Struggling

[luvmyhunybuny]

 Hey everyone~

I would like your thoughts. I have been fostering mom and her 6 babies. I found homes for 3 of the six. I was going to adopt out in pairs, but a woman wants a boy/mate for her current bunny. Now I have an odd amount. Is it silly to be a bit stressed over one baby getting adopted alone? I am all about at least 2 of something, especially bunnies. To see a bonded pair, you cannot imagine them living life alone. I also understand that many bunnies do and are happy. So, do I just suck it up and deal with the fact that the “odd out” bunny will be lonely at first, but will adjust? I can put a baby with the baby I hand raised (they are siblings, 4 weeks apart) and when they are old enough to be spayed, try and bond them with my male (who I was going to bond with the baby I hand raised). Thing is that will leave me with 5 bunnies and I never intended on having that many. This has been such an inner struggle. Help!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Adopting babies out in pairs isn’t necessarily the best idea anyway, since they’ll have to be separated and re-bonded once they hit their hormones and after they are altered. That’s a lot of financial stress and just regular stress on a new bunny owner, and raises the chance that one or both will end up in a shelter because the owner didn’t know what they were getting into with 2 buns, let alone 1.
Since you’re fostering I’m assuming you’re doing this through a rescue, are they going to alter the rabbits before they adopt them out?

[luvmyhunybuny]

We have actually had excellent results in adopting out same sex pairs (babies). Actually, we have had excellent results in adopting out adult pairs too! In the past we have adopted out and they are given a voucher to get bunny spayed/neutered when they are old enough.

[Stickerbunny]

I wouldn’t worry about it – yes buns like a mate, but they can be perfectly happy without one as well. Powder was a binky, zoomie machine solo and loved to hop on up into my bed any time he felt like it. Now he has his bond mate, but without her he was still happy. And just because you adopt out a solo bun, doesn’t mean the bun will be solo forever.. I adopted Powder and then a few months later got Stickers, so the owners may bond him / her on their own.

[luvmyhunybuny]

Yes, I know I will have to suck it up and break them apart. It is just heart breaking when they are cuddling and grooming each other, knowing they will have to adopted out alone.

[RabbitPam]

By adopting out a sole bunny, you guarantee individual attention from the new owners, which is a bond right there. Then, if the owners are really equipped to care for a second bunny properly, their bunny will be able to choose a mate by dating that may be the love of his/her life, and bond much better after being speutered, when they can really appreciate a companion.

[Elrohwen]

I think you’ll be just fine letting one baby go by itself. Bunnies are happy with a companion, but they really do ok on their own with loving owners. As long as you find the right people to take him, he’ll be a happy bunny.

[Stickerbunny]

Try to think of it as … they will more quickly be in their forever homes, being spoiled as new pets.

[luvmyhunybuny]

Now, if I can just find the best homes for them, I would rest so much easier. Anyone in my area want an adorable Lionhead baby?!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

There’s nothing wrong with adopting already bonded adult pairs, but I have read.so.many.threads about people buying 2 babies, and then not understanding why one just bit the ear off the other. Or having the babies go through hormonal teens together and getting rid of one or both because they can’t deal with it. I just would never do it, based off what I’ve read of others experiences. But if you’ve had success then there are probably other factors. That said, I would let them take one and adopt out a single. There’s nothing wrong with a single bun as long as they have a family that loves it.

[Stickerbunny]

If I were in your area I would be tempted – I love lionheads! Good luck.

[longhairmike]

after being fixed, owners can always bring their bunny into a rescue for ‘dates” when they are ready to adopt a 2nd bun

[Monkeybun]

I kind of cringe when i think of 2 babies being adopted out.. for one, you never know if they will come back to get them altered, and what if an oops litter happens?

OHS and the group i volunteer with don’t adopt out babies at all. They all have to be altered prior to adoption, it takes care of those potential oopses before htey happen

[Beka27]

I’m also not crazy about rabbits going out unneutered, but I understand that in a foster situation, exceptions sometimes need to be made. I hope there is some kind of follow-up to make sure they do come back for the surgeries.

Any of the bunnies that are adopted out together may still end up as single buns. Either they don’t bond after neutering, or the owner chooses to give up one or both to new homes, and sadly in some cases, a bunny might pass away at a young age.

[luvmyhunybuny]

Unfortunately we don’t have the “luxury” to keep the babies until they are of age to be altered. The males are a bit easier, as they can be neutered at 3 months, but it is not feasible for females. There are simply not enough foster homes. The only pairs we would adopt out unaltered are same sex (in babies). All other adoptions are, of course, altered prior. And yes, there are people who follow up with the adopters. We have found people who are willing to pay the higher adoption fee DO get them spayed/neutered. They know they can always get one on CL for much cheaper, but want to adopt a bun who is or will be fixed.

[bunnyfriend]

It is nice to hear of a foster as dedicated and caring as you! I think it will be fine to adopt out the bunny by itself.

[Author]

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