Should I Adopt a 4th Rabbit?

[Jackie237]

Currently, I already have 3 rabbits. A buck (neutered) and two does (spayed) they’re both daughter and mother, so they have been together since the daughter’s birth. When I first adopted them, I didn’t know much about rabbit bonding, so I simply put them together in the same cage and watched them. The three got along instantly besides the mounting act the first few days.

I’m thinking about adopting a buck at my local animal shelter. The rabbit’s mom and siblings got killed by a fox, and he seems so alone and sad

I really want to adopt this rabbit, but I am afraid the bonding will be impossible. What makes me most nervous is that people say bonding one new rabbit to an existing family of rabbits is hard. Also- that bonding two bucks together is hard as well. Do you think I should adopt him or it’s best not to?

 

Thank you

[Karla]

I have recently had a foursome – two males, two females. Adding the fourth – male – wasn’t at all that the most difficult bonding, I have had. I have a feeling then that the more rabbits you have, the more relaxed they are about getting a new addition to the group.

My biggest concern was that my male might feel threatened when I brought in a second male, but it was actually one of my does that had the biggest problem with a newcomer. In the end, these were the two that ended up as a pair though.

[Beka27]

Two males (as long as both are neutered) isn’t usually hard. Females are the more territorial sex. You do run the risk of breaking up your trio, but if you want to get the 4th and try, you certainly can! Are you prepared to either keep him separate forever, or split them off into two pairs for the duration, with separate living spaces and exercise time?

[Hazel]

I agree, bonding two males isn’t as hard as many people think. Of course there’s always a chance that the bonding won’t be successful. You have to plan for the possibility that he won’t bond to the others before you adopt him. Would you be able to keep him as a single rabbit if it doesn’t work out?

[mrmac]

I also had bonded a trio at one point. We adopted a fourth with the intention of having all four together but my one female did not like the new guy and gave him some serious injuries early in the bonding process. Go for it, but be prepared for the trio to split or it not working out and having to house them separately, which is what I have now, two pairs.

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