Trio advice?????

Before I got thundercracker I had reserved a girl atbthe sspca. When talking to a rabbit charity in glasgow they suggested a boy would be better and they had one in mind.
I never got that boy instead opted to unreserve the female and get my wee lad thundercracker instead.
Looking at rabbit stuff online all the trio bonding has been done with 2 girls and a boy.
Has this rabbit charity duped me to try and get me to take one of theres? But then why would they suggest a boy if they had girls to get adopted too? I am confused.

Xxx

While I've only ever had 2 buns at the most everything I have read/learned over the years has said 2 males are more likely to fight than two females. The logic for this is, they are highly likely to fight over the girl.
Of course there are exceptions to the rule!

Look at MJ and Philip, two male HH buns who get on fine! But they don't have a girl TO fight over.

I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to bonding so tbh I would stick with the advice and have 2 girls, 1 boy.

I had a trio, twice.
Clawed (doe) and Mr Starbuck were a couple but he also spent time with Toffee and her daughter Truffle Without Clawed around) (all my does were unspayed - it was in the '90's and I had no cash but my bucks were neutered) then after Starbuck died (abscess in his groin) I was given another buck, Mr Toast O'Riley who was in a trio with Toffee and Truffle (Clawed hated him and would have nothing to do with him).
I found it quite easy with two does and a buck. I just popped the buck in the pen with the two does and stood by to see what happened. They were fine with both Starbuck and Riley, never a bad look let alone any nipping or fur pulling. The only rabbit fight I had was when Clawed managed to get into the pen and attacked Riley.... she REALLY hated him.
I think having a strong bond between the two does helped a lot. Being mother and daughter and always together Toffee and Truffle had a great partnership and the bucks slipped into the picture very easily.

When I first had bunnies I had two girlies and a little boy and that worked out well. I agree with what has been said here, bonding two males is much harder. I think they are like us though lovey, sometimes they just dislike each other on site and at another time it is instant love. I don't think the rescue was trying to fob you off, as you say they had lots of bunnies so why should it make any difference? If I had a trio again I think I would have two ladies and a little man.

Hugs
Jo xx

Every where i have read say two girls and a boy.

Im begining to think they were at it and just trying to get me to take one of their rabbits.
I wouldnt have minded but Im not sure if I trust them anymore, in future will stick with the sspca
Xxx

It is nice to find somewhere you trust love and so many places are not quite what they seem.

Hugs
Jo xx

Hi Gemma,

I am sorry you are having this stress with your buns.

We got Philip from a rabbit rescue in Glasgow, I think there is only one so we are probably talking about the same one. My experience was not positive either.

We had not long lost Temperance and MJ was completely bereft, and so was I.
We had contacted the rescue and specifically asked about a female rabbit that was MJs age, but we also asked if it would be possible to see a couple of other female buns just in case he didn't get on with the first bun, we included Philip in the list as a wild card, in case the others didn't work.
(when we adopted MJ from buddies bunnies in Edinburgh they did bunny 'speed dating', I had expected something similar.)
When we arrived they only rabbit the rescue had available to meet was Philip.
So we decided to go ahead with the introduction. They put them in a tiny 18" spare space where they circled/chased/humped. This went on for a few minutes, they told us 'they'll be fine' took the cash and sent us on our merry way. The whole thing was very impersonal. More like a business transaction. The rescue owner was quite rude/indifferent. Overall disappointing experience. (and we left with much the feeling as you have)

This is a far cry from what happened when we adopted MJ. And on attending the RWAF conference in June I now know that the RWAF do not recommend "stress bonding" ie putting them in a tiny space and forcing them together.

MJ and Philip have a decent bond now, though no where near the same bond that Temperance and MJ had. I always wonder if getting a girl bun might have been better. I did speak to the lady from the RWAF about this, as I had wondered if introducing a third bun would make MJ happier, but she suggested that adding a third bun would have a strong possibility of breaking the bond between MJ and Philip (and also might not make MJ any happier at all).

Might be worth contacting the rwaf for some bonding advice? You can call or post on their FB page.
If you wanted any help with bonding Elmbank rabbit boarding are now offering this, highly recommend them and Vivien who runs it is very rabbit savvy.
(I think she used to help at the rescue MJ came from... a few days ago she sent me pics of MJ from before we adopted him, and one of him and Temperance on the day they met at the rescue)

Sorry for the long tangenty ramble.

I hope everything works out x

I hate it when these rescues are cold and business like when you are adopting a pet, it really diminishes your faith in them. They should be huggy and friendly and show an interest in the animals that are up for adoption and show warmth.

Hugs
Jo xx

Thanks
Prob is the same charity i have gave up with them keep making phone appointments and they never phone so gave up. I spoke with a vet nurse who had just done some specialist rabbit training down south and she says they dont recommend trios due to two will bond closer and although they be friendly one will be left out.

And she confirmed if determined to have a trio then two boys and a girl is the easier bond.
Unfortunately i got this advice after adopting another girl, which i am heart broken to say she returned to the centre this morning due to jetfires behaviour 😢😢

Xxx

gemma997 wrote:Thanks
Prob is the same charity i have gave up with them keep making phone appointments and they never phone so gave up. I spoke with a vet nurse who had just done some specialist rabbit training down south and she says they dont recommend trios due to two will bond closer and although they be friendly one will be left out.

And she confirmed if determined to have a trio then two boys and a girl is the easier bond.
Unfortunately i got this advice after adopting another girl, which i am heart broken to say she returned to the centre this morning due to jetfires behaviour 😢😢

Xxx

They said the same thing during the bonding talk at the rwaf conference - that in bonded groups they tend to pair off.
I'm sorry you are having to return the girl, its a difficult decision but sounds like it is the best decision for your buns and you x

It wouldnt be fair on jetfire and especially thundercracker he was having a hard time of it.
She was a lovely wee thing so hopefully will be find a more settled home. She was very friendly but didnt like to wander out her cage. I do think if that was because of jetfire.
Sometimes the best thing for them is heart breaking.

So to cheer myself up i spent another fortune on them new toys and tunnel and managed to get them carrots with the green still attached.

Xxx

I am so very sorry to hear this love and can imagine how painful it must have been, but you did the right thing. I am sure she will find a super home. What a good way to cheer yourself up, new toys for the buns you do have, I am sure they are over the moon with them.

Hugs
JO xx