Theoretical group housing questions/discussion?

[pollenewe]

So I’ve had some ideas for a sort of rescued rabbit sanctuary. But I’m not familiar enough with how groups work to know if it actually makes sense or not, so I’m looking for some feedback.

Here’s my ideas:

First of all, all rabbits will be altered and a person will be around all the time to monitor.
The rabbits will spend the day in a large, indoor group area. This area will have a variety of toys, hiding places, and structures, and there will be one (or more if necessary?) slightly separated area that’s basically a giant litter box with hay in the center.
At night, the rabbits will be separated into cages either as individuals or pairs in good-sized cages (I’m thinking like 4’x5′). In the cages, they’ll be fed their veggies and pellets and we can monitor that everyone is eating/drinking/pooping. The group area will be thoroughly cleaned for the rabbits to be released back into during the daytime.
Any rabbit that doesn’t do well in this setting will be kept separately and found a new home.

So… Is there any reason this wouldn’t work? Especially with separating and rejoining the rabbits every day?
Would it be reasonable to house them in pairs at night or would it be safer to go with individuals?
Would multiple litter box areas be a good idea?
Are there any precautions we’d have to take that I didn’t mention? Or any ideas to make things better?

I know everyone will have different ideas to how it would work. I just want to think up something safe and sanitary and not stressful for the buns involved. Any thoughts/ideas/knowledge helps!!

[Hex]

Prior to being introduced, all rabbits should have a health checkup as well as be fixed. This way you can prevent an outbreak of anything contagious. Until that time, new rabbits should not be allowed into the communal area, or be given access to the other rabbits.

What is your end goal? Do you want to have one massive, bonded group? Have you ever bonded rabbits before? If the rabbits are truly bonded, they should be left together at night. Bonded rabbits should never be separated, as this creates a lot of stress. It’s important to consider how many rabbits you wish to keep.

How many rabbits are currently part of your household? I would suggest adding rabbits one-by-one. This makes the quarantine of the new bun easier and allows you to get a better feel for personality. During bonding, you can be sure the friendship is solid and that they will be less likely to have any disputes later on from a rushed bonding process. Time is important, and you must be willing to be patient with all involved. Neutral territory is an absolute must. When introducing and attempting to bond these rabbits, they must meet and interact on a territory that neither one of them have claimed.

One litter box will likely be overwhelmed and become filthy too quickly. I’d suggest multiple litter boxes: the litter won’t become as saturated as quickly (helps prevent urine scald) and if one bunny decides to lounge in the litter, there are other places to go.

[Author]

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