Bunny Bonding

So if you follow both of my blogs, you will probably have seen that I am planning on getting my rabbit, Munchkin a friend! 


Since I am going to be doing some bunny bonding, I though I would do some informative posts on bunny bonding on this blog. 


Once I get the second rabbit I will keep track of their progress on my other blog "Critter Corner" (link is on the sidebar).




To start out I am going to do a little bunny bonding introduction:


Since rabbits in the wild almost always live with other rabbits, they are very social. Pet rabbits benefit from having a bunny friend. Humans can give them lots of attention, but we can't replace another rabbit, as we can't communicate and understand them perfectly. There isn't anything wrong with having a single rabbit, but it is great for them to have a friend, especially when there aren't any humans around for company.


That said, rabbits do not get along with just any rabbit! Just like people. Most people want to be around other people, but we don't always get along with just anyone! It is best to do some searching and find a rabbit that is compatible with the rabbit you already have. (Unless you are staring out getting two, in which case you can adopt two already bonded rabbits and skip this whole process).


But if you are like me and have a single rabbit and are looking into getting him/her a friend, you might find this post helpful.


The best thing to do is go to a shelter or rescue with your bunny and let him/her pick out the new bunny. 


A few things to remember when bonding:


Take it slowly, don't immediately put the together and let them live together.
Do short daily bonding sessions on neutral territory to minimize disputes
Get the bunnies spayed/ or neutered first
Try to always end on a positive note


I really do emphasize spaying and neutering the bunnies. The best pairs are male and female, so they obviously need to be altered unless  you want them to breed. It is best alter them both. 


Why? Females are much healthier and friendlier after spaying, and intact males will pester even spayed females, so the bonding might not go well.


If you pair up rabbits of the same gender, they should also be spayed/neutered. Trying to bond two intact males will be messy and will involve lots of fights, and urine marking, and they may never get along while still intact. The same goes for females.