help me explain to dd why it's not worth introducing our rabbits to her friend's rabbits...

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

We have a fairly elderly (was an adult rescue 9 years ago but now around 10 years old) neutered male rabbit and an un neutered female (also an adult rescue about 7 years ago, so aged around 8). Our two have lived together for 7 years. DD'S friend down the road has 2 younger female rabbits who have always lived together. The girls think the rabbits must be bored of not meeting other rabbits, and can't see why we shouldn't introduce them. I have saidno but they think II'm just being mean, as they couldn't have babies...

They wouldn't get anything out of being introduced would they, even though wild rabbits live in bigger groups? The girls formulated a plan to introduce them gradually which is quite sensible except that there is no need to introduce them at all...

Can anyone back me up and give me some reasons to pass on to the girls? (They are 9 and 10). Or am I just being mean?

I think your DC need more info on animal socialisation.

Well yes Bonsoir that is what I'm asking for, a way to explain why although people would want to meet more people if they only knew their housemate, there's no advantage to introducing rabbits to other rabbits

It's a bit like asking how to explain the facts of life to DC and being told in reply that your DC need more information on the facts of life

I think your DC need to be told to google info on animal socialisation.

When you say "meet up" is it the other rabbits coming round to your house , grazing/playing and going home?

Wouldn't that cause confusion and territory issues for your rabbits (not to mention two young possibly fertile rabbits (if they're not neutered) muscling in on her buck?

I would imagine getting them into a group then fragmenting it would cause more harm?

Oh and if they haven't been neutered, you could suggest to the owner it is recommended to prevent uterine cancers in does.

Do you suspect they might be paving the way forward to subtly rehome the rabbits to you?

70 they (my DD and neighbor dd) want to put them in runs alongside each other as if we were a boarding kennels type thing, but only during the day (both sets are shut into hutches over night anyway). I don't think they want to re home them, think the other mother just said it's fine for a quiet life (if she really did of course, not spoken to the mum today so don't absolutely know the other girl really asked her permission). I said no because they might fight, but they had the parallel run plan up their sleeves already (and we do have 2 runs, though one is small and used to be used indoors). I was just looking for a way to explain to the girls why the answer is no above and beyond the fact I cba to supervise a rabbit playdate Iwill say I will confuse them, but I dobdon't think that will chime as an irrefutable argument to 9 and 10 year olds, for all its true.
It can be an I don't care that you think I'm mean, the answer is no because there is no need moment, but I was just hoping I could explain why it's not a good idea a bit more clearly (they are at an age where there's an answer for everything, and believe that as rabbits can go to rabbit boarding kennels while owners go on holiday, this will also be fine, and that as they live in big groups in the wild, they must want more company).

The unneutered female may find it stressful - they can be very territorial. In fact, the bonding process can be very stressful on all involved and they won't 'enjoy' this invasion of their territory. Bunnies don't have any concept of play dates.

They might live altogether in the wild but an outsider would be given short shrift - bunnies have a complex social hierarchy and can be quite savage wee feckers.

It may also cause aggression in the two younger females - they won't know that your male is neutered and may display mating behaviours and it could well cause them to fight amongst themselves.

There is nothing to be gained from this arrangement apart from making four buns stressed for no good reason.

Also, think about the guest bunnies being yoinked out of there home and put into a strange environment with other, hostile bunnies. Even if there is no contact, I don't beleive it would be particularly enjoyable for them.

I should imagine most rabbits dry much dislike being kennelled in close proximity to other rabbits either, but at least there's a reason for it, rather than a misguided attempt to enhance the rabbits social boundaries.

It will cause all the rabbits a lot of stress. An easy answer would be that they could pass on disease. Lots of rabbits carry bacteria that are usually harmless but can cause disease if stressed.

Ok thanks everyone, will emphasise stress and germs!

Get them to speak to a vet perhaps? Or a staff member at a rescue or boarding place.

Or make them watch watership down :o as an example of clashing rabbit culture!

Er, don't really!

My DD is already having sleep problems Bertie - at bloody 9 years old she's stopped sleeping, yells hysterically for me every single night, just when the youngest child has stated sleeping through. There is no way on earth she's watching Watershipdown.... The vet is a good idea next time we happen to need to go - not paying €40 for an apt just for dd to chat though.

Will just leave it at no, it would be stressful for them and they'll catch each other's germs.

They are 9 and 10- not toddlers. Why would they not understand the stress argument, the uprooting argument and the germs argument? Have they googled around the idea?

Hakulet yes I have said I will emphasise stress and germs. No not suggested they Google, they don't tend to use computers much.

I was going to suggest Rabbit Awareness Week and they could ask at the check up but it's not until 9th May (local vets doing free rabbit checks)