big decision

Am I wrong to keep one bunny? I worry Bunny might be lonely, even though I spend lots of time with him & I'm always on the look out for boredom busters, he very often will go in another room in the evening, then he's alone, don't know why he does that but I also worry about the extra expense, & work of two, then extra this & extra that as well, mostly I worry about destructive behaviors, I consider we're very lucky, Bunny is a good boy, & he listens pretty good, maybe another bunny wouldn't...let me know what you think.
Judy

Daisy is a single house bunny - his medical issues mean that he can't really have a partner. But he is a very happy lad.

It's one of things that is entirely your decision. As he is a house bun, with lots of company from you, it's not as vital that he has a friend.

A friend is recommended for buns, but sometimes that isn't practical. I'm sure he would love a friend but it has to be what is best for you too.

As you know I have two outdoor buns and having two is not twice the work, they use the same space, share the hay and the toys and cleans up after two is not much different to cleaning up after one.
It is double the vet bills though. I'm sure their are lots of rescue buns who would love a home with you. There is lots to consider though. They would both need to be neutered or it wouldn't work.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's something only you can decide, it sounds to me that Bunny is a happy boy, it's great for them to have a friend, but I dont think you need to beat yourself up about it x

No you are not wrong at all, we cannot afford 2 , so we had Dougal our first rabbit who sadly died at 2 years old 3 weeks ago. He was a happy chap and he loved us, we had tons of time with him and he was spoilt rotten, he died of unforseen cicumstances, he had an eneryism and a blood clot . He was really healthy otherwise the vet said and a perfect weight. I beleive as long as you have enough time with him and he is happy I would not worry. I do not think it is cruel. Everybody has different circumstances and we cannot always afford or accomadate more than 1. You seem like a big worrier like me and you obviously love him a lot to ask this question and post a lot of your concerns . The RSPCA let me rescue Arabella , our new female bunny as a single house rabbit and like the lady said from there, you are in most of the time so she will be completely fine, she is , we have not even had her a week and she is well settled and binkying around as we speak.
Hugs to you, you are not doing anything wrong, if he was lonely as you could not be there for him, then that is different but you are.

We have a single bunny too love and she gets plenty of company from us as there is always one of us here. You do what you think best, your bunny has a wonderful home so please do not worry.

Hugs
JO xx

Thank you ! now I can take that off the worry list.
Bugsbunny l am so sorry about Dougal, that must have been right around when I joined, he was so young poor baby, I'm glad that Arabella has her forever home , she must be so happy, I know Bunny was, the second day after we rescued him, he binkyed, he'd only been here 10 mins. & he came right out of his pen & started exploring & chining everything. MINE... MINE.. MINE... but it probably helped alot cause he new me really well, l think he must have known how much I loved & wanted him,
right from the moments we met.
KatieB I didn't know Daisy had medical issues, has he always had them, right from the start, that must be hard & expensive.

Thanks Jo I do feel better about the whole thing now that I've talked about it & got some feed back, I love him so much, I know I would love him anyway, but maybe more because I rescued him from a bad situation & because he's my great grandsons
Thanks Guys
Judy

Hi Judy

All three of mine have medical issues.

When daisy was about 1 he needed a dental and I took him to my local vet, I didnt know anything about bunnies really at the time and when they told me they needed to pull his molar out I believed them. Well when i went to pick him up they said they had tried to pull it but were unable to... I thought nothing of it and took him home. Anyway 3 weeks later we were back there as he wouldn't eat they had no idea why! After another week and hospitalisation we took Daisy to see a specialist about an hour away. It turned out that where they had "tried" to pull the tooth they had caused damage to the jaw and an abscess had grown there. Also he had been dropped and his little back had been damaged.

5 years later Daisy still goes into stasis on a regular basis and has been on abx and pain killers for all of the 5 years. The abscess will never go away and I am on constant poo watch and food watch so that I can catch the early onset of any stasis episode and turn it around. Which is why he can't have a wife - I need to know which poos are his and monitor his eating very very closely. Daisy has to have a GA and a Dental every 8 weeks.

Needless to say we only ever see the specialist vet now who is absolutely amazing and i feel very lucky that he looks after my warren.

I adopted Charlie and Annie from a rescue centre 3 years ago this Jan. They had been put in a rubbish bin by someone and the bin men had found them. The rescue centre then took them in. As soon as I got charlie home from rescue I knew something was wrong with him. His eyes were weeping so I took him straight to Johns who X-ray 'd him and discovered that his tooth roots were growing into his jaw. He was immediately put on abx to fight infection and two lots of pain killers. Its a miracle he is still here with us... I didn't expect him to get through the first summer. He is now 4 1/2. Charlie needs dentals every 6-8 weeks.

About 18 months ago I noticed that Annie was fitting in the garden.... I was terrified. Rushed her to Johns and we discovered that she has slow heart failure. Her heart walls are thin and weak, and as a result sometimes has fits. X-rays revealed that at some point she had been dropped or hurt and her spine is damaged too. So annabelle is on heart medication and pain killers for her back. Its a miracle she is still here too.

So between them on we have to administer 17 medicines a day, and I keep an eye on their every movement. To be honest I don't ever stop worrying about them all.
I love the three of them so very much though they are worth it all and i wouldn't change any of them for the world.

Oh Katie poor you & your bunnys, will the horror stories never stop about incompetent vets & horrible morons that just throw away their pets, & now you have poor Annie you need lots of love & hugs every day, bless you
Love Judy

Its ok..... I get so much more from them than they do from me :-)

When Bunny was neutered I almost went crazy because he wouldn't eat for a week after & I had to force feed, we had only had him about 3 weeks & I was as green as grass,I don't think I slept that whole week. I can't imagine the worry you have, do you have childen to look after as well, if you do, I don't see how you cope

No children at the moment.... just me, my hubby and the buns.... I don't know where I would fit them in!! lol

There is very little as awful as bunny worry! They have no idea how much worry they cause us!

NO KIDDING do you sleep, you & hubby must say hello & goodbye on the way to the bunnys

hahahahaha - its all about the routine in our house... lol.

Matt goes to work at 6am - he gets up first and him and daisy have a cup of tea on the sofa together. Then he goes off to work, I get up and give daisy his morning meds and breakfast...while he is eating breakfast I go and grab Annie, and then Charlie and do medicines. I put their breakfast on the step outside their shed to keep them busy while I clean the shed out. They then have a run around the garden while I put their entertainment for the day in the run and then I hoover all the hay up that they, and I have dragged through the house... clean the syringes, get ready for work. Then just before I go I shut them in the shed and run before I head off to work. Matt gets in about 3, lets them back in the garden for a run about, and spends some time with daisy. I get home at 6, do the night time medicines and dinners and shut them back in the shed because its now dark.... in the summer they can play in the garden until 9pm. we then have our dinner, and prepare breakfasts for buns ready for the next morning. daisy comes into the front room for the evening with us.... One last capture and medicate of daisy before we go to bed.... phew. All ready to start again the next day!

What a run! And well organised. Have you ever considered a career in care profession?

Im happy to do it with animals.... but humans Claudia... I don't think id be as good with.

Hats off to all of you that do though... I think you are all amazing.

Wow, Katie, I am in awe of your routine and especially the fact that you manage to hoover

I had a little smile at the thought of Daisy sat on the sofa with a cup of tea

I am like that love, I can do for animals but not people. I too really admire those who do.

Hugs
Jo xx

Some good advice has been given.

All I can really add is that bunny would almost certainly be happier for having a friend. This doesnt mean to say he isnt happy though - but he would be happier. There is also the potential for bunny not to accept another bun, this is very rare though.

As for the potential for other bunny to be a destructobun. I know what you mean. Its the fear of the unknown. You have a happy, well behaved little bun, and could potentially be letting a little fluffy horror in your home. It is a bit nerve wrecking!

You could always speak to rescues. Find a suitable bun, and do some bunny dating to find the perfect bun. There is no rush, is there

For me personally, there is nothing better than seeing a pair of loved up bunnies

Yes your very right there, thats what stops me most, Bunny is very well behaved. ( Destructo bunny :    ) I know I just couldn't hande that, watching everything we've worked so hard for, for many yrs. get destroyed.

I would love to find something Bunny is interested in chewing, I've tried so many things, he will chew carboard & paper some what, he loves real willow & apple branches off the tree but not at this time of yr.

He's not perfect, he has chewed two holes in my couch, but there was a reason, & he hasn't done it since & he does occasionally nibble paint, not healthy, I would love some ideas I haven't tried.

I'm open to all suggestions
Judy

Skirting board and then plasterboard is fair game to rabbits as is anything that is in their way. This includes doors, shoes, furniture - in fact anything. Spraying the items with vinegar reduces the willingness to chew the item but only temporarily.

There is a booklet available from the RAAF on foraging which includes information as to what time of year to pick the different items. I can't seem to find a link to buy it at the moment though.