Necessary to Quarantine?

[Tails.of.Bunnicula]

Hello Friends!

I just adopted a 5 month old baby girl from a shelter.  She’s been with me for 48 hours.  The shelter recommends that I keep her completely separate/out of sight from my current bunny for at least 2 weeks.  Normally he is free roam, so I have limited his space to his bedroom and the hallway, and she gets a big area in the living room.

Now I am all about following advice and doing what is right for my buns, I want the best for them and I want their bonding to go as successful as possible when the time comes.   I have personally never heard of needing to quarantine for 2 weeks first though, so do you guys think it is necessary?  Ideally I’d like to at least remove the yoga mats I have so they can see each other at least and get used to the presence of one another.  They are both fixed…unsure if that makes a difference in THIS stage.

Anyhoo just looking to see what y’all think!  I appreciate any advice or help, I have attached a picture so you can get a better idea of my set up.

Thank you!

Sarah, Momo and Ruby

[BZOO]

Well, I heard that before with birds, rats, etc.

Personally, I’ve never done it.  Yeah, it can’t hurt, but I think I’m a pretty good judge of whether or not the critters in question are healthy

It seems a bit pointless if YOU feel all animals are healthy.  Go with your gut.

No one secludes a new puppy or kitten if they have others, so not quite sure why this should apply to “exotic” pets.

If anyone has an opposing opinion, I’m always up for learning!:)

[Tails.of.Bunnicula]

Thank you!

[DanaNM]

I’m not sure if you mean an actual quarantine (like for diseases?) or just a settling in period?

I think it’s important to allow new bunnies to settle in with no bonding sessions or pre-bonding, but the length of that period depends a lot on the bunny. Some bunnies make themselves at home right away, other’s need more time to feel confident in their new home.

But I don’t see a problem with allowing them to see each other at this stage. Just be very sure they can’t nip each other through fencing, as nipped noses will make it harder to bond them later. You can either use a double-walled barrier with 4-6″ of space as a buffer, or use some finer mesh to prevent them from sticking their noses through.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Tails.of.Bunnicula]

Thanks! I appreciate the reply.  They did get a glance at each other today and my original bun is very concerned 😆

[Author]

Messages