Bunnies or more guinea pigs? Need to decide today!

[sanguinechompa]

We're ready to acquire two new pets having lost, within three months of one another, our pair of beloved gps earlier in the year

I absolutely adore gps and would be happy to have more.

But I've unexpectedly lost my heart to a pair of nairn flop eared bunnies. They are reserved for me until 5pm today.

I've done lots of research and I know that these particular bunnies will require at least an hour's attention each day, they are much less robust than gps, they are more expensive to keep, less interactive with dc.

I shouldn't do it, should I??????

[sanguinechompa]

Forgot to add:

We live in a large town house and bunnies could be housed downstairs in the basement when the weather is bad and we have an average sized walled town garden where they can graze ...

But how destructive are they? If let loose in the garden, will they demolish every plant and dig huge holes?

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

I've never had gp but I do have rabbits (lots of them) and I love them, they have their own charachters and because they are handled lots mine are very friendly and all love cuddles, they even come and sit on your knee if you are sitting on the floor

None of mine are great diggers but they all love climbing and chewing, we can't grow any flowers in the garden as they go along and bite the heads off (don't eat them just bite the stem)

[BonkeyMollocks]

Piggies !!
Rabbits are destructive, bloody good escape artists, and don't like cuddles. They cost much more than Piggies and must be neutured for health reasons.
Not the best pets for children . They scratch, bite, kick....

Get the Piggies!!!!!! :)

[BonkeyMollocks]

However....saying that, I have heard what house rabbits tend to be better due to all the attention. I really don't think if you keep them outside you get the most from them and they certainly don't get as tame.

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

• characters
  
  Not sure where the extra h came from

[sanguinechompa]

Thanks for the responses everyone - all advice much appreciated

Oh dear, can't decide ...

Given the weather here (Belgium) I think they will mostly live indoors but be outside on the lawn in an enclosure every minute the weather permits. This is the problem really - guinea pigs were free to roam and they only ate a few green beans ....

I don't like the idea of having to cage the bunnies even when they are outside ....despite the fact that I will provide most humungous enclosure possible ...

My head says gps
My heart says bunnies

[funnypeculiar]

Piggies. We've had both & the piggies are so much less stressful - everyone I know who has bunnies ends up living in the vets . WE loved our bunnies but they were high maintenance & they really aren't that child-friendly - don't like being picked up much for eg.

The problem here is you are comparing the real, cute bunnies to the idea of guineas - you need to go out & find some beautiful piglets to fall for too!

[funnypeculiar]

We had a house bunny & she was much more friendly - used to come running to us when we came back home & circle us frantically until we lay down to be licked - she really was a charmer. But i'd still say piggies.

[sanguinechompa]

Btw, what is comparative whiff factor please?

I used to keep my (two female) gps on this and they didn't smell at all ....

Other factors:

• breeder says impossible to determine gender of bunnies at this stage (they are being kept separately obviously) so that is a risk, even though I would be sterilising both ...what if I end up with two males?
  

• gps used to live in basement downstairs and then be carried up to lawn on daily basis? Would bunnies tolerate this?

[DowagersHump]

I've had both and would go for piggies. Bunnies have a tendency to leap out of your arms and they really do chew stuff. Plus much less child friendly and they don't go meeeeeeeeeeeeeeep like piggies do :o

[sanguinechompa]

Funnypeculiar - I think you are right - I perhaps haven't found the 'right' piggies yet.

Went to see some over the weekend that looked very similar to the (much loved) sows I had previously and they reminded me too much of them (sniff) and I just felt . I miss them so much (had very distinct characters)

Bunnies would be without that association. But musn't let emotions rule I suppose...

Trouble is... I have been thinking about these lovely rabbits every day since seeing them last week ....

[sanguinechompa]

Dowager yes, I can't really imagine a totally silent pet ...

My piggies used to 'sing' when I opened the fridge ...

[sanguinechompa]

Looking like the consensus is piggies

Feel v. disappointed and Don't know why when it is the conclusion I have been coming to myself, but must be sensible about this ...

Although we live in a spacious house - it is an urban environment - the garden isn't huge - better suited to pigs I think. And the destructive aspect of bunnies does worry me.

[Meglet]

Piggies. I've had piggies almost all my life and one wonderful rabbit. But rabbits are very high maintenance if you want to keep them happy and healthy, more like a cat or dog.

[sanguinechompa]

Yes, that's what the breeder said - that they were more like cats to look after than anything else. They'll need at least an hour's attention a day ....

[silver73]

Piggies but get some rescue piggies as there are so many that need a home and that in itself will help you get over the loss of your beloved GPs as you will be giving piggies that have had a nasty start in life a chance to be happy. We have rescue piggies and the dear little souls don't take anything for granted. Blondie pig runs wild when veg turn up even though we have had her for 2 years she still remembers not having much veg.

Maybe think of having 3 GPs? We have three and the dynamics work really well. In fact we did have 4 and that worked well too...

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Can I have a P (GP) please Bob (see what I did there Blockbusters Fans)

What will happen to the bunnies if you don't take them? I think don't let your heart rule your head in this case. The fact you are undecided means that you need to take a bit more time.
I've never had rabbits. I've seen rabbits in petshops and I've never felt the urge like I do with guineas.
I'm on GP 13&14 and we love them.
They are great childrens pets. My DD helps out with the school rabbit but she much prefers her hogs.

She says the school bunnies smell compared to our 2 boars.

So Pigs from me

[sanguinechompa]

Thank you again everyone and arf at ref to hisHolness-ness!! I really appreciate everyones comments which mirror rl ones!!

Bunnies will be offered to two other families if I don't take them so no probs there (very reputable breeder). I've just about, very nearly, decided that I'm very sadly and reluctantly (because they are totally and utterly GORGEOUS) going to turn them down ...

Have decided to be sensible and go for 3 gps instead...

Without getting too deep and meaningful about it ... I think I've worked out that the reason I'm feeling less than excited about this decision is more to do with longing for life in countryside and wish for 'proper' animals (hens, horses, goats, llamas, including rabbits) and room to grow veg rather than lack of bunnies per se ifyswim.

Heigh ho ... won't be for long I am sure .... I know that piggies never disappoint

[sanguinechompa]

70isalimitnotatarget if I was purely going on the "urge" factor though .. it would be bunnies all the way this time ....

[sanguinechompa]

Oh dear, wish I hadn't written that ...

Undecided again now

[pathetic flip-flopping emoticon]

[sanguinechompa]

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If the rabbits were on Death Row, then I'd say go for the bunnies. But as you say they've got potential homes lined up.
My GPs were from a rescue and if I hadn't taken them, they'd still be there. I didn't actually meet the boys until we collected them (saw a picture) but they were 2 boars which was what we wanted.
There will be guinea-pigs with your name on somewhere.

And think about the wheeking, rumblestrutting, purring, chirping, even the grating of little teeth!
GPs are noisy little critters and we luffs them

[sanguinechompa]

Oh yes ... I do miss the wheeking .....

[DowagersHump]

meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I went to the Pighouse to give my boys supper and a quick bedding change (at the moment every 2 days, they really are manky little blighters).
They heard the bin bag rustling and my footsteps and there was a Heavenly Chorus of wheeking. "Supper. Here Mum.We're staaaaarrvviiinngg ".

Makes you feel wanted- wipes tear from eye