Well your rabbits are going through puberty and I highly recommend that if you are not certain of the sexes that you get them sexed by a vet. You do not want any unexpected litters and at this age if they are unaltered this is a big possibility.

I would also recommend that you start saving up to pay to have them altered – have you been able to find out the cost where you live? They are really at the right age to be altered.

You will want to keep an eye on them to make sure that they do not start fighting due to hormones and dominance issues especially since it sounds like they are housed together.

Neutering will make a difference after their hormones calm down- but with young bunnies and most adult bunnies there is a “learning curve” to becoming a well housetrained house bunny. 

I would strongly recommend getting them sexed to make sure you know what you are dealing with 2 females, 2 males, a male and female.  Call your local vet clinic or shelter and see if someone is available to sex them for you- someone that is experiences as bunnies are not always easy to sex.  I would see if someone will do this for you ASAP for no charge, and then you can develop a plan for fixing them.

At that age you may be able to see the testicles have descended already (though not all do so not best way to determine their sex). But as to their age – if they are in fact males, they are just about ready to be altered. The influx of hormones create havoc and you don’t get to truly see what lovely animals they can be. Take heart, it’s only temporary.

That is a pretty typical US price for neutering- I know in some larger cities it is even more expensive than that.  I know I paid more than that for my female to be spayed.  You could contact your local Humane Society to see if they have any spay/neuter programs.

160 I would jump on that cost, they want 260 where i’m at but i’m still hoping to find a cheaper but good vet, i have 8 rabbits, 7 need fixing. I would recommend you separate them, if the cage is pretty big u can put up a divider so they can still live together but not attack each other. I have the calmest rabbits but when puberty hit they wouldn’t fight but one always tires to dominate the other and there was lots of humping.

I was told I had 2 girls by the pet store person and a vet, both were wrong, thankfully because of humping I separated them before he could get her pregnant.

when puberty hits it really changes them, they are still good bunnies but now Julie is skittish, and Phoebo is trying to dominate everything, me included and doesnt like to be touched and when he was younger he loved to play and be held. I hate rabbit puberty. Right now I want the girls fixed because it’s very important because they can get cancer but I hope to fix the boys as well down the line.

Welcome to Binkybunny! Don’t worry: they sound like perfectly normal, hormonal, teenage bunnies.

Is this your first time having rabbits? Did you research them as indoor pets or did you acquire them by accident or was it an impulse purchase? Many people get buns and don’t realize the full extent of what they are up against. There is a lot to caring for rabbits (more than people realize at first), and they do make wonderful indoor pets, but an important part of that is they need to be spay/neutered. It’s great that you’re here and asking for advice, I hope we can help to steer you in the right direction.

All of those behavioral issues might lessen as they get older (over one-two years) but they will not completely go away until they’ve been altered. Even post-altering, some of those things are just natural rabbit behavior: chewing, digging, skittishness. Do you have them in two separate cages outside? I would also recommend they be split up right now. Since they are outside and you’re not available to supervise them continuously, there’s a risk of them fighting and hurting each other very badly.

I understand that you may not want to break them up however if you find that they are different sexes you are going to have to until you get them altered or else you are going to end up with an unwanted litter and with the frustrations you are having now, this will absolutely not help you.

Can you ask the Humane Society if they have a vet they can recommend to alter the rabbits?

I know it’s sad :o( Bunny puberty sucks (for lack of a better word) b/c you want them to love you and be friendly with you and with each other but those pesky hormones are in the way! We always recommend that people adopt rabbits from shelters because they come to you after the yucky puberty period and already spay/neutered, so all you have to pay is the adoption fee. But, as you said, it’s too late now. You have them and you love them and you’ll need to do your best to get them neutered and littertrained ASAP and back in your home so they’ll be safe.

If you can tell us where you are, we may be able to recommend a vet for you.

It probably is a bit of both.

http://www.indianahrs.org/links-veterinarians.aspx

Above is a list of vets from the Indiana House Rabbit Society and there is one in Evansville – I think the Indiana HRS is located in Indianapolis (not sure how close you are to them) but they would be a great local resource as well for you.

Even if you are not close to where the HRS’s are located – they would be a great resource to just call or email because they are usually very well connected and in touch with rabbit vets. If you don’t know the HRS main website it is http://www.rabbit.org.

In my area low cost spay and neuter programs will not alter rabbits either- they are already overloaded with cats and dogs that have a large overpopulation problem that impacts them on a daily basis.  I think since rabbits are caged they feel that their population can by managed thru proper care.  Low cost spay/neuter and Humane Societies really have one goal with their spay/neuter program and that is to reduce pet overpopulation.  And it sounds like they are responsible for the rabbits they adopt out to make sure they do not reproduce- but they must not have the funds to spend on rabbits from other sources.

You mentioned they were a gift- can you ask the person who gave them to you as a gift to help you out with their neutering?  I would hate to see you unable to bring them into the house due to hormonal issues.

i even can’t find a vet in my city, who is experienced in altering rabbits.

Have you tried not allowing them access to the bed or bedroom?

You can ask the doctor how much experience s/he has had. Also ask if you need to feed the bunnies before the surgery or if you need to fast them. If the vet is not good, they will tell you to fast the bunny. A bunny should never fast before surgery and just eat normally, so that’s a good test question if you’re not sure about a vet. Don’t ask the receptionist though, ask the vet.

Maybe you could put NIC cubes around your bed frame, so they can run around it like a long run space, but not go up or out of the room.

I hope everything works out for you! As for the vet cost question, I’ve been taking my cat to my vet for 3 years now, and her brother for 8. His bunny spaying is only $60. I’d trust this man with my life, as well as my babies’ lives obviously.

Finding a lower price vet for a neuter- you are most likely not going to be getting a thorough PreAnesthetic Bloodwork (If any is included at all) and the cheaper anesthesia’s will most likely be used.  Pain meds at time or surgery and to go home also might not be listed in that low price.

You quite often get what you pay for.  And some vets might be OK with doing a spay without preanesthetic bloodwork, an IV cath and fluids running and no pain meds during surgery and to send pain meds home.  All of the above things would make a difference in price.

One of the most loving decisions people can make for their pets is to spay and neuter them.  It eliminates the risk of reproductive cancers.  And in the case of bunnies often then allows them to become members of the household 24/7.  A good vet will make sure to properly admin pain meds at the clinic and to go home to speed up recovery.  And it does not matter that they are so small and so low to the ground- if their enclosure and litterboxes are cleaned regularly they should heal with no problems- no different than typical daily care.

My bunnies love being a daily part of our lives- binkying across the living room, flopping under the chair, begging for treats, jumping up on the couch for a cuddle, etc. 

Oh, I don’t think it’s awful at all. I think it’s the responsible thing to do.

It’s very safe and really does make the rabbits life better – yours too.

I think once Thumper is neutered and he settles and matures he will be an excellent house bunny also.  Most bunnies and bunny owners go thru this stage- counting down the days until neuter time- and then stress and worry about the surgery and recovery- and then a couple of months later things are usually much better.  It is the emotional rollercoaster that comes free with any baby bunny adoption     I have been there and done that too.

Sounds like they are really happy with the move indoors.

Seeing them binky around the house is the best part of having bunnies. That and cuddling, playing with toys, watching them eat…

Now you can take more pictures, hint hint.

WE LOVE BUNNY PICTURES! Please don’t hold back! lol… ;o)

So cute! I’m glad they’re coming around! House rabbits truly are a pleasure… you will get to know them so much better than when they were living outdoors.

Blackjack looks like he has that “Cleopatra” eye make-up, the kind that curves up the side! They are very sweet!

They are adorable!

That tunnel looks like a winner too.

I love your cat’s relationship with them, and their toys.

Oh that edible tunnel is cool!
So glad that y’all are having a good time with the boys inside!