To get a load of bunnies for the kids?

There's a difference between keeping a rabbit on its own because you've tried bonding it a number of times with different rabbits and it didn't work, and just getting a single bunny from the start, when all the research shows that the majority of rabbits are happier in pairs/groups.

There are also hundreds of bunnies in rescues that are simply needing homes from people who didn't take the time to understand their needs or got bored of them - a reputable rescue would not be rehoming a rabbit with issues to a new rabbit owner. I've fostered and had many rabbits from rescues all been lovely and have had no issues.

So how does deliberately keeping a singular rabbit, benefit from prevention of both physiological behavior and health issues or a bonded pair.

How does a singular rabbit deal with the prevention of eye issues, such as eye infections blocked ducts, parasitic reduction and other conditions where a paired rabbit would assist in prevent these conditions. As well as neurological conditions due the prolonged increased stress hormones.

It's a fact that grooming from a bonded rabbit assists with the prevention of many health conditions where one rabbit cannot reach or groom and the ability to act on another's inert behavioural patterns to allow one to relax or exhibit its inbuilt behavioural traits.

It's not parroting anything when you have a solid education in such matters and a degree in these subjects, that are backed up by a long history of rabbit care.

Let me guess you think rabbits don't require physiological conditions to be met along other natural behaviours to have a fulfilled and healthy life. As long as you think it's happy it is.

Keeping an animal alive is not living.

I’ve just adopted form the RSPCA. They no longer do home visit anymore, they just want pictures form the areas your animals will be staying in to ensure they’ll have adequate space and care with their new owners.

I can’t help but feel like you’re not trying hard enough to adopt and would rather ‘shop’ for them, potentially using backyard breeders.

Who objects to someone checking animal welfare anyway 😅 I don’t think you’re ready to have rabbits if you’re concerned about the people who are concerned for the animals checking the animals will be cared for properly.

People like to parrot 'they're social animals' but the truth is it depends on the individual.

In the same way people like to say humans are social animals. Some, distinctly, are not xD

Individuals are Individuals.

Ideally a pair is good. Sometimes you find they don't bond with one rabbit buddy. Or, they don't bond with ANY they prefer their own space.

Rabbits are often very territorial. Bonding can be stressful and take months.

If they are house rabbits and someone is going to be around most of the day, they don't need another bunny for company imo. It's nice, but not necessary.

But people often lose their shit when you tell them that no, rabbits don't always need other rabbit company. It's like they've been brainwashed into thinking its a necessity and they repeat it as if it's fact.

The same as rescuing. It's good to rescue IF you have prior knowledge of owning bunnies (and ideally also plenty of backyard space for rabbits to run around in). I would not recommend a new owner rescue. Rescue rabbits often come with more complex needs such as severe cage stress (not always) and so may struggle with say, being shut in their enclosure at nights/if you're out.

I consider myself a relatively experienced rabbit owner but personally, I'd not rescue again unless i had a back garden they could go out and expend energy in several times per day to help reduce destructive behaviours. Again, not sating that's an issue for all rescues (for example sometimes there are baby bunnies) but... something to consider.

Of course there's always a moral dilemma of shopping not adopting but, you can say that with regards to any pet.

@Curlymam88 you don't have just the one do you? They really shouldn't be alone, they're social animals.

Lots of people are telling you they aren't suitable pets for children. My daughter in law is a vet and says rabbits are difficult to look after and totally unsuitable as pets for children. Think about this again for the sake of the animals.

I think you would be unreasonable to do so, yes.

Rabbits are wonderful animals, but not good pets. Especially for children.

They are exceptionally hard work and such a tiny proportion of pet rabbits are cared for adequately.

I think there are much better pet options for your daughter.

Please try one of the many rabbit rescues first. I wouldn’t get more than two as they can be difficult to bond and often need separating. If you go to a rescue they are likely to have bonded pairs which are already neutered.

I've always had rabbits and keep them outside in a bunny shed. They do have a large run but I let them out daily in the garden to free roam when I am home. You need to be careful with cats, foxes and birds of prey if you let them free roam though.

I'm glad you posted this because you have just shown 100% that you lack knowledge of keeping rabbits.

If you did understand the complex nature of rabbit behaviour you would understand that people who try to plonk two rabbits together and not follow the correct bonding procedure is never going to work.

Rabbits are sentient beings and bonding will not always work between rabbits, that means they are not a compatible pair in some instances. That does not mean they do not require social interaction of their own species, it either means the pair were not compatible for reasons only known to the rabbits themself or they were not in a situation to allow bonding to occur correctly.

So than you for proving my point about your ignorance and lack of knowledge.

You obviously read past all the posts about people saying their rabbits didn't like being with other rabbits. Having to buy 2 separate hutches for them etc? But hey there's Science that says they must be kept with others.

https://how-to-rabbit.com/keeping-rabbits-alone/

Plenty of scientific papers to back me up, but then again your an expert aren't you 🙄.

The problem with cruelty, it starts with ignorance. I'm just glad all my pets are cared for in the right way and have the correct companionship. I doubt yours will live to see old age never mind its early teenage years.

• Are you available 24/7 for your rabbit until the day it dies?
• Do you groom your rabbit by licking its ears and eyes?
• Do you hop around with your rabbit and explore its environment?
• Do you lay next to your rabbit around 7 hours a day and cuddle (body contact)?
• Do you know how to speak rabbit and talk to it every day?
• Do you protect your rabbit by keeping an eye out for possible predators and stomp if needed so your rabbit can relax because it knows that you are guarding it?

Can you answer that all yes lol 🤔

How often is you rabbit able to come out of a an alert state of animal behaviour knowing that its companion is ensuring its safe, the levels of stress hormones in yours will very rarely be reduced. 🙄

Fuck..I better go out buy another rabbit right now! Thanks for your info rolly eye person 🤪🤪🤪

Laugh all you want, but the fact you're keeping a social animal singularly and the fact you think that science of animal behaviour does not apply your pet is quite sad for it. The FACT remains you cannot provide the companionship it requires from another of its species.

Ignorance is bliss i suppose, once again 🙄.

Rolling your eyes at me 🤣 she gets groomed and is very happy. Her bunny hopping around the garden tells me she's fine.

Agree. I had Guinea pigs as a child, teen and a mum. As soon as I got my first house I got Guinea pigs! I spent so much time cleaning them out and handling them as a child.

NO NO NO.

Never house them together, they do not belong together and rabbits carry Bordetella (respiratory bacteria) which can be fatal to guinea pigs.
They both have very very different nutritional and other requirements.
Please don't house them together.
Often you will find that the rabbits will bully the guinea pigs.

Sorry but keeping a single rabbit is not a good idea, as they are social animals and you nor your kids can provide the bond a rabbit needs to fulfil its social needs and grooming at later stages of life. 🙄

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/companionship/

Also forgot to say that with our setup being more spacious and safer than the majority of pet boarders, when we go on holiday we use pet sitters instead who visit the house twice a day to feed/clean/supervise bunny exercise. Similar cost to boarding but more peace of mind for me (plus they bring in post/put out bins/water plants etc).

Posters have offered to help you find somewhere, if you gave a general idea of location. It's unlikely that you will have a home visit - some places might ask for a photo of your set up. They are doing it to make sure that the rabbits are well-looked after - why would you object to that? Getting an older pair is a good idea, because then they will be well bonded.

We adore our two buns, who are both males from the same litter. Their bond is so cute and they are affectionate with one another and with us. We got them for DD aged 14 after years of campaigning (!), five years on she is still main carer. We handled them regularly as babies and although they don’t love being picked up, they do love a stroke and a cuddle!

They live outside in a large Omlet run, with the Eglu inside with its door always open, and a small run, hay hutch and tunnels. It’s recommended that you over-mesh the top of the Omlet run as the spacing is too large to prevent predators such as rodents/stoats etc.

We use Haybox for fresh Timothy hay and the paper Back2Nature litter instead of wood shavings.

Sounds as though your DD will be an ideal owner. We’ve been blessed with our rabbits, they’re so entertaining and a lovely addition to our family. I’m sure yours will be too.

Feel quite sad about people saying rabbits are rubbish pets who don't like being handled. Here is our rabbit playing in the kids tent. If handled regular they're lovely pets.

F

Our rabbit loves being handled. We've had her since a baby and she loves my young kids 2 and 11. It's her 4th birthday today 😆
She's an indoor rabbit so I dint have much experience on the outdoorsy stuff. We let he rin the garden for a run around but only when we are with he incase neighbours cats attack.