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Will my bunny be lonely??

H

Hahahamoose

New Kit
We have two bunny brothers (one is mine and one is my sisters) they are not housed in the same hutch anymore because we separated them due to fighting once they matured, but both of their hutches are next to each other and when they go out for a run they sniff each other and interact through the bars on their doors. They're about 4 now so they've been living next to each other instead of together for most of their lives.
My sister is moving away and taking her bunny with her so they are going to be completely separated from each other.
I'm really worried this is going to upset my bunny as he's not going to be able to interact anymore. Is he likely to get lonely in this case? And if so what can I do to help him not get lonely?

(my sisters bunny is going to be somewhere with another bunny so he should be okay with having a companion)
 
Rabbits are social creatures, so yes I think your rabbit will probably miss his brother. If the rabbits were not neutered, that is most likely why they fought with each other.

You probably have two options. One would be to get your rabbit neutered (if he isn't already) and then bond him with a neutered female (or possibly male) or else have him as a house rabbit, so that he has your company for at least some of the day.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
Thank you for your response, but unfortunately my parents won't allow me to do either of those, so I'm going to make sure to go out and see him and interact with him as much as I can throughout the day so he has plenty of social interaction.
 
Hahahamoose said:
We have two bunny brothers (one is mine and one is my sisters) they are not housed in the same hutch anymore because we separated them due to fighting once they matured, but both of their hutches are next to each other and when they go out for a run they sniff each other and interact through the bars on their doors. They're about 4 now so they've been living next to each other instead of together for most of their lives.
My sister is moving away and taking her bunny with her so they are going to be completely separated from each other.
I'm really worried this is going to upset my bunny as he's not going to be able to interact anymore. Is he likely to get lonely in this case? And if so what can I do to help him not get lonely?

(my sisters bunny is going to be somewhere with another bunny so he should be okay with having a companion)
Click to expand...

Rabbits certainly do get lonely, and very bored!

https://www.saveafluff.co.uk/rabbit-info/rabbit-pairs

http://rabbit.org/faq-should-i-get-a-second-rabbit/

If your parents want to give this rabbit of yours the best possible life, it would be much kinder to give him a friend. Being outdoors, on your own, is no fun :(
 
Sarah1991 said:
I have to agree, rabbits just aren't meant to live alone, outside in a hutch.

It's an old fashioned view on how to keep them.
Click to expand...

Also, it is an old fashioned view that rabbits shouldn't be/don't need neutering. Apart from being unable to bond them with another rabbit unless they are both neutered, a very high proportion of un-neutered rabbits will develop cancer.
 
Hahahamoose said:
Thank you for your response, but unfortunately my parents won't allow me to do either of those, so I'm going to make sure to go out and see him and interact with him as much as I can throughout the day so he has plenty of social interaction.
Click to expand...

It is obviously tricky for you as you do not have ultimate control over what can be done.

How about showing your Mum and Dad some of the up-to-date Rabbit Welfare information contained in these links

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/neutering28.8.07.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/vacination28.8.07.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/pdfs/BunnyBuddiedwebpage.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/SECS130807.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ahutchisnotenough.htm

All the above links are from the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/index.php

Maybe you could find ways to raise some funds to contribute toward the cost of having your Rabbit neutered. If your Parents are not willing to allow you to obtain a friend for your Rabbit then maybe you could talk them into allowing you to keep him as a House Rabbit. Usually it is possible to form a much closer bond with a House Rabbit than it is with one who lives outside. House Rabbits can be litter tray trained (neutering makes this A LOT more possible) and Bunny proofing the area where they live means that they cannot do damage to things like wires and cables.

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/heyNov07.pdf

There are some ideas about indoor set-ups on these links :

http://www.therabbithouse.com/indoor/

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?304613-Indoor-Housing-Tips-amp-Examples

http://www.manorpethousing.co.uk/indoor-enclosures-rabbit-housing
 
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