2007-01-15 10:24:20 · 17 answers · asked by wesley p 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rabbits are extremely territorial. Always introduce rabbits, regardless of sex or age, in neutral space first. (Obviously, if you're bringing home two bunnies together, then any space in your home is neutral space.) Possible neutral spaces might be: a room that your rabbit has never been in, a friend's home or apartment, the seat of a car, on top of the kitchen table, the garage, the bathtub, the back yard, etc.
Try to bring your current rabbit with you to pick up your new rabbit, so that they can share that first car ride together.
Work with the rabbits for at least 20 minutes per day. Make sure to spend some time with the rabbits in one or more neutral space every day. When you're not actively working with them, they should be apart if they fight when together. If they do not fight, then they can be left alone if you're not working with them, but not when you're not home at all.
Every day, try using two different situations, one relatively stressful (like a car ride), followed by one relatively normal (the floor of a new room, the top of the bed). That way, you can try to gradually transition them from strange to normal situations, without them fighting. If you immediately attempt to let them run around on the floor together, without first having taken them for a car ride, they may forget that the space is neutral and fight anyway.
Use a water bottle (with the nozzle set on "stream") to break up any fights if they occur. It's best to spray the instigator before a fight actually occurs (watch for aggressive body language) rather than work on breaking up an existing fight.
None of these suggestions will work by themselves, and none will work immediately (usually). Work with your rabbits every day, for at least twenty minutes or so a day, and when you're not working with them, keep them in eye contact of each other.. Start with extreme scenarios and gradually move to less extreme. Do one extreme and one less extreme every day. The more often you work with them, the quicker the progress. If you want to move at a quicker pace, then you need to arrange a large block of time (like a week's vacation) in an extremely neutral space (like a friend's or relative's house). If one rabbit is elderly or otherwise compromised, then go slowly to minimize the stress.
2007-01-15 10:34:42 · answer #1 · answered by lady_death1978 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but you must do it carefully, and supervised so if they do fight you can seperate them. If your existing rabbit is male, then you need it neutered, and a female for company, as it won't accept another male. If you have a female, then another female should go fine. Clean the hutch and use a strong smelling antiseptic. This is to remove any scent marking, thus making it neutral terratory. We used detol, which smells strongly but is mild. We also used to use a small amount of diluted detol on the rabbits bums to disguise their scents. Put them both in the hutch at the same time, with several sources of food and water spread out and watch them. They will usually get on together, although they may have a bit of a scuffel to sort out whos boss. Don't be worried by a little bit of noise and jumping around. They should settle down fairly quickly. If they fight properly or are still scuffling an hour or so later, then they are not likly to get on, but in all my childhood of introducing new rabbits, we never had a problem.
2007-01-16 00:00:37 · answer #2 · answered by MyNutmeg 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't advise putting another rabbit into his hutch as they will probably fight. You can, of course, introduce another rabbit and rabbits are much happier living in pairs but the introduction must be done properly and it can take a couple of weeks to pair them. The easiest pairing by far is neutered male, spayed female. See lady-death1987's answer, she's got the right idea.
You also need to remember that you'll need twice the size for another rabbit so I wouldn't advise putting them your existing hutch unless it's huge or it has a large run attached. Mine live in an indoor pen 6ft square in my spare room and have the run of my house and garden when I'm home to supervise.
PS, although I do know of rabbits and guinea pigs living happily together, as a rule they shouldn't. They need completely different diets and the rabbit can often "bully" the guinea pig.
2007-01-16 00:00:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,i have done it and it as worked out very well indeed.My rabbit was also 2 aswell but her sister died unfortuetly with no explanation as to why.So thats why i went and got another a few weeks later but because a female is usually terratorial which is true as mine wouldnt let the new boy in her hutch without a fight,i had to buy a new hutch and put the new one in there on his own for a bit and just allowed times for introducing them both in the run which was funny as they just chased each other.After a few introductions i then popped the female into the new boys hutch and they have lived happily together since,took to each other very well.It all depends on the sex of the rabbits.I have heard two males will fight but yet i had two females before one of them died and they got on well.My female rabbit was neutered before i put her in with the male which i would also reccomend you to do in this case or you will end up with loads of them.Hope you have fun finding a freind for your rabbit.Its worth it having them keeping each other company if you dont get alot of time to keep playing with it.Hope this info can be of some use.
2007-01-16 04:23:14 · answer #4 · answered by leedslass 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Louise's advice is great, but perhaps intoduce them together in neutral territory bedore letting them back into the hutch. This ensures neither has the upper hand. I work for a very large rescue and they do the same as Loiuse but on neutral ground before sending them back to the owner. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date and get a num from a rescue to ensure it is healthy and neutered. Never put guineas in as rabbits may bite and injure the guines. Good luck
2007-01-16 04:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by india 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had 2 rabbits, i got the boy done and he had a lady friend with him , she died and we felt that he looked un happy so we bought him another girlfriend they were fine together as long as you dont get 2 boys it will be ok ,i am not sure about 2 girls though ,you can get a guinea pig but make sure the guinea has somewhere to go when the rabbit is being a pain to it like a little box that the guinea can fit in and not the rabbit,hope that helps.
2007-01-15 22:14:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
As a keeper of the two rabbits and guinea pigs for some years, my advice is that's not recommended to maintain rabbits and guinea pigs jointly initially as not purely do rabbits kick out and could destroy guinea pigs ribs, yet their diets are diverse and guinea pigs will omit out on the main appropriate quantities of diet c, folic acid and different supplementations that are purely modern-day in low parts in rabbit nutrition. Rabbits, lady and male are additionally companies to mounting Guinea pigs to teach their authority, inflicting returned injuries to the guinea pig.I even have seen the effects of such injuries it is likewise unwise to function yet another rabbit no remember if that's male or lady to the modern-day hutch containing the guinea pigs. that's considering you heavily isn't valuable in bonding the rabbits, if a combat breaks out the guinea pigs will relatively get harm, and it is likewise the incorrect thank you to introduce rabbits interior the 1st place simply by rabbits being very territorial.the main appropriate thank you to introduce rabbits is in independent territory. 2 unrelated dollars(men) will relatively combat unneutered or neutered. A greenback and doe is a appropriate experience and as a accountable rabbit proprietor you will desire to get them neutered in case you do not choose kits and likewise to give up struggling with, ovarian and uterine maximum cancers and testicular maximum cancers.
2016-10-20 06:16:36 · answer #7 · answered by merkel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Along with the advice you've been given regarding taking the introductions slowly, you might thins about letting him choose his new companion. A lot of rescues and shelters will let you take your bunny along to meet other rabbits. By allowing him to choose his new companion you're more likely to find one that he likes and will get along with.
It is possible to introduce a new rabbit at any stage as long as it's done with careful though and patience.
2007-01-16 01:08:50 · answer #8 · answered by mbunnyau 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you canot introduce another rabbit into there hutch.When your rabbit has already been alone for more then a couple of months it is to late to give them a partner or a friend. They think of there home as there own and they whant to keep it that way they dont whant nobody intruding it. If you do put anothere rabbit in there with him or her they will fight.
2007-01-15 10:30:30 · answer #9 · answered by Jahaira 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the rabbit is a male NO! chances are he will kill the other rabbit. Even 2 females will usually fight. if you want 2 rabbits get to cages and put them next to each other.
2007-01-15 10:44:48 · answer #10 · answered by Olivia W 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋