Keeping males together?

[MaddieRabbits]

Hey guys, I’ve already posted something similar to this but I’m still unsure.

I was planning on getting my 2 boys tomorrow but my mum has decided to get them next weekend instead. She has been worrying loads that, as they’re both boys, its not a good idea to keep them together and that they will fight. The boys are currently 8 weeks old and are from the same litter, the breeder told us that they currently get along really well but I previously had two males who lived well together until one day they had a huge fight and one didn’t make it. Me and my mum are so terrified of this happening again and that’s why I was planning on getting a girl and a boy but it just happens to be that the bunny my mum loves is also a boy! 

Anyway, as you can imagine I’m really struggling to make a decision. I want to do the right thing for the bunnies and I definitely want to have 2 as they like living in pairs from what I’ve seen. I’ve fallen in love with these two bunnies and I’m so excited to get them but obviously if the chances are that they will fight I will just have to get one and maybe bond him with a female in the future. I’m definitely wanting to get both rabbits done regardless of what I end up getting if that’s any help. Theres no issues at all in terms of money or separating them etc. it’s just I don’t want to stress them out by having them together if they could be bought separately and live happier lives. I originally fell in love with the agouti, who I’ve decided to name Jax, and I’ll definitely get him I’m just unsure of what to do when it comes to the other boy…

Thanks everyone x

[Mikey]

Ive got a trio of males

Youre not completely wrong about keeping bunnies together. Before they are both neutered and are given atleast a month after to heal, you will need to keep them apart in separate cages and they shouldnt be allowed out together. After they are neutered and healed, you will have to go through the bonding process and hopefully over time, they will bond together perfectly. It could take a few weeks, it could take a few months, or it could take a year

[LBJ10]

I agree. Have them neutered and then bond them. My boys love each other. They’ve never had a serious fight or any kind of fight at all really. They were both neutered before they were introduced to each other.

[MaddieRabbits]

Okay thank you so much! So even though they are boys and from the same litter will I need to separate them as soon as I get them home or will I be able to wait until they reach maturity?

[tobyluv]

Rabbits should be separated before they are 12 weeks old. Yours will be 9 weeks old when you get them, so you could keep them together for a couple more weeks, but it might be better to go ahead and house them separately when you bring them home. They would give each other comfort, being in a new environment, if they were together, but it’s hard to know exactly what is the best way to start them out. Since I wasn’t really helpful, hopefully you will get some other responses that might be more helpful.

[MaddieRabbits]

Oh okay I see. They are currently living together and are doing fine, they both seem to be quite placid at the moment so I’m unsure yet of whether to separate them or have them together when I bring them home. I can do either easily so it’s not a problem

[tobyluv]

They are still young, so their hormones haven’t kicked in yet. If you do keep them together when you bring them home, it should only be for a couple of weeks. After that, the hormones can cause aggression and that can cause fighting. It’s better to separate them before that happens, not only to prevent injuries, but to prevent them holding grudges against each other if they do fight. That could affect their permanent bonding.

[Mikey]

I would keep them apart when you bring them home, but keep them in cages/pens close so they can still see and smell one another. Keep their living spaces a few inches apart so they cant fight, when one or both reach puberty

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would probably keep them apart but where they are very close, like in side by side condos so they can still see and smell each other.

[MaddieRabbits]

Okay I’ll separate them when they’re home. Thank you so much everyone!

[Author]

Messages