Whether to introduce Minty to the guineas or not, please help

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gingerpig

gingerpig

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We bought a rabbit yesterday from the pet shop ::), poor thing had been in there three weeks, we'd seen him before several times on the usual visits for supplies and just wanted to bring him home to live nicely and have run time etc, not stuck in a hot pet shop in this weather.

He is 14 weeks and a lop/lionhead cross, the questions are now:

he lives next door to the guineas, in the spare hutch. So far he has been in the run on his own but would he be able to mix with the guineas?

When he matures will he try to mate with female guineas?

Or should I just keep them completey separate at all times?

I don't mind which, it's not a problem either way. Just want them all to be happy.

Any advice very welcome, thank you x
 
Hiya,

I've no experience with rabbits and guineas but personally I wouldn't put them together just incase the bunny kicks out. Maybe if you have a run then they can be friendly through the wire?

Minty is a great name for a guinea! :)

Good luck with it,

Louise
:)
 
I would definatly keep them seperate at all times,The rabbit could injure or even worse kill your guineas even by accident
 
OK, I was thinking along those lines (although Minty the rabbit is smaller and lighter than four out of five of the guineas atm! but I know what you mean about the feet). ;) Don't want my dear guineas getting a kickin.
 
Hi Gingerpig, :) I don't think it would be wise for them to be introduced for playtime even if supervised as Minty could accidentally kick a guinea & injure the piggie badly .

Would you maybe get a bunny pal for Minty later on? I think with rabbits it's better to get a female to go with a male rather then another male but i think having a rabbit neutered is pretty straight forward
 
Thanks Sian, that could be a possibility although buying this bunny wasn't planned, you see, we just felt sorry for him.

do rabbits get lonely living on their own? Even if they are brought into the house to play a lot?
 
Rabbits carry something that is harmless to them but is fatal to guineas. I would keep him right away from your guineas and get him a friend of his own- the rabbit kind as recommended by the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Bill.

Bunnies should have friends of their own too. Go to a rescue that will pair them up for you, there are loads of unwanted buns ::)
 
karenrgpr said:
Rabbits carry something that is harmless to them but is fatal to guineas. I would keep him right away from your guineas and get him a friend of his own- the rabbit kind as recommended by the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Bill.
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Thanks for the advice :) what is it that they carry? I've not heard of this.
 
Oops sorry I meant Minty is a great name for a bunny! :D I've guineas on the brain!

Louise
:)
 
I would never mix rabbits and guineas - even for play time.
But your rabbit would love to have another rabbit friend to live with (obviously both neutered!) ;)
 
So for two male rabbits to live together both have to be neutered they can't be entire?
 
The best combination is castrated buck and spayed doe that get on together. You need to go to a rescue really. I know spaying reduces aggression in females, not sure about the effect on males and each rabbit is an individual :) Our local rescue takes your bun in for a 'holiday' and they match them to a suitable partner.
 
I agree - male female (both neutered/speyed) is ussually the easiest option to bond.
But two males can live together, but it is unusual for it to work unless they are both neutered.

Yes - taking your rabbit (once neutered) along to a rescue centre that offers a bonding service is the easiest way :)
 
gingerpig said:
karenrgpr said:
Rabbits carry something that is harmless to them but is fatal to guineas. I would keep him right away from your guineas and get him a friend of his own- the rabbit kind as recommended by the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Bill.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice  :)   what is it that they carry?  I've not heard of this.   
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Pasturella which is commonly known as "the sniffles" in bunnies & can also be passed to piggies, this too is airborne.

We had my step-daughters bun, Floyd, in the same shed as the piggies (different hutch), he started sneezing & i came home from hospital to find my piggy Wallace dead in his hutch  :(  Lottie another piggy, also became ill & died  :(  This was after Floyd had been moved out.
I still wonder if the piggies became ill from whatever was wrong with him  :-\
Needless to say Floyd (the bun) is now well away from the piggies in his own hutch & he doesn't play in their run either  :)
 
karenrgpr said:
gingerpig said:
Do you know if the bordatella bug is spread by contact or is it airborne?
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Direct contact and airborne.
Click to expand...

If it is airborne then aren't my piggies at risk from all rabbits that live in my vicinity? And I know there are quite a few :-\
 
If all the piggies are ok after 10 days or so, can I presume Minty isn't a carrier, or is it not that simple? Really worried now. :(
 
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