Is Busby Lonely?

[samie_boo]

Just wondering if anyone can help!!!

I have a Dutch lop bunny (Busby) who is about 4 months old! I'm starting to worry that he may be getting slightly lonely - I try and give him lots of attention but he doesn't really like being held and I work all day so the only time I get to see him is in the evening - when i've got lots of other things to do!? His hutch is about 5ft by 2ft - is this big enough to keep 2 bunnys in - I also have a large run seperate from the hutch? I've been reading that its cruel to keep one rabbit alone but I dont really want to be squashing two bunnys up in one hutch and buying another hutch would be defeating the object??? Can anyone please give me some advice???? 

[Artful]

Do you have one bunny or 2? You say the hutch is big enough for 2 so if Busby is on his lonesome , why not get him a mate, friend...?

BTW, I say that like that, as I have no experience with rabbits whatsoever. Yet if he is on his own all day he probably is a bit lonesome - wouldn't you be, samie_boo?

[samie_boo]

Artful: I have one bunny! Wondering if the hutch I have would be big enough for two bunnys so I can get busby a friend???

[morg_monster]

It may be a good idea to introduce another bunny, BUT if they aren't related or brought up together there is no guarantee they'll get on.  I would suggest to try and find one from a rescue centre, explain the situation so that, if they don't get on, they can perhaps take it back.  Also if your male hasn't been neutered (but is old enough to be) then he won't tolerate another male and will try to mate with a female, so that needs to be done first.

It would be a good idea to have a helper when you do introduce them, and do it when you have plenty of time to keep an eye on them.  THere may also be some rules on where you introduce them to each other, due to territory and things. Search on the web and you should find some guidance.

I have heard that guinea pigs can also be a good companion, but if they don't get on the bunny can attack it, so that may be a big risk...

[orange-gnome]

At his age, he is just reaching sexual maturity and so will be wanting a mate. As bunnies live in huge groups in the wild I expect he will at least be wanting a companion.
As morg says you need to be aware of the posibility of babies, they do after all breed like rabbits! Also of fighting, generally a female would go better with a male and you are better of getting the female speyed than the male castrated just because "entire" females have a tendency to get agressive at a certain age otherwise.
Guinea-pigs are a good idea however, I used to work with a vet who was an expert on such matters and he used to say that actually contrary to public belief it isn't good to put them together, something about being carriers of diseases that others can get. Sorry I can't be more specific on that one!
Also I believe that rabbits and guinea-pigs just tolerate each other rather than being real companions to one another, after all do rabbits speak guinea-pig or vice versa??? who knows!!
If your hutch is 5ft long by 2ft deep I would say it is big enough for two bunnies.
It was also a great suggestion of morgs to get a rescue bunny, because you will have expert help, you will be able to try a few out, they will usually neuter all the animals themselves and also you will be giving a needy animal a home, so solving your problem and doing a good deed too!!!

[tinkytonks]

hi, i have kept and bred bunnies, you must be very careful when introducing them, as someone else said, some rabbits get on wonderfully while others just wont tolerate a parter, and it can turn nasty, if you phone an animal shelter they may be able to give you a telephone number of someone who can help you, i did that and they gave me a number of a lady in watford who offered to pair them off for me, so worth trying.