction they had before bonding. I currently have a bonded trio and a solo bun… I enjoy both scenarios: I love my trio because they are so well-matched, but I also love my single bunny because he is all mine.

[Elrohwen]

Depends on the rabbits. Otto wasn’t lonely as a single bun, and we really only got a second because we wanted a second, not because he needed a friend. Sure, he loves snuggling with Hannah and they are together all the time, and I’m sure he’s a bit less lonely, but he doesn’t seem happier one way or the other. She can be quite bossy, so I’m sure there are times he wishes this pushy new rabbit would leave him alone

Hannah, on the other hand, clearly needed a friend. She was very hyperactive at her old home and would carry around and groom a stuffed toy (she still carries it around every once in a while, but doesn’t groom it anymore and generally ignores it in favor of her real bunny companion). She’s much calmer now that she has Otto and seems far more content. I think she’s an example of a rabbit who really needed a companion and as soon as we started bonding it was clear that she wanted to be with him and near him all the time.

As far as my interaction with them – Otto and I have become less bonded 🙁 He has never been affectionate, but before we got Hannah we had gotten him to the point where he enjoyed pets and snuggled at certain times of the day. I was very happy with how things progressed with him which was one of the reasons I even got a second bunny. Now that he has a friend he wants nothing to do with our pets. He’ll still run up to us (hoping for a treat – he hops off if we try to pet him) and even jumps on the couch now (having a braver friend has made him much braver, which is good) but petting is off limits even after being bonded for almost 6 months (about the length of time it took us to make him like petting in the first place).

I don’t think bonding has effected our relationship with Hannah at all. Granted, we only really know her as a bonded bunny, since she was only single for a few weeks before moving in full time with Otto, but during that time she was hyperactive and destructive and fairly skittish (we were a new home for her). She’s much more laid back now and loves loves attention from us. I think having a friend keeps her out of trouble, which makes our relationship with her smoother, but it hasn’t kept us from bonding with her at all. She seeks us out often for pets and attention when Otto is too boring for her

[Karla]

Posted By bunny-yawns on 10/14/2010 08:22 AM

 Did getting another bunny make your previously single bun happier, or did it make much of a difference?  

Karl was a happy and active bunny doing tons of binkies on his own, but I always felt he needed something. It is difficult to pinpoint. But the second I brought home Molly, it was obvious that she was all he needed. He was – and still is to a certain point – quite skittish and wasn’t entirely convinced that we were not going to eat him for dinner. After Molly arrived, he changed. He became much more outgoing and much more interested in our company. Perhaps due to age, but most likely also because Molly showed him that humans are nice and fun.

 

[Deleted User]

Yes, two rabbits can have a lot of fun being bonded… but often this can also mean mischief x 2

[Free2Dream]

I think it depends on the bunny. Just like some people prefer to be alone and others are happier in groups, bunnies (and all animals, for that matter) tend to have their own lifestyle preferences.

I know some rabbits who CANNOT be placed with other buns. They are too aggressive or territorial or simply used to living alone.

Then there are bunnies, like my Oliver, who was born into a very social environment (LOTS of littermates, one of whom he was particularly close to) and thrives on attention and company, be it human or rabbit. That’s the main reason why we decided to adopt Dorie. Dorie seems to be very easy-going; I can easily picture her living alone or with a husbun and being completely happy either way.

[DeVaStAt0r]

The only thing that really changed for my bunnies is one got a little less shy and gizmo got way more bossy haha

[SirThumpsey]

I can’t tell if he is happier because he’s got a friend to play with but I did notice an increase in jealous behavior. If I am petting Halo, Lil bud will jump around and beg for pets. They will go back and forth like this for hours lol

[jennyrabbit]

well Jenny is not the least bit unhappy as a single rabbit, she’s super affectionate and outgoing actually. Peepers and Jenny are not bonded yet though, so I can say if she is gonna be happier once bonded or not. Peepers is happy as a single as well, but I do think she will be happier with a friend, as she does seem to prefer furry company(she bonded herself to one of my dogs).  

[Beka27]

My Meadow had always been a happy girl, but I bonding her seemed to mature her and calm her down (of course, this could also have been due to her getting older… and therefore unrelated.) But she just seems so happy with Max. They are always together, even when they don’t have to be (i.e. free roam during the day). If one goes this way, the other will soon follow.

I don’t think they HAVE to be bonded to be happy, but it certainly helps having companionship of their own kind. I think a very important consideration is if YOU have the time and resources to have a second. It is more expensive, they require a larger area (if they are not free roam) and it takes time and commitment to get them to that bonded point. If having a second would stretch you too far, it’s much better to keep it at one and provide the extra companionship yourself.

[aims]

i had calypso for one month before i got her a buddy. she seemed pretty happy on her own i guess, but i felt sorry for her being by herself all day while i was at work. i would come home and find her in the same position she was in when i left in the morning – just lying around doing nothing. she came from an abusive family so she was quite timid when she first came home with me. since getting her a buddy, Othello, i think she has become more outgoing (relatively anyway) and i imagine she is a lot happier. they play with each other and sometimes they come up to me and fight (not literally) for my attention which is cute.

i think it’s nice to give bunnies some companionship – everywhere i read said they are social animals, and who doesn’t like a buddy anyway?

like everyone says, it probably depends on the rabbits. maybe you should take yours to a shelter and see how he/she gets on with the other rabbits?

all up i’d say i feel much happier knowing my two rabbits can provide each other with the companionship i can’t give them 24/7.

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