Rabbits & Other Small Animals

What should I do, I'm thinking of adopting another bun.

Not sure if anyone here remembers me, except Michelle.  I have the 4 Reno Rabbits.  Rabbits that were in a woman's backyard in Reno, NV (she had over 1000).  A shelter came in, collected them all and put them up for adoption. I originally had them outside because that is what the shelter recommended.  Last winter I brought 2 inside, they are now in the guest bedroom in a large dog pen, and are very good indoor bunnies.

I am currently fostering a momma rabbit and her 3 babies.  I'm thinking of keeping momma.  She is a very nice rabbit, a bit more personal than the 2 I have inside (the 2 outside are definitely more feral). Whoever had her before treated her well. She uses the litterbox to pee most of the time (babies too!).

My concerns are this:

1. The 2 inside buns, Bambi and Cinnamon are in the guest bedroom, but get runaround time in the living room for 1-2 hours at night. If I adopt momma I don't know where I can let her have her run around time.  If I let her in the living room at a different time than the others I'm afraid they will smell each other and we will have pee and poop everywhere. 

2. I'm also wondering if I can put momma's pen in the same room as Bambi and Cinnamon, will I have pee and poop wars even if they see eachother? 

3. There is also the cost, we are struggling to pay our bills, I'm looking for a 2nd job and so far we don't qualify for any assistance.  For my 4 bunnies I buy timothy hay by the bag which is $60 a month, and litter $20 a month, and straw we get by the bale and it lasts for a few months for $8, then veggies $40 a month, and pellets $15 a month. Increase all that for another bun, unless I can find a way to cut costs.

4.  What else am I not thinking of?

I may get a free dog pen from the shelter I volunteer at, so housing won't cost me.  If I can't get a free dog pen from the shelter I will try online like freecycle.org and craigslist.com.

Thanks,

Laura

Another thing to consider:

Do you have the TIME to bond all 3 rabbits?

It took me a couple of weeks to bond mine. *But* I was home on a medical leave so I had time every day to put them together so they could get used to one another. It would take me a lot longer and be more work now that I'm back to work and stuff.

And even if you do get them bonded, you still might have potty issues as mostly everyone on here has bunny potty issues. lol

Michelle

Eddie and Lollipop!  

The biggest factor for me reading from your post is the financial aspect.  Everything else on your list can be worked out, but you can't use money you don't have.

It's nice to see you back here :)  I saw your post on Facebook :)  I think you are doing a wonderful thing, but if finances are hard, it's best not to. 

We all want to help as many animals as we can and they all become members of our families and no longer animals, but we have to put our foot down sometime.  You can't be worrying about how you are going to pay for them to live.

Maybe the shelter will be willing to help out if you are a good member of it?  Do you devote time to them etc?  I think if you volunteer and show you are supportive you may be able to make a deal with them?  There's no harm in trying.

Those are some beautiful rabbits.  They must at least have some New Zealand breed in them if they are that colour with pink eyes :)

I don't plan on bonding them.  Keep them separated. But can their pens be in the same room.  I don't think I can even let them use the same play area.  But that means I have to rabbit proof another room; which I could do if I can get some free NIC cubes somewhere.

I have already asked the shelter for a dog pen, they may give me one.

If I ask they would probably give me the rabbit too, for free. Because I am there every week volunteering, and I know they don't like having rabbits there.

But then I would have to have her fixed.  The vet I take my rabbits to may do it for free.