Do indoor buns need a friend?

All of my buns are outdoor so I have no opinions on this but was wondering (maybe for future reference) for those with indoor buns, are indoor buns happy on their own if they have humans for company or do you treat them as outdoor buns and say that they always need a friend?

hey hun

I think it depends on how much human company they get and on the individual buns personality. Some buns need other buns and some are happy just to be with people.

The official line is that all buns need a bun friend but I believe its down to the bun and the circumstances.

k x x

I was going to say the same as katie, if you can give them alot of your time and attention, I dont see 1 being lonely, if you were out all day tho then it would be a bit lonely, its bonding indoors that may cause problems less space to do it etc.

As the others have said it depends on the bun. Bruce my buck would be lost without the company of both me and his doe Flo. He needs lots of petting and Flo cannot massage his cheeks in the same way as me and I cannot see to his ears in the same way she can! Flo only accepts his attentions so she would never be content with just human company. I have a friend who lost one half of a couple and replace the doe but the new doe and the old buck just weren't a good mix. The buck then died and the doe is quite happy with just human company. If you read icedancers posts about the recent bonding of florence and dougal I think it shows clearly the link between destructive behaviours and lack of bunny partner for some buns. I guess it comes down to the idea that if you have a lone bun, no matter where it lives, it will need lots of extra input.

My Buttons is an indoor bun and he is a single bun, but he seems quite happy with this!! We are only out at work in the day and that is his sleeping time anyway, so that suits him fine, (even on weekends when we are home in the day, he just goes and sleeps under the sofa!!) I'm sure he would bond easily with another bun, but currently while living in a 1 bedroom flat I just don't have the space for another bun!! but he seems happy with just our company, he sits and grooms me, and I groom him back!! It definitely depends on your rabbit, and also how much time you can spend with your bun!! Ever second of my day at home is spend with Buttons!! Even as I type this he is sat on my chest licking my nose!!

I had a single indoor bunny until last week. I always thought that she was content enough, as she was very sociable and groomed us and honked, binkyed etc. However since getting her a friend (she went bunny dating) she has calmed down a lot. She was often descructive and naughty, whereas now she isn't as much. She still grooms me and hubby, and also her new friend, and she seems to watch out for his wellbeing a lot.

Saying that when I collected her from the rescue she was thrilled to see me. So I think if she had to choose between me and Dougal she's be a bit stuck!!

I don't think it's a fast rule, but I have definitely seen different behaviour from Florence. Although last night she was still a little git!!

lizzi_b wrote:My Buttons is an indoor bun and he is a single bun, but he seems quite happy with this!! We are only out at work in the day and that is his sleeping time anyway, so that suits him fine, (even on weekends when we are home in the day, he just goes and sleeps under the sofa!!) I'm sure he would bond easily with another bun, but currently while living in a 1 bedroom flat I just don't have the space for another bun!! but he seems happy with just our company, he sits and grooms me, and I groom him back!! It definitely depends on your rabbit, and also how much time you can spend with your bun!! Ever second of my day at home is spend with Buttons!! Even as I type this he is sat on my chest licking my nose!!

I agree with this ^

I had a single house bun and she was a happy girl. Like Lizzi, I work full time so she was alone by day, but whenever I was home by day, she was usually asleep anyway. My evenings and weekends were dedicated to her. People even laughed at me because I took holidays from work if I knew I'd be out that night. Because she was a single bun, I knew it would be wrong to leave her alone all day and night.

Saying that, going forward, if I decide I need a bun in my life, I will have a pair, mainly for my own sanity. I always had anxiety about leaving Thumper home alone, but it got a lot worse the older she got. I realise if she had taken ill while I was out another bun couldn't have helped her, but I think knowing she wasn't alone would have made it easier.

Single house buns CAN be happy buns and an absolute joy to own

Thinking more about this, I think its just a different happy. The way single people can be as happy as people in relationships. It means you can do different stuff.

I'm sure there's times Florence doesn't want to share her pellets, but othertimes doesn't care. Or there's times when he's asleep all day and she's wondering what all the fuss is about