What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[abserbean]

So I have a question about mixing bunnies. Has anyone ever had success mixing two bonded pairs? I know I have to quarantine and introduce them slowly. Everything I've read said that once they are bonded, they don't do great about accepting new buddies. My kids want them all to be friends and to be able to play in the outdoor penned area together, I'm just not sure if this if feasible. They do have their own living spaces, one pair is in an outdoor hutch and one is in an indoor cage (for now, the hubs says they have to go out eventually too, but my daughter is angling for them to stay!) Just curious about people's experiences. This is our first time with rabbits, we've had the lionheads for about 6 months and just got the rexes two days ago. All of the rabbits are female.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Here are the two new bunny babies! The fawn color is Penny, the black is Piper. We did get them with pedigrees, so hopefully the kids can show these with 4H. Now I just have to make sure that the original girls don't get forgotten b/c there are new bunnies on the block.

They are just beautiful. Congratulations.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

No babies for me. I'm still waiting.........

 

[PrimroseMom1]

So I have a question about mixing bunnies. Has anyone ever had success mixing two bonded pairs? I know I have to quarantine and introduce them slowly. Everything I've read said that once they are bonded, they don't do great about accepting new buddies. My kids want them all to be friends and to be able to play in the outdoor penned area together, I'm just not sure if this if feasible. They do have their own living spaces, one pair is in an outdoor hutch and one is in an indoor cage (for now, the hubs says they have to go out eventually too, but my daughter is angling for them to stay!) Just curious about people's experiences. This is our first time with rabbits, we've had the lionheads for about 6 months and just got the rexes two days ago. All of the rabbits are female.

I was told that even bonded does should be separated when the harmonies kick in. I had two does from the same litter that were best friends. When the harmones kicked in they started mounting each other and biting. So it might not so much be an issue of whether the two pairs can be together but rather whether the existing pairs can stay together. I'm not a breeder. I traded the two does for other rabbits, long story, and ended up finally with two bucks that we wanted for pets and to keep in the same cage so they were nuetured. They are so sweet and very bonded but only bec they are fixed.

 

[Bunnylady]

So I have a question about mixing bunnies. Has anyone ever had success mixing two bonded pairs? I know I have to quarantine and introduce them slowly. Everything I've read said that once they are bonded, they don't do great about accepting new buddies. My kids want them all to be friends and to be able to play in the outdoor penned area together, I'm just not sure if this if feasible. They do have their own living spaces, one pair is in an outdoor hutch and one is in an indoor cage (for now, the hubs says they have to go out eventually too, but my daughter is angling for them to stay!) Just curious about people's experiences. This is our first time with rabbits, we've had the lionheads for about 6 months and just got the rexes two days ago. All of the rabbits are female.

There are no guarantees on this one. I have had animals that got along without issues for years. On the other hand, I have seen animals that seemed to get along fine suddenly turn on each other.

How old are these rabbits? Puberty is the most common trigger for a sudden onset of hostility between two formerly compatible animals. If these are all spayed females, hormones would (obviously) not be an issue.

Be warned, being exposed to strange rabbits can cause "bonded" rabbits to turn on each other. To some degree, it depends on just how "alpha" the dominant member of each pair is. If they are all laid-back, easy going animals, they may form a reasonably happy foursome without a problem.

 

[abserbean]

Our lionheads are a little over 8 months, so they are full grown and hormones should be raging. They are bonded and sweet, no fighting or issues so far. They are both pretty laid back, although they have gotten a little wilder with age and hate to be carried. They will jump in our laps in the play yard, but run if we try to pick them up. I've never seen them fight, and can't tell for sure which is the alpha. They sleep cuddled up and groom each other, which seems to be a good sign from what I've read. Our new rexes are only about 11 weeks old. They were from different litters, so they didn't know each other before two days ago. So far they are doing fine with each other, although one of them has claimed the little house in their cage and will thump if the other wants to come in. I would guess that the one claiming the house will end up being the alpha, but it is too soon to tell. I'm hoping that they bond like our other girls have, but we will have to wait and see. I hadn't thought of spaying them, but maybe will check into that since they are pets. Calmer would be a good thing with kids involved! Our lionheads aren't purebred, so shouldn't be bred anyway. Can we spay the two that we want to show, or would that disqualify them? Probably a question for my 4h leader.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

On the other hand, rabbits that aren't used to being around other rabbits can easily get very territorial and aggressive. Wild rabbit colonies exist but they are often riddled with aggression and dominance struggles. Low ranking or low key rabbits may bond or form a colony easily but in general most "caged" rabbits attack other rabbits when suddenly just thrown together. Most colony situations in domestic rabbits are one buck over several related does that have never been separated (sisters, daughters, etc) otherwise there can be a lot of fighting.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

If you decide to neuter your rabbits, they are calmer and made better pets. I was told that does are prone to breast cancer if not fixed. The breeder and exotic animal vets all thought I had does. I was convinced so maybe they didn't really look. Called me from operating room to say they were both bucks. Lol. I have seen them become better pets since the surgery which went without a hitch. Rabbits are not dogs. They are more susceptible to anesthetics. Be sure they go to an exotic animal vet with a history in rabbits. There's a website that lists them for your area.

 

[abserbean]

Thanks for the advice! I am sure the two new rexes are does, I can even tell they are so easy to sex. The lionheads are tougher, thicker fur maybe? I'm pretty sure they are both does, they have never mounted each other and size wise it fits. I guess if we ended up with a litter I would find out the hard way! At one of our 4h meetings a buck ran away from it's owner and mounted one of our lionheads in a flash, thankfully nothing came of that! I think she was still too young then, but if that is how most bucks react, then I'm pretty sure they are female. I'll check into the neutering/spaying in our area and see what the cost would be. I have a friend who is a mobile vet, she takes care of our other animals. I know she does livestock (chickens, horses, cows, etc.) as well as regular domestics, but I will have to find out her experience with rabbits.

 

[ChirpChickens]

hi everyone! so i have the cutest little mini Rex rabbit. (Jewel) she's so soft and has this huge tuft of fur between her ears

so anyways.. she's my only bunny and she lives outside (we've got a nice rabbit hutch designed to keep dogs out and everything) i got her in August.. but she's been so mean lately! our hutch is big enough and strong enough that i can just climb in and scoop her in my lap.. but now when ever I even open the cage she yells at me in that weird bunny language (you all know how evil it sounds) I swear she's calling me the worst curse words or something and she won't let me hold or pet her anymore do you think something like a raccoon or fox is bothering her at night? or she's lonely? I thought that maybe she was in heat but its been a couple months.. I have some chicks that I've making a coop for with a connected run.. would she be better is they shared? they would all have alot of space and she wouldn't be lonely.. and she'd be locked up at night..