The Importance of Bonding Rabbits
A simple one but a very important one! Bonding up Single bunnies.
Now ideally you already have a bonded pair, however some people find themselves with just one bunny. It is so important that this bunny is matched and bonded to another bunny companion. Why?
Let's discuss the main reasons for bonding your rabbits:
1. Rabbits are a prey, herd species. This means they naturally live in large groups of their own kind, for proetction and safety. It is a built in desire for them to be able to communicate with other rabbits and to bond with them to help them feel safe and secure. Just as you would never see one lone sheep in a field, we should never be seeing one rabbit either.
2. Rabbits communicate with one another for a variety of reasons and this provides them mental and physical stimulation. In inhibiting this, often they can become destructive, bored and lonely.
3. Studies have shown that rabbits value rabbit companionship as their top priority and value this resource even more than food and space.
4. Unlike dogs, rabbits do not share their hierarchy system with humans and cannot fully integrate with another animal or human and bond with them. Although rabbits can co-habit with other species including us and show affection to other species, they cannot properly bond with them.
5. Studies show that domestic rabbits that are bonded live longer and healthier lives.
6. Once bonded, rabbits behaviour changes for the better and they can become calmer, more friendly and more confident. They become more active and show an increase in natural behaviours.
7. Rabbits hay consumption increases by around 70% once bonded. The more hay they eat, the happier and healthier they will be.
8. Rabbits will groom one another in places that we can't, inside the tear ducts and the ear canal which helps prevent ear and eye infections and abscesses.
FAQ's:
What if your rabbit has lived a long time on their own?
That is no reason not to have them bonded, they will still bond like any other rabbit will. Age, sex, breed and size does not matter when bonding so long as the rabbits are matched correctly based on temperament. They will always be happier once bonded. Also, if you have a bereaved bunny, the sooner you can have them bonded the better but they will always be able to be bonded again even if they lost their partner a long time ago.
Does my rabbit need to be neutered first?
Yes, absolutely. All rabbits must be neutered before bonding and a minimum time of 8 weeks post neuter must pass to allow their hormones to settle. This applies to both females and males.
“My rabbit seems/is happy on his own”.....
There's no doubt that your rabbit, given a nice home, good diet and plenty of space can be happy however – they can always be happier. Your rabbit may still flop and binky, but they will still be lonely and would always choose to bond with another rabbit given the choice. Until you have seen your rabbit bonded, you cannot compare. Seeing them snuggled up and cuddling with a companion will make you ooh and aah and owners with bonded rabbits would never choose to go back to having one on their own.
“My rabbit lives in the house with me and I'm home a lot so they have me for company”....
As a human, you cannot communicate with your rabbit the way they would communicate together. You cannot groom them properly either. Rabbits are also most active while you are asleep so while you are sleeping, they are still very much alone.
“I have tried my rabbit with other rabbit/s and they didn't get on and hated each other/tried to kill each other”....
Yes, bonding can be ugly! It's not always fun or straightforward and it can be extremely stressful. However it is really important to understand rabbit language and communication between rabbits and what is normal and acceptable. Often things can look worse than they actually are. It's important that rabbits sort out their hierarchy together and this is the hardest part of bonding. However, if your rabbit is matched correctly to the right rabbit for them based on temperament and the bonding is done correctly, things should go relatively smoothly and straightforward. It may be that your rabbit wasn't matched correctly or that the bonding wasn't attempted correctly. It may be that your rabbit has behavioural issues that need worked on first before they can be bonded. This does not mean they can't be bonded. ALL rabbits can be bonded. If you have multiple rabbits that you can't get to bond it may be that you need to send them off to someone like ourselves to bond them for you.
“I don't have the space or money for two rabbits”....
In many countries it is illegal to have one rabbit on their own. It is one of the main welfare requirements for rabbits so this should be your focus and aim to be able to provide them with. 2 rabbits need the same amount of space as 1 rabbit. The only additional cost is another monthly insurance and annual vaccinations. If you adopt another rabbit from a rescue they will already be neutered, etc for you which is much cheaper than buying a rabbit and doing it yourself.
“How do I go about bonding my single rabbit?”
The easiest and most straightforward way to go about this is to contact a reputable rabbit rescue where they can help with bonding.
Here at Baby Blue Bee Bunnies, we match your bunny up to a suitable companion here at the rescue and we will bond them for you. That way, you aren't left stressed out with two single buns that you are struggling with. The rabbits will already be behaviourally assessed and neutered etc. You will also be heavily prioritised for bonding and given 24/7 support and after care advice for their lifetime. The focus here is on the right match, ensuring that rabbits are paired for a strong lifelong bond.
Now ideally you already have a bonded pair, however some people find themselves with just one bunny. It is so important that this bunny is matched and bonded to another bunny companion. Why?
Let's discuss the main reasons for bonding your rabbits:
1. Rabbits are a prey, herd species. This means they naturally live in large groups of their own kind, for proetction and safety. It is a built in desire for them to be able to communicate with other rabbits and to bond with them to help them feel safe and secure. Just as you would never see one lone sheep in a field, we should never be seeing one rabbit either.
2. Rabbits communicate with one another for a variety of reasons and this provides them mental and physical stimulation. In inhibiting this, often they can become destructive, bored and lonely.
3. Studies have shown that rabbits value rabbit companionship as their top priority and value this resource even more than food and space.
4. Unlike dogs, rabbits do not share their hierarchy system with humans and cannot fully integrate with another animal or human and bond with them. Although rabbits can co-habit with other species including us and show affection to other species, they cannot properly bond with them.
5. Studies show that domestic rabbits that are bonded live longer and healthier lives.
6. Once bonded, rabbits behaviour changes for the better and they can become calmer, more friendly and more confident. They become more active and show an increase in natural behaviours.
7. Rabbits hay consumption increases by around 70% once bonded. The more hay they eat, the happier and healthier they will be.
8. Rabbits will groom one another in places that we can't, inside the tear ducts and the ear canal which helps prevent ear and eye infections and abscesses.
FAQ's:
What if your rabbit has lived a long time on their own?
That is no reason not to have them bonded, they will still bond like any other rabbit will. Age, sex, breed and size does not matter when bonding so long as the rabbits are matched correctly based on temperament. They will always be happier once bonded. Also, if you have a bereaved bunny, the sooner you can have them bonded the better but they will always be able to be bonded again even if they lost their partner a long time ago.
Does my rabbit need to be neutered first?
Yes, absolutely. All rabbits must be neutered before bonding and a minimum time of 8 weeks post neuter must pass to allow their hormones to settle. This applies to both females and males.
“My rabbit seems/is happy on his own”.....
There's no doubt that your rabbit, given a nice home, good diet and plenty of space can be happy however – they can always be happier. Your rabbit may still flop and binky, but they will still be lonely and would always choose to bond with another rabbit given the choice. Until you have seen your rabbit bonded, you cannot compare. Seeing them snuggled up and cuddling with a companion will make you ooh and aah and owners with bonded rabbits would never choose to go back to having one on their own.
“My rabbit lives in the house with me and I'm home a lot so they have me for company”....
As a human, you cannot communicate with your rabbit the way they would communicate together. You cannot groom them properly either. Rabbits are also most active while you are asleep so while you are sleeping, they are still very much alone.
“I have tried my rabbit with other rabbit/s and they didn't get on and hated each other/tried to kill each other”....
Yes, bonding can be ugly! It's not always fun or straightforward and it can be extremely stressful. However it is really important to understand rabbit language and communication between rabbits and what is normal and acceptable. Often things can look worse than they actually are. It's important that rabbits sort out their hierarchy together and this is the hardest part of bonding. However, if your rabbit is matched correctly to the right rabbit for them based on temperament and the bonding is done correctly, things should go relatively smoothly and straightforward. It may be that your rabbit wasn't matched correctly or that the bonding wasn't attempted correctly. It may be that your rabbit has behavioural issues that need worked on first before they can be bonded. This does not mean they can't be bonded. ALL rabbits can be bonded. If you have multiple rabbits that you can't get to bond it may be that you need to send them off to someone like ourselves to bond them for you.
“I don't have the space or money for two rabbits”....
In many countries it is illegal to have one rabbit on their own. It is one of the main welfare requirements for rabbits so this should be your focus and aim to be able to provide them with. 2 rabbits need the same amount of space as 1 rabbit. The only additional cost is another monthly insurance and annual vaccinations. If you adopt another rabbit from a rescue they will already be neutered, etc for you which is much cheaper than buying a rabbit and doing it yourself.
“How do I go about bonding my single rabbit?”
The easiest and most straightforward way to go about this is to contact a reputable rabbit rescue where they can help with bonding.
Here at Baby Blue Bee Bunnies, we match your bunny up to a suitable companion here at the rescue and we will bond them for you. That way, you aren't left stressed out with two single buns that you are struggling with. The rabbits will already be behaviourally assessed and neutered etc. You will also be heavily prioritised for bonding and given 24/7 support and after care advice for their lifetime. The focus here is on the right match, ensuring that rabbits are paired for a strong lifelong bond.