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Original poster

Rabbit - Ok I should of listened to you in the beginning

56 replies

keepitsweet · 13/04/2010 21:08

Yesterday I was asking about Rabbits and guinea pigs and you advised me to get 2.

Well today I went to RSPCA who suggested I only needed to get one one of each, even when I pushed should I get pairs, I was told as long as I got them out every day one enough was fine. So I purchased one rabbit and one guinea pig, they are now in separate cages.

Anyway the rabbit is thumping away out there -
is it just letting me know he's unsettled on his first night?

I've been out there and have seen two hedgehogs in the garden, is he telling them he's there?

Or is he lonely and tomorrow I need to get him a friend?

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
keepitsweet · 15/04/2010 15:46

Ok to answer questions - RSPCA rehoming were happy for me to adopt a guinea pig and a rabbit. Even though both of them were in runs with others, I was told, no just have one each.

We then went to pet shop (independent) who were happy to sell us single rabbit, although living with others. We went to chain pet shop who sold us guinea pig (female) and rabbit (male) who were both alone in store. There were no other guinea pigs in store, there was another rabbit (male) in a separate pen, I asked whether we could have that one as well, and was told that it wouldn't be wise to put them together.

However, you will all be pleased to know I am sure, I took the pets to the vet this morning, for check up, and first innoculation for rabbit, and questioned the vet on this. The vet advised to get another female for the guinea pig, get the rabbit castrated (to wait a couple of days after this injection today as he won't be happy so he's being done on Monday), then wait two weeks to ensure he's firing blanks, and then introduce a female to him.

OP posts:
Original poster
keepitsweet · 15/04/2010 15:47

Forgot to clarify - the guinea pig now has a friend.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 15/04/2010 15:49

I have a single male house rabbit at home which I feel guilty about. His owners were allergic to him, and the rescue centres wouldn't take him so we did. Still wonder if we did the right thing by him.

He's in the house in a large hutch most of the time though he gets a few hours run around inside and out everyday.

I don't know if thats a life worse than death (the only other option for him)

Fliight · 15/04/2010 15:53

FANTASTIC Keepitsweet

Well Done!

and thankyou, for cheering us all up

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 15/04/2010 15:53

Guinea pigs need a friend.

kingprawntikka · 15/04/2010 16:10

Really pleased to hear you have got another guinea pig and are going to get another rabbit. Your pets will be so much happier , and because they are happier will make much better pets.

arsesandoldlace · 15/04/2010 17:14

brilliant! Sorry for having a go before.

Hope you have many years of fun with your new furry friends.

MeMudmagnet · 15/04/2010 17:21

That's great news. You'll find they'll be fun and interesting pets if they're happy.

Just one thing though.. Be careful how you introduce the new bunny. It should be done on neutral territory and gradually. There may be a bit of fur pulling and chasing at first, but not fighting. If they start laying side by side and grooming each other, you know you're getting somewhere. It may take several days of careful supervision.

IndigoBlue · 15/04/2010 18:19

That's great news well done. Some rescue centres will allow you to take your rabbit there and then attempt to bond it with a neuteured female in the rescue for you. This is probably your easiest way of doing it as he may not accept another rabbit just because it's a female, some will get on instantly others will not and you don't want to end up with 2 that have to be kept separate.

shockers · 15/04/2010 18:33

I've had a lone male bunny for about 5 years now. He seems very happy...should I leave well alone or try to introduce a friend?

We used to have a female bunny with a male GP... they were immensely happy together until someone's ferret got into their cage and killed them both .

Original poster
keepitsweet · 15/04/2010 18:49

Thanks for advice re rabbit introductions. A friend is lending me a spare hutch, and I read that 20 minutes sessions and build it up from there, I will ensure like mentioned that they will not go into a hutch together until they can prove to me that they are friends

OP posts:
MeMudmagnet · 15/04/2010 18:50

A friend would make him happier. I'd contact a rescue centre, as said above.

Our local rescue helped introduce another bunny to ours when she lost her mate. Then I managed to introduce a third myself, with their guidance.

MrsL123 · 15/04/2010 19:55

Oh I'm so happy to hear that keepitsweet, that's brilliant news

I have to admit this has been on my mind constantly since Tuesday

Are the new guineas getting on OK?

Original poster
keepitsweet · 15/04/2010 20:18

Loving each other, and I have to say, when under constant supervision, and given free reign, all 3 of them snuffle each other out. Of course I wouldn't turn my back on the rabbit with them, and it's while they are in plenty of space to avoid each other if they choose, but they all congregate for a natter, then the rabbit leaves the other two to it.

OP posts:
Fliight · 15/04/2010 20:43

That's a really good sign - I put our pigs in with the rabbits briefly once, and took them out very quickly! Rabbits just turned and nipped at piggies, not a wise move.

i think you'd know if there was animosity, iyswim, though accidents always possible with a rabbit. One kick could do in a pig.

(just in case anyone is wondering, our buns survived their neutering - they ar tired and a bit wobbly, but the smallest one started eating just now so am breathing sigh of relief! Sorry for hijack)

Original poster
keepitsweet · 15/04/2010 21:09

No apology needed, glad they okay Fliight. I'll be nervous on Monday.

OP posts:
Fliight · 15/04/2010 21:12

Thanks...apparently male rabbits bounce back much quicker, because it's more of an external op I think? But anyway - hope he is fine

RacingSnake · 15/04/2010 22:30

MrsL123 - paper bedding is bad for gp's? I had always used wood shavings until I recently read a book saying that they were very bad for them and I changed to shredded paper (confidential notes from work!)

I have 4 gp's - not more work than 1 and very happy together.

SusanSocks · 15/04/2010 22:48

i read paper bedding was fine but wasnt happy to see my 2 munching away at it

RacingSnake · 16/04/2010 06:38

Maybe if I make sure that they have lots of hay. Think bank statements might cause acute indigestion!

goldenticket · 16/04/2010 07:58

Reading this has got me thinking that I really should think about getting another rabbit - we did have a pair of females from the same litter but one had to be pts. Would a male be my best bet? Any advice re introduction etc?

Glad there's a happy ending for the OP

Fliight · 16/04/2010 08:24

Oh dear - are wood shavings bad?

We have them under the hay for ours.

MrsL - please come back, we need you!

kingprawntikka · 16/04/2010 09:09

Rodents with attitude is a really useful site for guinea pig owners, It definitely has a section on bedding. I keep my guineas on fleece, but make sure they have unlimited amounts of timothy hay to eat.

SusanSocks · 16/04/2010 09:14

i am off today to buy a hay bale, so much cheaper.

MrsL123 · 16/04/2010 16:04

Sorry, been in work today!

Wood shavings aren't bad - only the perfumed ones you can buy (lemon, lavender etc). Normal wood shavings are absolutely OK

With regards to paper bedding - with the guineas it's a problem because the long strands can get tangled around their legs and cause injury. You can buy square-shredded stuff which is OK, although I think it's a waste of money because they much prefer hay and like to eat their beds. If you do want to use paper bedding, it has to be the soft pet shop stuff rather than normal paper, because the ink and coatings on letters, newspaper etc shouldn't be ingested. Printer-type paper also tends to have quite sharp edges when it's shredded and piggies have delicate feet and tums(just think of a paper cut!).

Fliight, glad to hear they're recovering well - did your third get operated on today or did they manage to do them all in the end? If she's still at the vets I wouldn't worry too much about the reintroductions - they've all been there now and they'll recognise the smell so it won't be so much of a shock. You could still rub the bedding on her to make her smell more familiar, but honestly I don't think you'll have any issues at all. They'll just be glad to be home!

Keepitsweet your boy's will probably be on the table 15 minutes max - it's literally a snip snip and pull them out! They don't open the males up like they do with females (exactly the same as us really with hysterectomies and vasectomies).

I'm really glad to hear they're all getting on well together - our rabbits and guineas used to get on fine and we never had any issues. They shared a big run but the guineas had things to hide under if they needed to, and their own hutch with a small guinea-sized entrance cut in the side so they had somewhere to escape to without the rabbits being able to get in. But they hardly used it and preferred to be in with the rabbits - in fact when my last guinea was left on her own, I would often see her sandwiched between the two rabbits with just her nose poking out - better than a radiator any day! The rabbits used to groom her and if she got scared the first thing she would look for is a rabbit to hide behind, it was very sweet. We might just have been lucky but there was never any aggression in the five years they were together - if anything the guineas bullied the rabbits, not the other way around! Heaven help the bunny who gets between a pig and her spinach Obviously some people have aggressive rabbits that shouldn't be allowed to interact with guineas, but if you've got a mellow chap and they're all quite young, they'll get used to each other very fast and will become friends (a bit like cats and dogs). Aside from aggression, the other problem can be the rabbit trying to hump the guineas - but as he's getting neutered he should be fine. The biggest problem you'll have is the size difference and the fact that rabbits are so blummin clumsy! Some rabbits will hop straight over the top of a guinea or kick it, which is very dangerous. But you'll soon be able to tell if they're OK to be out together - if your bunny is one of the less clumsy ones and they have plenty of space, it should be fine to get them out at the same time. Of course you'll have to reassess once Mrs Rabbit comes along, but once she does Mr probably won't be interested in the guineas anymore anyway

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