Young adult or baby?

[LoveThemBunnies]

I just adopted Piper yesterday. She’s about 1.5 yrs old and is a Netherland Dwarf/Dutch cross weighing about 3 lbs. She is not spayed yet but will be soon.

As far as getting a second bunny goes I‘m torn… taking her to a rescue for a meet & greet could work but part of the reason I’m thinking about a second bunny is for me. I was wanting, and looking for, a Netherland Dwarf. I’ve found a dark chocolate male that’s about a year old and is friendly. But I’ve also found some Ditch babies. They are so darn cute! I understand that if I choose a bunny (instead of letting her choose) they might not get along. But wouldn’t having a bunny in a cage next door be some company for the long hours they would otherwise be alone? And would the odds of them getting along be better if I get a young adult or a baby?

Also, if I get a second bunny should they be kept completely apart (like in separate rooms) until a few weeks after they have both been altered? Or can they be in separate cages next to each other??

Kim

[LittlePuffyTail]

If you get a baby, you have to have him or her fixed before any bonding can begin. I think keeping them together in separate cages should be okay.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

The only (pretty major) problem with having 2 unaltered bunnies near each other is litter habits will go out the door. I made that mistake with Lady, hoping they would get to know each other a bit, and all it did was make Lady nearly impossible to litter train because she was territorial marking so heavily.

Do you have enough space to house 2 rabbits if they decide not to bond? And out of curiosity, how big is the cage?

[Beka27]

Bunny dating isn’t absolutely required for a bond to work. If you find a rabbit you really like, I’d suggest going ahead with the adoption, but know that they may not bond and they may need to be separate bunnies for the duration. (There is no guarantee with buns, even when they do “choose” their own mate.)

[bullrider76543]

I am a good example of that, We have 8 rabbits, the two oldest are bonded Mr. Hopper and Nibbles. but Nibbles dont get along with anyone. Blue and Baby are bonded, but blue dont like nibbles, and baby doesnt like any of the other buns except Blue. Chipmunk and Hazel were bonded, but now with the neuter they are still not getting along gonn have to try to rebond them in a few weeks. and Cinnamon and Raven are brother and sister too and they are seperated till Raven gets fixed in two weeks. SO, to make a long story strait, they each get run time in the living room. just not all together at once. I wish I could have bonded them all, it would have been so nice to see all of them playing and snuggling. but at least they are all where they are taken care of and loved.

[LoveThemBunnies]

Thanks everyone. I ended up getting a little chocolate Polish guy that’s about 4 months old. He came with the name Cocoa.

Right now he’s in an extra large dog crate. Piper isn’t litter box trained at all. The cage she came with is so small even a corner pan would take up at least 1/3 of the cage. But they said Cocoa only used his litter box in hutch. Right now he is about 3” away from Piper and he messed in the hammock I made for him. I’m hoping it’s because he’s that close to Piper.

I’ll be moving him and they won’t be able to see each other at all, but will still hear each other and I’m sure smell each other.

Sam and Lady’s Human ~ yes, I can house 2 separately if they don’t get along. Piper’s cage is small but the dog crate I set up for Cocoa is not bad. My plan is (if they get along) have the dog crate set up without the door on and having it “fenced in” so they have a play yard. Then supervised out time when I’m home.

Kim

[Author]

Messages