Does anyone just have a lone rabbit or must you really have a pair?

[Fimbo]

We currently are quite new to rabbits, we have one but when we took it for injections etc at the vet, they kept saying that we should really have another one.

The dc would love another, but I am not so sure. Our current rabbit seems happy enough on his own and we stroke/talk to him lots every day and let him out the run to play around the garden etc. When we bought him, he was in a rabbit run on his own (he was 16 weeks when we bought him), so he has never been used to having another rabbit around.

My lovely neighbour looks after him when we go on holiday but she is about to have another baby and I don't feel its fair to upsticks for weekends away and expect her to always be on tap to feed or clean the rabbit especially 2. DD's friend is not overly keen but would do it if asked.

I am so torn with what to do for the best. Any advice greatly received.

[belgo]

We had a lone one for three years, and she has now been joined by three guinea pigs (although not in the same enclosure). When we first got the rabbit we could pick her up, but then she became very wild for the next couple of years. Now we have the guinea pigs, the rabbits has become a lot friendlier again and I can pick her up and stroke her.

Agree, you need to sort out holiday care, you cannot necessarily rely on neighbours.

[booziefloozie]

I was also told that Rabbits should be in pairs because they are very sociable animals and get depressed without company.

However we were given a third bunny by a family down the road, and when we tried to introduce her to our two (bonded) neutered males, all hell broke loose.

So we've put her hutch next to theirs, in the hope she will be used to them and their smell and next time we try them in the same cage, she wont try and kill them.

So your bunny might not bond with another rabbit anyway, is what I am trying to say :-)

[belgo]

I personally don't see why you should get another if you are sure your lone rabbit is happy.

[JohnnyRod]

Lone buns can be happy with only human company, but they will most likely become dependant on you and that can make them a bit difficult because then they miss you during the day etc. Two aren't much harder to keep than one, but you need a good big hutch, they spend a lot of time in there and they'll go nuts if they're sitting on each other. For holidays, there are lots of pet boarding places around, some aren't so good (as ever). They're good because the buns also get exercise and attention (maybe your neighbour does this too). Finally I guess, a bonded pair of buns can be very happy together (once the bonding is done!), they might want you a little less because of it though, but they are social animals so do want some sort of company generally.

[Fimbo]

Thank you for all your tips and help. The vet did say we could get a rescue one from them and see if mine would bond with it and if not to take it back and then we could try another. Food for thought. Thank you.

[booziefloozie]

I'd be tempted to give it a try if you can take the 2nd rabbit back. Like someone said earlier, two are no harder to look after than one.

[H007]

I have a lone rabbit female after her mum died and a pair of rabbits hutched separately the two together are so much happier cleaning each other and having cuddles etc. I put the single rabbits hutch next to the pair and when I let them run around single rabbit is so happy and constantly trying to groom the other two, I haven't quite got the confidence to lock them all in a cage together fx one day I will have three happy bunnies together. I personally think that they need it unless you have the time to spend hours upon hours with them or they are a house rabbit and therefore have you around constantly.

[ratspeaker]

Our is a lone bunny
He's also a house rabbit so he does have company

We did try introducing a friend to him
It did not go well, blood drawn, fur flying so 2nd bunny had to go back to the rescue

The lovely lady who runs the rescue also tried keeping our bun there to get him used to other rabbits but that didnt work out either