Rabbits Do Rabbits Need Friends?

[Rayvn]

I only have one rabbit now, and I was wondering if rabbits are like guinea pigs in that they really prefer to have a friend. Slick has seemed kind of depressed since her sister died, but that may just be me, since she's eating and drinking fine. I've heard it said either way, but I've noticed that the info on this forum tends to be pretty concrete .

 

[lissie]

I don't have any rabbits but I've seen many people recommend the care guide from rabbit.org. Here's their info on multiple rabbits.
(broken link removed)

 

[CavyCarnie]

Not from another rabbit. They need affection from you, but unless you have a mother/daughter or siblings, they will fight to the death, with the younger one usually being the loser. Some rabbits will play nice with pigs, but you have to be careful. A bunny can do a lot of damage in a big hurry. Our lionhead rabbit loves to have around the guinea pig cage, but she isn't allowed in...

 

[Aertyn]

CavyCarnie, do you have any evidence to back that claim up?

I know of *dozens* of paired up rabbits that are not siblings, are not mother daughter and get along amazingly well. You tend to have more luck pairing up male/female (both fixed of course!!), but if you do the intros right you should have two very happy bunnies.

OP, here's a great page on Rabbit Socialisation.

https://rabbit.org/journal/3-4/two-rabbits.html

 

[grace&piggies]

Yeah my mother & sister usually have a few rabbits, none related. They all get along. Some need their own space sometimes, but as far as I know they've never had any problems with aggression.

 

[suzilovespiggie]

Rabbits do like to have friends in another rabbit. They do not have to be related to be paired. Many rescues have dating sessions for rabbits to seek out a good match. Many rabbits themselves will pick out their own friends and bond to one another.
Rabbits are affectionate creatures both to humans and other rabbits. Just like with some pigs they do not get along.

My Jaime loves attention from me and often comes up to me to be petted and held. He loved his mate Jackie. Both were lops. They talked to each other, groomed each other, slept together, ate together. He was heartbroken when she died.

Your information is incorrect CavyCarnie. www.rabbit.org or House Rabbit Society is a great site for all things rabbit.

 

[pinky]

From what I've read, males should be neutered and then they get along fine. We have a lot of wild rabbits by me. I always see them running in twos or threes. Every year, when they bunnies show up, they stay in groups. I'm sure predators and cars must kill some of them, but there are always rabbits with companions. They funny thing is, they play tag, popcorn all over the place and dig spaces under fences to get to and from yards that have fences. I think it's easy to decide what they prefer, based on what we think when we observe them in our homes, but watching them in the wild tells me they prefer companionship when the choice is theirs.

 

[CavyCarnie]

Well, that was the info I got from the people I got ours from and others I have talked to. It seems I was misinformed. Now that I think of it, there is a petting farm not far away that has rabbits housed together, never dawned on me until just now...my apologies...

 

[go_ellie]

I am not at all a rabbit expert. I have had a rabbit.

This is a rabbit forum, very similar to this guinea pig forum. Rabbits Online Forum

They are very friendly and provide the best information

 

[Inle_Rabbit]

There is nothing more loving or adorable than a bonded pair of rabbits.

 

[Rayvn]

Thanks for all the info everyone! I think I'll wait to get another rabbit, but all the links you guys gave me are very helpful. lol