Question About Rabbits ( Real Pet Rabbits )

[p-no]

Hi all,

Does anyone of you have pet rabbits by any chance?

I used to have rabbits for ten years but never tried to keep two females together. Although I'm not too hopeful to find someone rabbit-crazy as me here, I thought I'd give it a try.

Usually, I know, you should never get a female first and then get a male, because of territory. But I never really looked into whether keeping two females together would actually work.

Anyone any experience?

Thanks!

 

[JustBe]

Maybe if they were littermates?

 

[p-no]

What is that, M'O?

 

[safenow]

Both born at the same time frame. Same mother etc.

Sorry for interrupting

 

[p-no]

Thanks, safenow. Now I see ;)

Maybe, M'O. I just hope I'll find someone with experience in that respect. I can't really risk trying it.

 

[NarcSis]

I don't have rabbit experience, but I was seriously considering getting one, I too would love to here from someone with bunny experience.

I am guessing that adding a rabbit to an existing rabbits territory would create animosity between them....does it help to get them both at the same time?

 

[safenow]

Prime-no, perhaps you ask a veterinarian (an animal doctor). I'm sure they would have an answer to your question.

 

[p-no]

Medic, I have experience with groups of rabbits and pairs (I mean one female and one male or two males), but not two females. In my experience (sorry), the females cause most of the trouble! They can be incredibly bitchy!

I am guessing that adding a rabbit to an existing rabbits territory would create animosity between them

There are certain ways of how you add a rabbit to a group; usually, if you follow those rules, it works quite well. Not always though. Whenever another rabbit is added to a group, the group will have to sort itself out again, i.e. they have to determine who is the "pack leader" and usually that goes along with fights! Don't ever add another rabbit to a group if you don't have real thick gloves, and I'm not talking normal winter gloves!

does it help to get them both at the same time?

Well... Two males often love each other, if (and only if) they are both castrated when they're young. I had two of those and they just adored each other, it was so sweet to see. At ages 6 and 8 they seemed like grandpas. Here's a pic of Stoffel and Nicki:

Rabbits should never kept single though. They are group animals (sorry, lack of words) and they really need another. I started off with Nicki, my first one. We wanted only one then. But you could soon see that he would get depressed, would just sit around. So we got him a girlfriend. She eventually died and we had gotten another pair, and then the two guys fell madly in love. The best for last.

Two girls... I'm a bit scared of that. There were two sisters in that pet shop today one of which I really liked a lot. But I have only heard once, from someone I got to know on a rabbit forum and met in real life, that two girls were madly in love. If I ended up with two girls who didn't like each other, I'd have a real problem.

What got you interested in getting a rabbit, Medic?

 

[p-no]

perhaps you ask a veterinarian

Yes, that's an idea. Maybe I should check with one.

I have inquired about it on the internet and mostly they say a male and a female are the safest bet. (This is my experience, too.) And then they say two males and two females can fall madly in love, too. I haven't found anything about two femals who are sisters though (one post on a forum, long time ago). Well, if I risk it and it doesn't work, well, that's not an option, actually. If a female gets bitchy they pee wherever they want, get somewhat aggressive, etc. Not nice. Nickis girlfriend was one of those. She was the guy in the relationship (her hormones went wild). I don't want that again.

 

[NarcSis]

It was actually my hubby who suggested it because I'd really love a cat but he's not sure if looking after it would overwhelm me.....plus I have allergies.

I've read that house bunnies are actually more work than cats, is that true? How pooey are they in reality? Are you constantly picking up pellets? What about smell and allergy issues?
Do they need a huge area/pen or are they okay with like a dog bed?

Hubby also suggested a guinea pig but I'm not too keen on them. Sorry for all the q's.

 

[kdblossom]

With your rabbit experince you should be able to adopt from a rabbit rescue. The may very well have a bonded pair.

I have heard of 2 females coming out of rescue together. In America we have a website that lists animals available for adoption from rescue groups [DLMURL]http://www.petfinder.com/[/DLMURL] . Might try asking 1 of the rescue groups listed there if it is possible.

 

[ms spock]

You can toilet train your rabbit Medic72.