This was originally posted in May 2018
There are so many people out there that believe rabbits should be kept in pairs. This is simply not true. Rabbits are very territorial animals and can actually kill each other. And it doesn't matter if they're from the same litter, I've had three sisters try to kill each other. When I rehomed the meanest one, the next in line decided to take over. It wasn't a good situation. I've only ever had one pair of rabbits live together, and even then, there was the occasional fur flying moments as "the boss" continued to establish their dominance over the other.
If you feel the need to have more than one rabbit, there are ways to help your bunnies bond, but be aware, if things go south, you must be prepared to house them separately, for the safety and well-being of all parties involved.
Mom and babies. The babies will be weaned from Mom at 7 weeks, and then a week later will be separated from each other.
If you already have a rabbit, how is it housed? If you're rabbit lives in a cage, you'll want to buy a second cage for your second rabbit. If your rabbit has the run of the house, you'll still want a cage for the new rabbit. If you are buying two rabbits at the same time, you'll need to buy two cages. So, what am I saying? You need a cage for each rabbit!
The first thing you want to do is house the rabbits near each other so they can see each other, and smell each other. You can gradually move the cages closer to each other until they are touching. Leave them next to each other for at least 2 weeks. If you have a rabbit that has the run of the house and you are adding a second rabbit, you may want to put that rabbit in it's cage for a few days with the new one close by before letting your rabbit run up to the cage of the new rabbit, as they may try fighting through the cage. You'll want to monitor them.
Sisters. Another was removed earlier because she was fighting with her 5 siblings.
After having your rabbits next to each other for a few weeks, you can start having short, supervised playtimes together. If a fight starts, separate them immediately and put them back in their respective cages. If things are going well, you can gradually lengthen their supervised playtimes.
Even we’ll bonded rabbits can fight occasionally. It’s usually a dominance thing. One rabbit is usually more dominant than the other, and will remind the more submissive one on occasion. When housing multiple bonded rabbits together, make sure the space is large enough they won’t feel overly territorial and they can have their own space. Houses or huts are a good idea. I found that rabbits that were housed next to each other, but not together, did the best. Usually male/female pairs. For obvious reasons, you will not want to house a unaltered male/female pair together. Males can spray when in the presence of a female, altering the male may not stop this behaviour.
Although bonded bunnies are adorable together, you do not need a friend for your rabbit. Rabbits are completely fine on their own, and honestly, they’re not alone, they have you. *Side note: Keep in mind that when a bonded bunny loses a friend, they can become depressed and stop eating, which will also lead to their death. You will need to spend extra time and attention on them to make sure they are doing okay. If you decide to get them a friend, you will need to start this bonding process all over again.
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