How Much Social Time Does a Bun Need?

Is it OK for a bun to be on her own from aboutmidnight to noon, provided she has company & contact most ofthe rest of the day?

I don't see a problem, as long as she getsexercise and attention at some point during the day. I worktwelve hour shifts, and if my hubby is busy then my buns are withouthumans for that time.

I thought you had two rabbits- are they bonded? If cagedseparately, can they see each other? Even if they don't likeeach other, it's still company.

Thanks. I have 2, but am looking for a new homefor Flops. I suffer from depression & the work load of 2 bunsis proving to be more than i expected, along with taking care of
everything else.

bunman, i highly suggest you look into gettingthem fixed and bonding them. bonded rabbits are a lot happier thansingle rabbits. are they both female and do they get along alright?once 2 rabbits share a cage (and a litterbox) taking care of 2 buns ispretty much like taking care of 1 bun.

My rabbits are right next to me (cages inchesaway from me) in my living room work area. In effect we're together 12hrs/day during which time they get lots of pets & runtime inthe pen. I would not think Daisy if single would get too lonely

From what i've read online, bonding can be a very hard & evendangerous business. And one large cage would be additionalstrain on my cleaning energies compared to 2 more manageable smallerones. Also 2 buns are twice the work of one no matter how you slice it!

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bg9651: I just went on a 9-dayvacation over X-mas and New Year's and left the bun girls in the careof a sitter. I worried soooo much. But, they weretotally fine. I got butt for about an hour after I got home.After that they wouldn't leave my side. Silly buns!

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Bunman wrote:

Isit OK for a bun to be on her own from about midnight to noon, providedshe has company & contact most of the rest of the day?

Click to expand...

Personally I believe thats personal preferencebetween you and your bunnies.

I am out of the house 10 hours a day, 5 days a week (for my job) but Imake the time every night to devote to my bunnies (at least an hour)...I talk to them, pet them, lay on the floor with them, snuggle/hold themetc. I believe my buns know I love them. I have abonded pair in the bedroom and a lone bunny in thelivingroom. Even though my lone bun doesn't have "company"while I am at work, I think that the time I devote to her every nightkeeps her from being "lonely". Rabbits are most active atdawn and dusk (crepuscular)so rabbits make goodpetsesp for ppl that work since the middle of the day isdevoted to "napping" anyways.

Socialization and "free run/exercise" are similiar for me.Even though I am not with my bunnies all day, they are all free run sothey can be near me at anytime if they choose (while I amhome)and I think that helps in our bond too. Mostrabbit experts recommend at least 1-3 hours of free cage time aday. The out of cage time provides exercise and socializationwith you.

hope that helps!

slavetoabunny I think that you and Lissa havebunnies instead of kids. I'm like the momwith the big family thatwishes that she could spend more time with her kids individually..Ihave 3 dogs, 2 cats, 1 African grey parrot, 6 bunnies, 2 guinea pigs,and one big human husband named Jim. He thinks that he comes last but itold him when we met "I like animals better than people"

I meant to incude bunnyslave in with slave to a bunny and Lissa as the perfectdoting parents of bunnies.

Umm.... guys... what if I only have one bunny? The vet said she'd be ok... =(

Hi Rinoa. Your bunny will be fine, PROVIDED s/hegets plenty of quality time with you during the day. There is noformula for this, but we're talking hours of interaction withthe bun, + more time spent in his/her vicinity.

Mine is right next to my work/reading/TV station at home,inches away from me most of the day & i often reach in to petthe bun.
Then also we have a couple hours of romp time in the pen in the evening.

This is why some people prefer to have more than one rabbit, so theycan keep each other company. But of course this means more work.