Bonding rabbits of different breeds, ages, and wanting to know about sexual maturity ages?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by Vienna Blue in France.

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- 11/04/2016 at 8:21 AM
  DelilahHop
  Participant
  3 posts
  Hey there!
  
  So, I’m in a bit of a pickle here.
  
  I have a 6 month old Mini Rex boy that was neutered 3.5 weeks ago. Today, I introduced and started the bonding process with a 6 week old Flemish Giant x NZ White girl.
  
  Now, it’s always up for debate when it comes to fertility post-op after castration. I’ve been given 2-6 weeks is when the male is still fertile? I’ve also read that larger breeds like Flemish and NZ White take longer to sexually mature too (like 6-8 months of age!)
  
  Do you think I should keep them in separate hutches or is it safe since my girl is still young and my boy is neutered (although fertility is unsure)?
  
  What do you think? I’d really love to get them to bond but I’m afraid of my little girl getting an ‘oops’ pregnancy
- 11/04/2016 at 9:25 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17027 posts
  A boy can remain fertile for 4-5 weeks after a neuter, because sperm that was produced before the neuter can survive that long in the vas deferens.
  
  It’s not likely though that a 6 week Flemish girl would be able to become pregnant. For does sexual maturity occurs between 3 but more like 5 months of age – and it’s true that bigger breeds mature later.
  
  It’s still recommended to wait until 4 weeks have passed after a neuter before you start bonding, because you want the boy to have calmed down hormonal-wise before you introduce the two buns. The first time after a neuter, a bunny can become extra hormonal behavior wise due to fluctuating hormone-levels in the blood.
  
  If you bond them now when the girl is little, you’ll have to separate them again for her spay, then rebond after a month. It’s always best to have a girl bunny spayed, because of the high risk of diseases of the reproductive organs. Apart from that, an intact girl can demand certain services from the neutered male that he can’t provide, and that can cause a bond to break.
- 11/04/2016 at 10:14 AM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  A 6wk Flemmie X NZ????!!! .
  Ohhhh cuuuuuute !!!!!
- 11/05/2016 at 1:18 AM
  DelilahHop
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thank you for your reply!
  
  It’s just so hard to figure out whether to allow them to bond or keep them separately. So far, it seems like they’re getting along. Planning to get my girl spayed in about 3 months. Fingers crossed that my cheeky boy hasn’t been up to some mischief with her!
- 11/05/2016 at 1:20 AM
  DelilahHop
  Participant
  3 posts
  Yes! She’ll grow to be a big girl but that just means more to love
- 11/05/2016 at 4:30 AM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  I think I’d go for it in your place.
  
  I’d leave it another week or so though. I’m at 5 weeks post neuter of an 18 month boy and I can see still mood changes.
  Your girl is highly unlikely to get pregnant in the next fortnight at not even 2 months of age yet.
  
  Any bonding done now will mean they’re friends now for another month or two months prior to her spay. Yes, they will have to be separated when she is spayed but there are things to do at that time which will make it easier too for them to rebond afterwards.
  
  If you want to play it safe, keep them in separate cages/areas next to each other where they can see and smell each other and have shared playtime under supervision for the next few months. When she comes back from spay he can be kept next to her (but NOT with her for risk of injury to her surgery) for moral support.
  
  I presume you know but if they are bonded and there is a visit to the vets for one, then the other must go too.
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