Bunny to take over Mikeys old home, Options?

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Hi all,

I'm at home just thinking that Mikey was a pretty nice bunny to have around. He passed away a few days ago and I am thinking when my wife comes back from overseas we may get another rabbit. Where as Mikey can never be actually be replaced as he was special and one of a kind yet perhaps another bunny can take his place in his old home.

Mikey was just over a year old. Very young for a rabbit to pass away. So this time I want to try and do it better if we do decide to get another. Mikey was alone and didn't have a companion when we were at work or out. I wanted to get Mikey a play buddy but when he first got sick, I didn't go ahead in case the new rabbit would get infected also.

So if I get another rabbit, I am thinking to get two right away. But I am not sure how to go about this. Is it best to get two brothers? I don't really want little bunnies being born. Or is it better to get a male & female but 'snip' the male? Are rabbits happier if they have a 24/7 buddy?

Mikey was purchased from a very reputable vet and got all the checks but still was ill. Its one of these things and I do not in any way blame the vet. So I am thinking this time around maybe find a private breeder as Mikey cost us over $200 to purchase and its quite expensive. My wife knows people who have little baby bunnies and I'm thinking to go this way.

What are you thoughts? ANY advice would be great!

Mickey was never neglected in any way. Yet I want to use his experience and this newish found forum to make the experience for the next bunnies even better.
 
I would suggest getting a male and female. If you cannot get a male and female then may I suggest two females. Two males will rarely bond even if they are brothers.

Yes, you would need to get one of the rabbits fixed if you get a male and female, or both of them fixed.

What breed(s) are you thinking about getting? I have a Lionhead mix, my female named Sweetie, and a purebred Netherland Dwarf, my male named Prince. They are both fixed and they are bonded.
 
I would suggest that if you want to get a bonded pair, that adopting through a rescue would be your best bet. They will already be spayed/neutered and bonded, so you won't have the risk of buying two that end up hating each other after puberty.

A good rescue will have all the rabbits vetted and health checked before adoption as well.

-Dawn
 
Where in Australia are you?

I think $200 is a pretty pricey bunny, but I don't know the area.

I'd go to a rabbit rescue first and a breeder second. Avoid pet stores like the plague. They can be bad news.

A rescue means you're helping out a homeless rabbit that may have a pretty crappy life without you, you can get the lowdown on bunny personalities and get a good match. And they should come already spayed or neutered.

The adoption fees around here are about $60, half the cost of the spays/neuters.

There's a good rescue website, http://www.petrescue.com.au. You can punch in 'rabbit' and your state and come up with a list.

Are you near Perth?

http://www.petrescue.com.au/search/?a=o&g=a&s=a&l=wa&a_id=

If you go the breeder route, try and find one that keeps the babies with their mothers for at least eight weeks if not 10, and feed the moms hay and a good variety of other food. They should also be will be willing to take the rabbit back should the need arise.

Mikey wasn't all that friendly, if I recall, but if that didn't bother you, you can get a pair right away. They need to be 'fixed' as soon as the boy's testicles drop. Its particularly important to spay the girls because they stand a huge chance of getting uterine tumors when they're older.

I think I'd probably get a boy bunny first and bond with him and then get him a girlfriend a few months down the road, but its just a thought. Sometimes they're not as friendly when they have a mate. Let him bond with a human first. Girls are more territorial, so it may be easier to introduce a girl later one. Otherwise if she bonds with you, she may just tell the boy to get lost.

But honestly, a rescue will work through all of that with you, so if that's an option, it really is easier.

I think you'll find that a lot of bunnies (if not most) are pretty darn clever and quite the characters.

Please let us know where you are and maybe we can help. I'm so happy you're considering another little furry friend!

ETA: Bunnies are extremely social critters and they will bond with anybunny/anybody/anything. Pipp is bonded to me, we're together 24/7 because I work from home. But if you're not around 24/7, they are WAY happier bonded to another bunny. Watching two bunnies together is soooo sweet! And way healthier. They really do a lot to keep each healthy -- cleaning wounds, keeping their eyes and ears clean and ailment free, reducing stress, increased exercise, etc.


sas :bunnydance:
 
Pipp wrote:
Where in Australia are you?
Western Australia

I will look into this shelter thing. I 100% agree. If I can help out a poor animal that needs a home of course its better then buying one from a vet/pet shop that will be bought by [hopefully] a loving owner anyways.

If I adopt bunnies from a Pet Rescue and soon after they develop problems, will the pet rescue help out or would I need to pay all these vet fees again?

I also saw they charge adoption fees. Why would a shelter who is looking desperately for owners charge someone to help the bunny? Not complaining, just curious
 
Rescues are run by donation, they need to pay for the food and housing, but no humans ever get paid.

The fees here in Canada cover spays and neuters and end up costing far less than a Vet because the rescues get cut rate deals from Vets.

But I'm seeing that a lot of the ones in your area don't seem to come spayed/neutered as a matter of policy like they do here, but the fees are only $20 for a baby and not much more for an adult so it balances out.

You can foster a rabbit from a rescue here and they will cover the Vet bills in that case, but they'll be actively trying to get the bunny adopted. If you decide you want to keep the rabbit, you'll have to adopt. But its a way of trying them out first if the rescue is willing. (Some are, some aren't).

Most rescues make sure the bunnies are healthy and if you have problems soon after you adopt you can usually take the bunny back to the rescue to take to their Vet for treatment at a reduced rate.

You won't have that luxury with breeders or pet stores. The breeder may take a sick rabbit back but they won't pay for a Vet. Its a way of showing a breeder is reputable -- they stand by their animals and are concerned about their futures -- but its not financially feasible for them to seek Vet care when they have so many rabbits. They will usually try to self treat (or euthanize), and if you're returning a healthy bunny, they'll try again to rehome the bunny. (But they won't of course give you your money back).

Rescues will almost always require you to return a rabbit to the rescue no matter what the circumstances. You usually sign a contract saying you won't sell or give away the rabbit without contacting the rescue first.


sas :bunnydance:
 
That's wonderful to hear that you are considering getting another bunny or twoto share your home....:)

The adoption fee that you are charged goes back into the rescue...so it's absolutely worth it.
 
Pipp and I are on the same page. All of our bunnies have been rescues. You could get a bonded pair and possibly get one that has already been neutered thus saving money and all the other little things that go with that act. Intact male and females both have problems and can be problematic--seems that our most aggressive bunnies were the females before neutering and the males, although not all, liked to spray everything. Good luck and again, condolences on your loss of Mikey.
 
My wife is still overseas so we will talk about it when I get back. I think my wife is a bit reluctant in getting a bunny again but I am more for it. either way, we will probably take a little break and do more travelling etc. I will be on here when we get another bunny. I have kept my eyes open on the shelter website.
 

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