Hi all

I've currently got six bunnies of various breeds - varying from one large white (with one eye, poor love) to a black and white netherland dwarf. They all live happily together, although I got them at different times so introductions were very gradual and supervised for a long time - months, rather than weeks!

I have four girls and two boys. Not sure about their ages as they are all rescued bunnies. They live in a fenced off area of my back yard so they can go in and out of their hutches as they wish and they get shut up at night. In the nicer weather they go out in my front garden in two runs but I can only do this when I am in as they are very good burrowers - and take it in turns to dig an escape tunnel!!

My front garden is enclosed apart from one area and I am currently having a fence built there with a gate so when I am around I will let them have the run of the garden, although catching them will be fun!! Again, it will only be when I am home and in the garden working or sunbathing in case they burrow out. They would only get as far as my neighbours' houses anyway but they are both garden proud so it wouldn't be a good idea to let that happen!!

I have always loved lop bunnies but don't have any at the moment so have decided I have the room and the finances for one more bunny but want this to be a lop, preferably a small or medium one. I don't want to get one from a pet shop but would like to rescue one. I know it can take time and patience to rehabilitate a rescue bun but I've done it with my others and found it incredibly rewarding watching their trust grow and seeing them develop and learn to have fun.

When I got my last bun - the male netherland dwarf - I was told by the rescue I would have to keep him separate from the others as I already had a buck. I did have a spare hutch and run but it seemed so sad him being all alone and the others having fun together that I thought I'd have a go at integrating them. It took a long time but 18 months later they get on well and he is soooooo much happier now he has bunny friends to play with and chat to.

Whatever bun I get next I want to live with the others so would I be better getting a doe or a buck or doesn't it matter?

(That was a long and rambling post that took ages to get to the point but I love talking about my fur babies!!!)

Lumps

have all your bunnies been neutered? if so i dont suppose it will matter whether you have a doe or a buck, although i found that on the whole bucks are more even natured although we have had some really friendly does but we dont have any bunnies now the last one was Acer & he passed away 2 months ago aged 9

I have never had any problem integrating males, however, some of my female rabbits have been sligtly less willing to make friends with other rabbits. I personally would go for a lad.

Although I did have a male and a female (un-neuterd) live together a few years ago. They were both getting on a bit (and I was confident they were 'past it' plus it was winter when i put them together) they got on really well, that winter the male died (of old age) and i found the female snuggled to him, trying to keep him warm. But unless you don't mind having extra bunnies, I wouldn't risk this.

Aaaw that's so sad helz.

Not all of my bunnies are neutered - although if I had known the chances of them getting ovarian cancer was as high as it is, I'd have got them all done. My boys are done so I have no risk of pregnancy and whether I get a buck or a doe I will get the new one done unless my vet advises against it. We thought one of my rescued buns was quite old and decided it wasn't worth taking the risk of putting her under an anaesthetic to get her neutered.

I don't know if anyone knows if females have to be spayed when under a certain age as my other three are younger so it would probably be OK if I got them done now. It is difficult with rescues as it's hard to gauge their ages.

I got two of mine (one who sadly died) from someone who was neglecting them and was told they were only 18 months old. I was also told they were two boys though - and they were both girls - so I didn't set too much store by the age I was told as I think they made them sound young so I would take them.

Lumps