[harminygrits]

A friend from my facebook page, after seeing my bunny pics etc.., has asked me to take her bunny. I asked for details and was told it is a 3 yr old female rabbit that bites her, doesn't come out of her cage "because she doesn't like the hardwood floors", uses a litterbox but also uses the bathroom throughout the cage, and just needs a good home. My pair have always been together (prolly siblings actually) so we don't have any scuffles at all. How diffcult would it be to add a third, that is apparently cranky and not socialized AT ALL? I told her that the bunny is probably cranky from hormones.

 

[Jess]

I'm not experienced with bonding pairs, so I can't help you there, but I know Michelle/Dragonrain has a bonded trio. So hopefully she will see this thread.


But she doesn't seem all that terrible. I'm guessing she isn't spayed, because those behaviors are pretty typical of an intact femal bun: Cage aggression, bitey, not litter trained... So I have a feeling that if you got her spayed, a lot of her bad behaviors would go away, or at least be not as severe.

 

[Dragonrain]

Trios...hmmm yeah. Well, they are harder to accomplish and maintain than just a pair bond. If you take in the rabbit, don't take it under the assumption that it will for sure bond with the other two. You may end up having to have one pair and then a single bunny, depending on how everyone gets along. How things work out really depends a lot on the individual rabbits.

The dynamics can be confusing in a trio. The bonding technique is much the same as with a pair but you are dealing with more rabbit relationships. You have to be careful, because introducing another rabbit to the mix sometimes has undesirable effects. I've heard of people who tried to make a trio and instead had their original pair start fighting and unbond.

I have a trio now, but I doubt I'll ever have another one. I think I'd much rather stick to just bonded pairs. I've had more issues with my trio then I ever had with a pair and the trio was much harder to bond than any pair I've ever dealt with.

The bunny doesn't sound all that bad to me either. I would get her spayed first thing, if you do decide to take her.

 

[harminygrits]

thanks DragonRain-yeah-I would hate to mess up what we have goin' right now..I don't ever have to crate the bunnies, and with adding another bunn to the group someone would have to be crated. I will encourage the owner to get her spayed and work with her--I just can't see having a bunny for 3 years and never bringing them out to play--grumpy or not!

 

[twoifbysea]

You could always foster the bunny -- Maybe call an bunny rescue, tell them the situation, and tell him you want to foster her for now. They'll probably cover the costs of spaying, etc. Bunny rescues (or simply animal rescues, really) are always dying for foster homes for animals. Then if things do happen to work out, you can officially adopt her through the rescue, but if they don't seem to be bonding -- then no biggie because it's temporary until you find her a good home.

 

[twoifbysea]

I did some research and came across this -- thought it might be helpful if you do want to take a shot at bonding the 3: http://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BondingInfo/tabid/63/Default.aspx

 

[Jovie]

Poor bunny! I hope she didn't keep the poor thing locked up for years, even grumpy bunnies like to play! I've been sooo tempted to make my pair a trio, but I just don't know and I'm glad I've been reading this because it seems it may not be something I want to get into. There's just soo many cute bunnies out there I'd like to have as part of my bun family!

 

[Purple-Hops]

What a sad existance for the poor bunny. I don't know why people assume just because they see you with pics that you collect them or something!! I was asked a couple times to take bunnies (multiple times by the rescue and twice from friends)

As mentioned, IF you take her have her spayed right away. 3 years of little play and contact and biting will ensure you're locked up for months in socialisation and bondind (with YOU, before the bunnies)

 

[harminygrits]

I guess seeing my bunny pics-them chillin-made her think I have some special bunny taming powers! I think I might have scared her off with my bunny spay/neuter talk (all I said was that having her spayed would prolly ease the hormonal grumps)...She said she would consider having her spayed if I would take her b/c she wants the rabbit to have a good home, but maybe she researched it and decided against the cost-I don't know! I really don't have the time for an antisocial pet right now--I'm a fulltime preK teacher, full time mom/wife, and a full time student(working towards my birth-kindergarten degree!)...My rabbits are the most chill ever and I don't ever have to crate them anymore (they are behaving nicely whilst we are away too (sleeping and eating is about all they do!). I would hate to mess up a good thing : If she asks me again I will just take it from there.

 

[Purple-Hops]

Well, you're responsible in that you realise you cannot take on the bunny. However, knowing it's future, could you convince her to surrender it to a rescue? They would cover costs of spay and also have her new home screened for good purposes. That would be the best bet for the poor bunny. I'd hate to hear that she keeps the bunny just because YOU cannot take it.