Rabbit help, keeping one alone

[poiuytrewq]

My daughter always had pet rabbits growing up. We only ever had one. It usually free ranged in the garden or shed and they always got on with the dogs so I never worried about them being alone.
Then I realised it was unkind, had the buck we had neutered and got another. That one died, got another and so on.
Current situation, daughter is adult, moved away tbh I don’t want pet rabbits particularly, although I do like them.
The last few have been from the local Blue Cross and I generally just take the most difficult to home one they have at the time, wether that’s because it’s ill, or wild or just not suitable for children.
Today we have lost our very elderly doe. Leaving a crazily nervous 7 yr old buck Netherland dwarf.
I need to cut this circle somewhere so am not keen on getting yet another replacement to keep him company.
As some may have seen Arlo cat is a regular visitor to the rabbit run and they are quite happy chilling for a short time together. But I know that’s not really enough.
I have had a quick look at the Blue X site and local animal shelter but they have nothing available anyway.
So, do I keep him alone ?‍ Is that just plain cruel?
Do I try and rehome him? Virtually impossible I’d imagine as he’s not a cuddly bunny.
Or I could I suppose look for a baby doe which could be handled and friendly, but I’d need to get her done and I have no idea what she/how much it costs or how I’d need to keep them until she was spayed.
Or maybe a “unsuitable” companion, another boy perhaps to live alongside but not in with him?
Any ideas thoughts or suggestions please?

 

[Lynnfigaro]

My daughter always had pet rabbits growing up. We only ever had one. It usually free ranged in the garden or shed and they always got on with the dogs so I never worried about them being alone.
Then I realised it was unkind, had the buck we had neutered and got another. That one died, got another and so on.
Current situation, daughter is adult, moved away tbh I don’t want pet rabbits particularly, although I do like them.
The last few have been from the local Blue Cross and I generally just take the most difficult to home one they have at the time, wether that’s because it’s ill, or wild or just not suitable for children.
Today we have lost our very elderly doe. Leaving a crazily nervous 7 yr old buck Netherland dwarf.
I need to cut this circle somewhere so am not keen on getting yet another replacement to keep him company.
As some may have seen Arlo cat is a regular visitor to the rabbit run and they are quite happy chilling for a short time together. But I know that’s not really enough.
I have had a quick look at the Blue X site and local animal shelter but they have nothing available anyway.
So, do I keep him alone ?‍ Is that just plain cruel?
Do I try and rehome him? Virtually impossible I’d imagine as he’s not a cuddly bunny.
Or I could I suppose look for a baby doe which could be handled and friendly, but I’d need to get her done and I have no idea what she/how much it costs or how I’d need to keep them until she was spayed.
Or maybe a “unsuitable” companion, another boy perhaps to live alongside but not in with him?
Any ideas thoughts or suggestions please?

What about another older boy living alongside him, but as you say not in with him? If they were of similar age they would get older together and if one died the other would hopefully not miss him too much as there would be no close contact.

 

[poiuytrewq]

What about another older boy living alongside him, but as you say not in with him? If they were of similar age they would get older together and if one died the other would hopefully not miss him too much as there would be no close contact.

Maybe, I use big mesh panels to construct runs outside in summer and currently inside so could easily split it. The one that’s left is happier outside, I brought them into an outhouse because she was so old and lay out in the rain!
I may put him back out. I guess there’s even a possibility 2 males could live together is there?

 

[poiuytrewq]

That makes it sound like she was old and knackered ? she wasn’t, she was perfectly active but had her little spot she always slept in. Rain or shine!

 

[Lynnfigaro]

I am not sure about 2 males together, maybe if both neutered you could give it a go and if they fought just keep them apart. I think neutered rabbits are less likely to fight.
Unless you want the rabbit cycle to continue indefinitely (and why not, they are great wee creatures) I would try to get one the same age as the one you have.

 

[poiuytrewq]

They are lovely yes, I just feel a bit like I need to try and cut back on mouths to feed (not that rabbits cost much!) more timewise I guess, also we don’t really have friends close to home since moving where we are that I can ask to help out if needed, we never go away!
Less animals, no daughter. Maybe the odd weekend away?!

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Could you get in touch with the Blue Cross, or another local charity, and ask them for a lone female that they have for rehoming, pair-bond her with your boy, and then ask the charity to re-home them as a pair (while you keep them as a foster carer)?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Could you get in touch with the Blue Cross, or another local charity, and ask them for a lone female that they have for rehoming, pair-bond her with your boy, and then ask the charity to re-home them as a pair (while you keep them as a foster carer)?

?‍ I don’t know, they don’t have any single girls online at the moment.
I wonder/worry how stressful moving house is for a rabbit!
I may give them a call and just run the whole thing past them.

 

[SOS]

Could you foster a bunny of similar age, or younger, with the agreement when yours passes then foster bunny goes back to the rescue? Loan bunny gets a nice home for a bit and yours gets company.

If you have adopted from them for a long time and have a good relationship they should understand the situation and get you out of the cycle.

 

[SashaBabe]

My son's partner worked in an animal sanctuary and she would bring home the "unwanted" older rabbits. They had two and then introduced a third. There was an almighty fight between two of the rabbits, resulting in an out of hours vet visit and extensive surgery to repair the large tear in one of the rabbits back end (my son referred to it as a "third bum hole!).
My other son and his partner also had two rabbits. The older one died and they got another one so that the other rabbit wouldn't be on its own. They would not tolerate each other and had to be separated. They lived separately until one of them died and now they have a lone rabbit which lives in the house, along with their dog. The dog totally ignores the rabbit. When this rabbit eventually dies, it will not be replaced.

 

[julesjoy]

To be honest if you want to break the cycle I'd ask the Blue Cross if they'd take on your bunny to bond and rehome. No shame in that. Or the idea of Foster bunny isn't bad either.