Age difference

[bunnybuns]

I got a female today for my male and it’s going pretty well. I kept their cages near each other about 6cm apart. They sniffed each other through the bars and Mile was super intrigued. I’m just wondering does it matter if Bella (the female) is 3 months old while Mile is 1 year old? Shorter question: does age really matter that much? Will that make bonding harder and slower or it will be normal even tho Bella isn’t the same age? If someone can answer me, i will be very thankful!

[Deleted User]

It’s going pretty well today because your female hasn’t hit sexual maturity. When she does, things could get ugly. You can’t even attempt bonding them until she’s been spayed around 6 months, and then another 1-2 months after that for her hormones to drop. So you aren’t looking at bonding for another 4-5 months.
In the meantime, you can switch around items within their pens so they get used to each other’s scents. Don’t let them out together either because they could get into a fight.

[sarahthegemini]

Generally age doesn’t matter BUT that’s only the case when all involved have been neutered and spayed. At 3 months, Bella is too young to be spayed and therefore too young to bond. You’ll need to wait til she is spayed and has healed and her hormones have disipated. I assume your boy is neutered?

[bunnybuns]

Yes he is neutered.
So no spaying before 6 months? I did not know that. I neutered him when he was 4 months old. I know males can be neutered at around 3 to 3 1/2 months of age but i had no clue about girls, i thought it was the same.. My apologie. But thank you for letting me know!

[Deleted User]

Most vets (from my experience) require a doe to be 6 months before a spay. They will do males as soon as they reach sexual maturity, but that is because a neuter is much simpler than a spay. Females should be at least 6 months (in my opinion) because it gives them time to grow into a strong and healthy bun, so they can have a quick and easy recovery. Some vets will perform a spay before 6 months. Personally though, I waited until 6 months because I wanted her to have her best shot at quick and easy recovery.

From what I’ve seen, age doesn’t matter. The most important variable here is keeping them absolutely separate until she is spayed. She may seem like she is warming up to him now, but in a month you may notice she is lunging and grunting in his presence.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By bunnybuns on 8/02/2017 10:20 AM

Yes he is neutered.
So no spaying before 6 months? I did not know that. I neutered him when he was 4 months old. I know males can be neutered at around 3 to 3 1/2 months of age but i had no clue about girls, i thought it was the same.. My apologie. But thank you for letting me know!

Hmm it depends really. My doe was spayed at 4 months. My vet was confident in doing so. It can’t hurt to let them grow a little more though first of course

[bunnybuns]

I went to the vet yesterday and they told me that i will get her spayed when she reachs 5 months, so about on the 1st October i’ll be taking her to the procedure.

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