New bunny behavior

[2babybuns]

 Help!  I’m looking for some answers about our recent predicament.  Butters(11.5 wk old boy) has started humping Hazel (9.5 wk old girl).  They have been housed together since 8 wks old and love each other very much.  Our bunny vet neuters at 16 wks and I know we have a window before they can actually make babies since she is younger but I’m worried about the humping behavior.  She doesn’t seem bothered, just hops away.  We knew the boy/girl thing would be tricky but I didn’t expect it this soon.  

Can anyone tell me what the best thing to do in this situation?  Any advice is welcome 

Thanks!

[Beka27]

It sounds like Butter is “coming into his own” a bit early… lol. Testicles usually descend between 3.5 and 4 months old and that is when you see hormonal behavior begin. Having access to a beautiful young lady may have sped that up a bit tho.

She is too young right now to get pregnant, but I would be prepared with separate housing within the next couple weeks. They should be separated by the time she is 12 weeks old.

Assuming HE gets neutered ON his 16 week birthday, that is still 4.5 weeks away. By that time SHE will be 14 weeks. Still, probably a bit too young to get pregnant…

BUT…

Males retain viable sperm for 4 weeks (sometimes 6 weeks) AFTER THE NEUTER!!! A neutered male can still impregnate a female rabbit during that time!

She will be 18-20 weeks before he has “clearance” to be with her again. By that time, her hormones will have “dropped” and it’s likely she won’t accept him until after SHE has been spayed (at about 6 months old).

So long story short, separate them when she is 11-12 weeks old. Get everyone neutered and spayed at the appropriate time. Begin bonding sessions once your girl is recovered a full month from surgery and your boy has been neutered a few months.

[2babybuns]

 Oh dear!  I didn’t realize he’d still be able to get her pregnant that long after.  I guess I also didn’t think we’d have to seperate them.  The 3 breeders I worked with in choosing them didn’t mention that part.   My hubby is going to be very unhappy with my lack to research on bunny baby making.  He’s already upset at the cost to spay and neuter.  We got some quotes up to $400!!!  Insane.  Good thing I found a realistic vet with good prices and works with bunnies.  Guess I better go cage shopping 

Thanks for the input!

[Beka27]

Many people don’t realize this. This is why I really, really wanted to be clear.

We have a fantastic member here from Australia, Roberta, who wasn’t 100% sure of her bunnies sexes… until she had an accidental litter. She did the right thing, and had her boy neutered right away! Well, imagine her surprise when she ended up with a SECOND accidental litter a short time later!!! They weren’t separated long enough and he got her pregnant again, post-neuter.

The only TRUE pregnancy control is the spay of the female. Once the uterus/ovaries are gone, that risk is gone.

[Beka27]

As far as getting a second cage, what are your long-term housing plans? What kind of cage are they in now? Since you have to get another cage, I would recommend that you get something that can be their shared home eventually.

Two rabbits need a minimum of 4×4 feet of floor space. Anything smaller will not be big enough once they are full-grown. Lots of us use dog xpens, or build our own NIC (wire shelving) condos. Whatever you do, don’t run out and get a little pet-store cage! Think long-term!

Your husband will be even more annoyed if you tell him in a few months that you need to get a *third* habitat because the two cages you have already are not large enough for the pair! :o)

[Beka27]

This is the BB page of cool habitat pics: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/GreatHabitats/tabid/229/Default.aspx

Maybe this can give you some ideas of what direction you want to go.

(The first 5 pictures in the “Pens” category are of my bunnies and their “double-wide” 4×8 foot xpen. Sadly, we lost Max, our lop, at the beginning of June…)

[2babybuns]

We have a 48 by 22 cage and a big “dog” pen for them to play in during the day. The get out at least 1 or 2 times/day. They are indoor bunnies and hopefully they get litter trained and will be able to have more free roam once they a bit older. Thanks for the cage ideas. Our pen might be suitable to turn into a short term cage if we make it a bit smaller shape. I appreciate the help!

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