New to baby rabbits

[currya15]

Hello hello everyone. I just adopted two baby Dutch bunnies. They are 9 weeks old, and sisters. I have had to rabbits in the past and both were over one years old and box trained. I’m aware the babies need different caring and I would love advice for the girls. I gave them both alfalfa hay and regular Timothy Hay to see which they like better is there anything else I need to watch to make sure they are healthy and have no problems. I did notice one sneezing a little comma no runny nose or eyes. I’m hoping it’s an adjustment to a new environment. I look forward to any advice as I’m always on here for questions and answers. Thanks so much!!

[Azerane]

Congrats on your two new additions Dutch bunnies are very cute.

At 9 weeks they will still get along very well, however as they progress towards 12-16 weeks of age, they may start to get hormonal as they go through puberty, and this can lead to dangerous behaviours such as nipping and fighting. Because of this, you will need to keep them separately and have them spayed, spaying reduces the hormones which makes it much easier to bond them. 6 weeks after they have spayed (to allow time to heal and for hormones to dissipate) you can start to bond them properly by introducing them on short dates to bond them properly Spaying will also help with their litter box training too.

[tobyluv]

I know that rabbits of that age can have unlimited pellets, usually alfalfa pellets, but it is possible to overfeed pellets, so you shouldn’t refill their bowl if they empty it over and over.

Since they are 9 weeks old, you will have to separate them in a couple of weeks, before puberty sets in. It doesn’t matter if they are sisters, once they start dealing with hormones, there can be aggression and fighting and injuries. You can keep them near each other in the same room, but they shouldn’t have any physical contact when they reach 11 weeks old or so. They will have to take turns coming out for play and exercise. Then after they are spayed and a few weeks have elapsed for the hormones to die down, you can start bonding.

Babies can be friends, but they can’t truly bond until they are older and have been spayed or neutered.

Edited to say that I was typing and didn’t see Azerane’s post.  I didn’t mean to duplicate it.

[currya15]

This is great news!!! Thank you both!!! I had no idea about the hormonal issues they will face. We do have extra cages to separate them in two weeks. Such a shame. I was so excited to have a bonded pair lol.i found it so difficult with my boys They never bonded, just never four along enough. But I will definitely keep an eye the next two weeks. Again thank you both, any but of information is appreciated!!!

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