your thoughts on this?

Hello,
I have two bunnies, Tia female, around 6, and Tor male, around 3 who are a bonded pair and both neutered and live outdoors in a very large, palatial hutch together with a run that most people would die for as a garden of their own it is so big.
I consider myself to be an experienced rabbit owner having taken in unwanted or rescue bunnies for the last 30 years (now i feel old haha)

Tia feels her age a lot these days and has weak back legs, which means she falls over on her side a lot so is quite high maintenance as she cant always move herself away from where she toilets, and so sits in it and if she falls away form her food she cant (or possibly, im not absolutely sure which, doesn't think to) get to it so is always being propped up and put back on her feet and given food, water, greenery etc - basically thoroughly spoilt.
She is very much in love with Tor, but him being a young and exuberant bunny boy he does get a bit much for her, so she has a corner of the run fenced off with old panels and shavings on the floor, with rain/sun shelter and her food water etc where she chills out during the day.
Last night i put her in a separate hutch for the night in case she felt better for it, but Tor was very depressed at not having her for a whole night - he has just about got used to being separate most of the day, and Tia herself seemed quite indifferent to being alone but very pleased to see him this morning when they met up briefly.

So... i am toying with the idea of a third rabbit, female, who would keep Tor company, but also be friends with Tia so the three of them got on well, but were also happy when Tia spent time on her own.

I have introduced rabbits to each other before, quite successfully, and have introduced a single to a bonded pair, however not where one is disabled...

Do you think this could be done or best avoided? If it were to be done, how would it work, as in how would i go about it when Tia is unable to move around quickly in the event of not liking the new bun, wanting to explore it etc...?

your thoughts on this?

Well, you are talking about bringing in a doe to what is, essentially, Tia's territory. Plus, this doe would be competition for the affections of Tor, who is Tia's buck.
I would be extremely wary.... Tia is likely to be very upset; upset in the manner that were she an able bodied doe she would fight the intruder, but with her disability she couldn't possibly win any fight. Yet she could attempt to start a fight with serious consequnces.
You would have to be extra vigilant regarding fights between Tia and the newcomer.
Tor could well accept another doe but that would hardly be fair on Tia.
Also, sadly, it is a fact of nature that disabilities are not readily accepted in the animal kingdom. Any disabled creature is likely to be looked upon with suspicion by others of its kind. Tor accepts Tia but the mere fact of her disabilty might be enough to set a stranger rabbit against her.
I think if I were in your shoes I would be looking to either taking on two rabbits, a young fit doe for Tor, an older, perhaps disabled friend for Tia. Or leaving things as they are because if you bring in another doe that Tia doesn't accept (Tor, also, may well not want another doe) you will just be upsetting their relationship.

Thank you, that is what i was wondering, thats bit i havnt had experience in, i wasn't sure how strongly Rabbits felt about their partners and newcomers, but do know they can be very territorial.

The time i introduced a single to a pair was when they were all three new and it was no ones territory, and all three were girls.

Yes, this is very much Tias territory, when she lost her female friend a few years ago, Tor came to join us, so i think i will take your advice of laving things as they are now, there are too many complications which could cause even more problems.
Thanks for your help.

Hi there ! Welcome to HH.

Its such a tricky thing, knowing what to do for the best, and often buns don't know what's best for them either.

Sadly I think the advice anove is right :-(

I sending both of them cuddles though xx

Welcome to our happy family love, I hope everything turns out well.

Hugs
JO xx

Thank you for your replies, for the moment they seem to accept the way things are, so i think it will be easiest to leave it like that for now. I have no wish to upset anybunny, or to complicate matters even more for them x

One idea ... you have probably got them ... tunnels! The short, wide ones or the log arches? Does Tia like to lie in them (some buns do, some don't)? If they would, or could be encouraged to, snuggle in them together that might create some sense of security and safety from playful injury. Likewise cosy cat igloos.
I hope they/you can maintain their relationship.