Bunny playmate

[bunnylover]

i'm in the process of having a friend build me a rather large rabbit cage, and i think my girl could benifit from some company. Any suggestions on this?

[bunnydude]

Provided two bonded rabbits get along, rabbit companionship has wonderful benefits for all involved (to include the human). Most rabbit rescues will allow you to bring your current rabbit there for some "bunny dating". That way your bunny can pick her own match.

However, you will need to house the new rabbit in a different cage during the bonding process. Bonding will not be instantaneous.

[bunnylover]

Originally Posted by bunnydude

Provided two bonded rabbits get along, rabbit companionship has wonderful benefits for all involved (to include the human). Most rabbit rescues will allow you to bring your current rabbit there for some "bunny dating". That way your bunny can pick her own match.

However, you will need to house the new rabbit in a different cage during the bonding process. Bonding will not be instantaneous.

thats good to know! thats for the input...i want her to be happy and entertained with a playmate...i didn't know they'd allow dates. Oo

[bunnyluv17]

The best match is a spayed female with a neutered male. Unfixed rabbits are very hard to bond because of their high levels of hormones. Check out House Rabbit Society Rabbit Care Guide for some great info on bonding.

[naturestee]

Bunny dates are a great tool to help find a good match. Although some rabbits are very easy going, others are picky about who they like. With dating, you'll at least be able to see if your rabbit has an instant-hate relationship with the rabbit you're looking to adopt. Also, with rabbits that are being fostered or that get a lot of hands-on attention, the rescue workers/volunteers might be able to point out particular rabbits that tend to be friendly towards other rabbits and make friends easily. Many rescues offer lots of bonding advice and help, and a few even will board your rabbit and your new adoptee for a little while and bond them for you.

Although speutered male/female is the recommended, female/female pairs often work well and male/male pairs can also work. Although if you're looking into adopting a male to bond with your male rabbit, be absolutely sure that they are friendly towards each other. Males that don't like each other to start with can be extremely hard to bond. Even with same sex pairs, spay/neuter is very important.

This is my absolute favorite guide to bonding rabbits:
Bonding Bunnies

And there's more great articles here:
Rabbit References - Care, Feeding, Tips

[suzilovespiggie]

I have a spayed/neutered mix. They love each other. They bonded right away. At first one was in one area, the other close by. They could talk and smell each other. They did that for about a week, then I tried floor time and they just took to each other. Now they are inseperable. I had my male given to me and the female came from the Humane Society. Check with your local shelters. There are 2 rabbit rescues in AZ, I had checked with, both would let me bring the male to see if he would bond with a rabbit there. Good luck in finding a friend. I love my rabbits.

[cavyinhawaii]

I suggest getting a rabbit of simular breed and size.
I had two dwarfs, one just a little larger. she did the dominance humping to the little one all the time. They were both girls by the way.

[bunnyluv17]

Actually, the breed and size does not matter. It is the personalities of the individual rabbits that will determine whether or not they will get along.

Originally Posted by cavyinhawaii

I suggest getting a rabbit of simular breed and size.
I had two dwarfs, one just a little larger. she did the dominance humping to the little one all the time. They were both girls by the way.

[naturestee]

Bunnyluv17 is right. I've seen Flemish with lionheads, for an extreme example. Of my two pairs, the more loving one consists of a bossy 2lb Polish female and an easy going 5 lb Dutch. There's no mounting whatsoever, although Loki the Dutch does do "love dances" around his girlfriend.

I also have a pair of Dwarf Hotot sisters, one 2.5 pounds and the other 3.5 pounds. The smaller one does the dominance mounting, although 90% of that is gone now that they're spayed.

[bunnylover]

Because of you all i think i've probably doubled on my knowledge of things to do with my sweet lil bunny. For that i say thank you for all the links and stuff! I found a rescue to get her a playmate. I was kinda surprised by some of the things she said. I think she could perhaps benifit from the links...so when i go get my new addition, (there's like 8 so anyone in the GTA area feel free if ya need one to go there!) i'm going to provide her with the links i've found here. Thanks