missniknak
Alpha Buck
Apologies for the waffly post...
I adopted Adelaide and Toby from BARC in June, and then later adopted their brother Orinoco, with the intention of having a trio. After initial bonding success, I posted a couple of weeks ago that the bond had come undone, with the boys fighting. I think the cause was Orinoco's refusal to groom Toby, and Toby suffering from jealousy. I put Orinoco into his own hutch and contacted Angie about returning him to BARC. It didn't seem fair for him to be alone, when he seemed so happy when he was in the trio.
My current set up is Toby and Adelaide in a hutch and run, and Orinoco in his own large (4ft by 4ft) bachelor pad. They have separate free range time, getting about 4 hours a day each, and in excess of 7 hours each day on a weekend, or when we are home.
Orinoco has lots of toys, tunnels, snuggly fleece igloo, and I spend as much time with him as I can. He is a lovely snuggle bun and I look forward to his cuddles. He has stolen a piece of my heart for sure. He seems really happy in himself. He is quite an independent bun and is so full of beans. He's currently digging a big hole in the garden - not good for a white rabbit in the drizzle!
Angie has said I can keep him as long as he seems happy and healthy, and has plenty of stimulation and play time. We would build him a run for his hutch so he had more space.
My worry is that I am not being fair to him or the other two. We would have to continue to split their free range time. Is four hours a day enough for them all? Would Orinoco be better with a wifey bun of his own, or do rabbits do ok on their own?
When they each get their free range time, they always go and investigate the others - so Orinoco sits outside Toby and Adelaides run, and they go sit outside his hutch. They all seem ok with each other in this situation - no aggression shown.
Do you think it would be possible to try bonding again at a later date?
I'm really struggling with what would be the best thing for all of them. I know Angie does a brilliant job at BARC and I'm sure she would find Orinoco a first class home, but with so many bunnies in rescue, I feel awful adding back to this. Plus he seems so happy and settled here.
I just want to know that by keeping him, I'm not doing the wrong thing.
I adopted Adelaide and Toby from BARC in June, and then later adopted their brother Orinoco, with the intention of having a trio. After initial bonding success, I posted a couple of weeks ago that the bond had come undone, with the boys fighting. I think the cause was Orinoco's refusal to groom Toby, and Toby suffering from jealousy. I put Orinoco into his own hutch and contacted Angie about returning him to BARC. It didn't seem fair for him to be alone, when he seemed so happy when he was in the trio.
My current set up is Toby and Adelaide in a hutch and run, and Orinoco in his own large (4ft by 4ft) bachelor pad. They have separate free range time, getting about 4 hours a day each, and in excess of 7 hours each day on a weekend, or when we are home.
Orinoco has lots of toys, tunnels, snuggly fleece igloo, and I spend as much time with him as I can. He is a lovely snuggle bun and I look forward to his cuddles. He has stolen a piece of my heart for sure. He seems really happy in himself. He is quite an independent bun and is so full of beans. He's currently digging a big hole in the garden - not good for a white rabbit in the drizzle!
Angie has said I can keep him as long as he seems happy and healthy, and has plenty of stimulation and play time. We would build him a run for his hutch so he had more space.
My worry is that I am not being fair to him or the other two. We would have to continue to split their free range time. Is four hours a day enough for them all? Would Orinoco be better with a wifey bun of his own, or do rabbits do ok on their own?
When they each get their free range time, they always go and investigate the others - so Orinoco sits outside Toby and Adelaides run, and they go sit outside his hutch. They all seem ok with each other in this situation - no aggression shown.
Do you think it would be possible to try bonding again at a later date?
I'm really struggling with what would be the best thing for all of them. I know Angie does a brilliant job at BARC and I'm sure she would find Orinoco a first class home, but with so many bunnies in rescue, I feel awful adding back to this. Plus he seems so happy and settled here.
I just want to know that by keeping him, I'm not doing the wrong thing.