Getting a rabbit/s - should I get two?

[espressoontap]

Getting a mini lop soon - a boy. Should I get two as I know they like company? If so, is it ok to get another boy from his litter? Obviously will neuter them when appropriate

Rabbits should definitely be kept in pairs. If bonding a pair that are not litter mates then it needs to be done very slowly and carefully. Loads of advice on sites already linked by pps. A bonded pair of rabbits is a joy to see. They take so much comfort from one another. Their health is usually better and life span longer too.

And I agree that a bonded pair from a rescue is a great idea because they will be already neutered and the bonding process is quite time intensive if done properly.

Please don't keep a solitary rabbit.

@redpeppersoup they don’t share housing or food but have run of the garden which is large- they have never eaten each other’s poop and he’s in excellent health as are the chickens- they’ve all been friends for about 3 years.I was making the point the rabbit chooses to be with them and our dogs- he originally had a companion rabbit who died.

@Mollymalone123 it’s not recommended for them to share space at all due to the risks present for both the rabbits and chickens.

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your bunny - it would be best to adopt another rabbit to bond with yours as he’ll miss having a bonded partner. If you’re not keen on doing this in order to end the cycle of rabbit ownership, it would be worth seeing if any rescues near you offer a scheme where you can adopt a rabbit with the intention of handing it back to the rescue once yours passes away and they will find it a new home where it can be bonded again.

Apologies for the unsolicited advice, I can’t help myself when it comes to rabbit welfare

I like others would get a bonded pair from rescue. we (for reasons out of our control) got a boy bun a year ago, but have only recently managed to get him a (female desexed) companion. They have bonded well but it was a process (for all of us). Boy bun spent so much time with elderly hound he thought he was a dog so when faced with another rabbit he was a bit confused! but he is very much better for another rabbit companion. Ours live in our large dining/lounge and are very much part of our everyday life.
but for ease i would get already bonded pair personally

Definitely girl boy, both spayed. We adopted 4, and they do need the company. They had the run of our garden from 7.30am till 9pm and an open shed for their hutch all carpeted for naps. I miss them terribly now.

@redpeppersoup
His original rabbit friend was also make- they both had the snip as they were so aggressive they almost killed each other- then even after months of living side by side but not ‘together’ they were put together to see if they could share the same area- again nearly killed each other- all this was done in advice from rabbit welfare- they had to be separated after trying over a year. They were great companions as babies but then hormones got in the way. I took them on when they were about 2/3 years old. One died about 2 years ago.So I won’t be getting another rabbit as company for him,I will take on the advice about chickens though- his best friend is one of our dogs so he’s it lonely 😂

@newfluff yes that's what I meant. We tried smaller spaces to no avail and changed to larger areas. It's just been with two rabbits over the years (I've had many). One was an rescue and probably badly treated as she'd bite us if we went near, she'd rip other rabbits apart in seconds. We used to have to wear oven gloves to pick her up. In the end we built her a huge run (10m square) and let her have the run of it whilst still being able to see other rabbits and we basically left her to go wild. It was a compromise. Otherwise she'd have been left to rot at a shelter.

100% team bonded pair. Especially outdoors.

And a rescue pair is far less of a headache than buying a single baby and hoping to bond. Or get your single, get him neutered, then get a rescue to bond with one of their single ladies.

Our single rabbit. He's just soooo unhappy.

[quote tableauvivant]Our single rabbit. He's just soooo unhappy.

[/quote] If you're using a 30 second video clip to 'prove' good welfare you're fundamentally misunderstanding welfare. No one can comment on the specifics of your rabbit.

However what we do know is that rabbits are generally very sociable and will choose other rabbit social company.

If companionship is never offered you have no way of knowing what your rabbit would choose.

I’m using a 30-second video clip to have some fun; I am making no larger comment on rabbit welfare. I do know that ours is extremely well cared for, and by all normal measures appears content over these past 5+ years he’s lived with us.

More fun, for those who understand it. Mind the volume on the last one:

Thanks for all the advice. We've decided not to get one. I don't want two, and getting just the one would be cruel and I'd feel so guilty. I really appreciate all the advice. Thank you.

@espressoontap

Thanks for all the advice. We've decided not to get one. I don't want two, and getting just the one would be cruel and I'd feel so guilty. I really appreciate all the advice. Thank you.

I really appreciate you reading the replies and taking some advice, it's rare on here. It's good more people are realising that bunny's don't make the best pet as they have complex needs and are expensive to keep.

Thanks, @Newfluff. I love animals and I wouldn't want to cause any suffering. Reading everyone's responses really stressed me out and I know if we'd have got one I would've regretted it. Thank you again - it really is appreciated.

I think it's a good decision. I no longer keep rabbits as it is a huge commitment and I think are more maintenance than cats and dogs. My dog is certainly far easier.

Rabbits shouldn't really be single. I'd get 2. Both male and female need to be neutered. If you get from a rescue they probably already will be