Baby bunny bonding

[Emma]

I recently bought 2 rabbits and one just died and I am planning to get another one that will be ready in 5 weeks. It will be an 8 week old girl and the rabbit I have will be a 16 week old male at the time , is it okay to put them together?

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi Emma,

I’m sorry that your bunny died.

Unfortunately it’s really not advisable to put a 16 week old male with an 8 week old female. The male will be sexually mature by then, and he’ll probably start humping her, which will be distressing for her. Unneutered bunnies are very likely to have big fights, and bunnies can fight to the death.

Since neither of them are neutered, a. she could get pregnant (from about 16 weeks) and b. they could have a huge fight and get seriously hurt.

Bunnies shouldn’t be put together until they’re BOTH neutered and healed, which means it will probably be at least 4 months before you can start bonding them. You can look at threads here to see how to start the bonding process once they’re both neutered.

[Deleted User]

Sorry about your bunny.

Please do not put these two rabbits together.

Your male will be sexually maturing, and he will hump the female which will be very stressful for her. Also, she will sexually mature as well around 12 weeks, and you don’t want to have a litter because that could kill your girl, and there are already too many homeless bunnies.

If you want to have these rabbits living together, you have to spay and neuter them both, and then go through the bonding process.

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your bunny.

Agreeing with the other comments already given but would also like to add another point. If you don’t mind me asking or if isn’t too upsetting but is there a particular cause of the bunnies death. The only reason I ask is if it is anything that could possibly be contagious and something your current bunny could be carrying and potentially pass on to the bunny you intend to buy. If this is the case then this would be another reason not to add the new bunny with the existing bunny, due to the possibility of sickness and the baby bunny being so young will make it even more vulnerable. Just another point to consider.

[Deleted User]

Eddy, I was also thinking that!! Especially if both of the original bunnies were purchased together/from the same source. And if this 3rd bunny is going to be purchased from the same place as well. That could be the source of an issue causing these bunnies to be sick.

[Emma]

My other rabbit has been checked and is okay , would it be okay to introduce her to him after he has been neutered even though there is an age gap, I have a spare cage I could keep her in for a couple of weeks as I am planning on getting him neutered quite early

[Sirius&Luna]

It’s not the age gap that’s the issue, its the neutering. Both rabbits need to be neutered before its safe to introduce them. If she isn’t neutered then he will react to her hormones, and behave as if he isn’t neutered.

You need to keep them separated until she is also spayed, which means likely keeping them apart for at least 4 months.

[joea64]

Agreed, I’d take these two bunnies to a rabbit-savvy vet and have them check them over REAL carefully.

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