Getting another bun?

[Mer]

Quinn , 5 month old , is going to get spayed next month. I was thinking about getting her a friend . My reason would be I’m going to try to start s second job and I would be gone all,day. My main concern about not getting her a friend is , if I move out of my parents home, I wouldn’t be able to find a appartment for 2 bun and a dog. Also medicial bills , are very scary . I can afford it but still it’s alot.
I’m not sure honestly what to do . Quinn seems happy , she binkys and runs and flops. I just thought maybe she would like another bun friend

[Deleted User]

Getting her a friend is a good idea, but will you be able to commit to the proper bonding process? It’s a lot of time and effort. If you get a baby bun you’ll have to wait for 1-2 months post spay/neuter for them to begin introductions on neutral territory. If you get a shelter bun that is already altered you will need to wait a least a month for them to settle in and adjust. During either one of these periods you will need to prebond them by switching them between their separate enclosures, as well as switching their items between their enclosures. They will need separate play times and need to be separated at all times until you begin the bonding sessions. There’s also no guarantee it will work out, so you could have two separate buns. That’s worst case scenario. Either way, it’s a long process and it can sometimes take months to bond depending on the buns and their personalities because you go at their pace. If things seem good, you up their bonding sessions. They get into a squabble, you lower the time they have in bonding sessions.
I guess the questions you need to ask yourself are: do you have time to take care of two separate buns until they are bonded? Do you have the time to let them have equal play time out (at least 4 hours each)? Would you be able to keep them completely separate until they are bonded? Would you be able to afford a second potential spay/neuter? Would you be able to take care of two separate buns, if they never bond?

[Deleted User]

Hi Quinn, welcome to the forum! It’s great that you asked this question before just making such a big decision!

Asriel and Bombur pretty much nailed it! The thing with bunnies is, they really have to build up trust before they can have a good relationship. I think of how long it took my bunny to trust me, it was months! Now I can step right over her and she doesn’t even flinch, but when I first got her I never imagined that she would become so comfortable. The same is true for rabbits and trusting other rabbits. It does take time and it can be a VERY taxing process. I tried to bond two rabbits and I ended up giving up, as I had tried for quite a bit and I just became too exhausted to persist. They will both need to be spayed/neutered and housed separately until they’ve been prebonded, then you begin bonding. The actual process can take several months before they are comfortable enough to live in harmony. If you have the time and resources to devote to doing hours long, supervised bonding then I think you should give it a go! But, if you don’t have the time, then I would not advise it. I would say it would be AT LEAST a three month commitment when you include spaying, prebonding and bonding. And that is if you have a super easy bond. Some rabbits get stuck on one phase for longer than a month. Worst case, you have to permanently house them both separately If they won’t get along.

[Mer]

Yes , I know the bond process and the commitment to it. My concern is for past the bonding process. , should I wait until I have a stable apartment to get another bun. Or should I get one now.?
Totally understand that it is a commitment and that yes they might be single bunnies and that’s okay as well. It’s not an easy process and it’s very strssful.

[Mer]

Like I said I know how the bonding process work. I have read up on it even before I got Quinn. Quinn and I have our trust already established and I know how much work it was . It was also rewarding. She gives me kisses now. Yes bonding can take months and months. Or it can happen soon for some bunnies. It really depends on if I decided to get a shelter bun that’s Already fixed. I think that would be best option to go to a shelter and do meet and greets.
I have the room and the space to house another bunny. I also do have the time and the energy to commit to a bonding process. Yes it would have to wait , I would have to wait until at least April until Quinn is healed. Then find a bunny that she likes. And then let that bun settle In , bond the bunny to me and work on trust. And then have prepondig . Switching cages items , cages by each other. Then do the bonding process. Time in tub , stress bonding . See how it goes. It’s not easy , even reading how people bonding process doesn’t sound easy. But my concern is should I wait ? Or not.

[Deleted User]

Sorry about that! I didn’t mean to be chastising by assuming that you didn’t know the process. I just always offer that information because a lot of people truly don’t understand the complexities of getting rabbits to get along!

What is Quinn’s housing currently like? Does she have a cage or is she free roaming? I ask because, if she is currently free roaming then she’s already established that this is her place. Females can be more territorial than males, so if you wait until you move to get another rabbit you might have the added advantage of it being neutral territory to the both of them!

[Mer]

It’s okay ? totally understand. I have seen alot of people do the bonding process incorrectly.

And I actually never thought of that. She is free roam of my room . She hates been restricted. The whole rest of the house she hasn’t been. But yes that would be helpful to have neutral territory !

[Deleted User]

If there is another room that she hasn’t been in, then you could try the bonding in the situation that you are currently in. My biggest issue with my failed bond was the fact that I really didn’t have neutral territory. I had the bath tub and the bathroom and the kitchen… but my female was free range of every other room. So, I probably won’t attempt another bond until I’m in a bigger place with more space available. Neutral territory is very important!

[Deleted User]

Oh, and I saw you mention about finding an apartment to let them live there.

Others here have suggested getting your rabbits certified as emotional support animals. So they can’t as easily tell you no to having them move in with you!

[Author]

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