Bonding Two Pairs?

[slavname]

Hi everyone!

I have a bonded pair of rabbits (Holland Lops, 4 Years, Boy and Girl), and I’m considering adopting another bonded pair (Holland Lops, 2 Years, Boy and Girl) because their owner is moving and unable to take them with her.

My rabbits bonded quickly and deeply, so I’m afraid to upset their bond. The other owner said the same thing about her two rabbits. I think they are all likely to get along well based on the fact there were no fights, but I know all rabbits relationships are different!

I was wondering if anyone has advice as to whether to move forward, or has success with this themselves? If it didn’t work well, I’d love to know that too!

Thanks!

 

[Omi]

Hi everyone!

I have a bonded pair of rabbits (Holland Lops, 4 Years, Boy and Girl), and I’m considering adopting another bonded pair (Holland Lops, 2 Years, Boy and Girl) because their owner is moving and unable to take them with her.

My rabbits bonded quickly and deeply, so I’m afraid to upset their bond. The other owner said the same thing about her two rabbits. I think they are all likely to get along well based on the fact there were no fights, but I know all rabbits relationships are different!

I was wondering if anyone has advice as to whether to move forward, or has success with this themselves? If it didn’t work well, I’d love to know that too!

Thanks!

Hello, I haven't had experience with bonding a quad, but I think as you say all rabbits' relationships are different and so it's really impossible to say whether a bond between these two pairs would be successful or not with any certainty. The fact that each pair bonded easily and successfully has to be a step in the right direction though.

However, as you say the concern would be that the attempt at bonding could upset the two existing bonds. But I would hope that this could be fairly easily remedied by separating the two pairs again.

It is certainly possible to have four or more bunnies happily bonded together, but I doubt whether it's possible to predict in advance how successful any grouping of four together would be. If you attempted it, but it failed, would you be able to house the two pairs separately? I guess that's the main question you should be asking yourself.

Have a look at this, which is about bonding a trio, but some of the tips are still relevant. Emma is a member of this forum and she went on to add more bunnies successfully after bonding the trio.

How I bonded my trios - videos!

Hello! I've posted these videos before but thought it might be helpful to post again as I've seen a lot of people asking for advice with bonding trios recently. Personally I prefer having a trio to a pair so I've experienced bonding three bunnies quite a lot! I have videos of 2 different bonding...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

 

[InspectorMorse]

I agree with Omi but will add that you do need to be sure that you could cope with all possible scenarios, including the breakdown of one or both of the established bonds. IME (caring for 152 Rabbits over the last 27 years) it can happen but it isn’t by any means inevitable. It’s always best to take into account what we would do in a worst case scenario situation, even if the likelihood is that any fighting between established bonds would not result in an irreparable breakdown of their relationship

Also, before taking on more Rabbits it’s always essential we are certain that as well as being able to provide suitable spacious accommodation for more Rabbits we are as sure as we can be that we are able to afford the additional expense, especially routine and unexpected Vet fees. These days sadly affordability has to be a significant consideration as far as Vet fees goes. Even having Insurance policies still costs quite a lot, premiums have gone up due to the exponential rise in the cost of vet treatment.

One more thing, I assume all Rabbits are neutered? This would be an essential. If you are in the UK they should all be vaccinated too.

Best of luck if you decide to take on the other pair