New to rabbits – keep opposite-sex siblings?Help!

[Steph87]

Hi, I’m new to this site and new to keeping rabbits.  I’ll be getting my first – a mini lop buck, which I intend to keep as a house rabbit – tomorrow (Sat 21st July).  This week I discovered his sister was still un-homed.  I have been doing a lot of research, which has emphasized how social rabbits are.  As I’ll be out at work during the day, I  am considering taking the doe also, which will mean I have a pair of opposite-sex siblings.

 Whilst at work, at least until trained, I was planning on keeping the rabbit in a two-tiered hutch, which is very large on its own, with a play pen attached to the front.  I think there is enough space for two i.e. for each to have their own space.  As soon as I’m home I intend to get them out for supervised free-reign of the lounge.

 Having done a lot of reading on the matter, I am still confused as to whether it is ok to keep a brother/sister pair together.  Obviously, I intend to get them altered.  However, I am concerned they will fight if this is not done at the correct time.

 Any help/comments will be much appreciated!

 Steph

[bunnyfriend]

Hi welcome to BB

It is great that you are considering giving a home to his sister as well! Hopefully I can give you some information so that you can make the best decision for yourself. The biggest thing is: rabbits of the opposite sex cannot be together until they have both been altered and recovered from surgery. Rabbits do not care if they are siblings or family, they will mate together. So, if you did decide to bring them both home they would need to be kept completely separated until a month after being spayed/neutered. Would it be possible for you to keep them separate (this would have to be right from the first day you bring them home)? 

Another thing to consider is that being related has no effect on whether or not the rabbits will bond together, just because they are siblings does not mean they will be compatible. I think it’s often the case that most rabbits can be bonded together, however it does happen that people find it impossible to bond certain rabbits together so there always is chance that things won’t work out and in that case you would need to be able to house them separately long term. 

As far as the “right timing” goes, the best time to begin the bonding process would be a month after their surgeries, by that time all the hormones will have died down. Male rabbits usually mature earlier than female rabbits so you may chose to have his surgery done first, but you would still need to wait until the female’s surgery. Until then, put together they would likely fight or mate (male rabbits can have viable sperm for up to a month after neuter), and the female could experience “false pregnancies” which are no fun for the rabbit or the human. 

Since you are planning on getting them altered (GOOD DECISION! ), I’ll quickly give you a link from the House Rabbit Society that has great information on how to find a rabbit savvy vet and just more important info on spaying/neutering in general since it’s so different from having cats or dogs altered: FAQ: Spaying and Neutering

Sorry I wrote so much! I hope I didn’t scare you off or anything!! It’s just important to have all the facts first I’m sure you’ll enjoy having pet rabbits and you sound like you’re going to give him or them a happy, healthy home.

[Roberta]

My answer would be YES…. Meet Piglet and Pepper, They were rescued from a free range meat garden at 3 weeks old, I am not entirely sure if they were siblings but definitely the same age and had been born into the same warren. The babies had been decimated by the local cats and the parents were not easy to match up so the rescuers just gathered up as many as could be found in the first batch which is how they came to my care. I had not had a pet rabbit since I was about 5 and was 49 when I got them so its was a dramatic learning experience. Unfortunately I was not bun savvy enough to separate them in time nor did anyone warn me that boys can still make babies a month after desexing so I ended up with two oops litters. I still have one girl Nermal from the first and two girls Pipi and Blossom from the second. It is extremely important that they are kept separate from the age of 8 weeks till someone is fixed. Your boy will probably be first as boys can be neutered earlier than girls can be spayed. You should also get the little girl done when its tie as they are much healthier and happier.  But make sure you still keep them apart for a good 5 weeks after the boy is done as the the little buggers are still fertile. Piglet was actually done before the first litter arrived. DO NOT BE TEMPTED to let them have just one litter. (Not the intentional litter) Trying to rehome babies, I’ve been there and whilst they are lovely and cute and fluffy, parting with them and not knowing if people really are going to give them the care they promise will break your heart and give you sleepless nights!!!!!!!!!

The family pic is Piglet at the rear, Pepper in the middle, Pipi right front and Blossom left front. Nermal was adopted and returned after several months so she needs to be spayed and rebonded. Signs are good as Pepper, Piglet and Blossom will lick her nose through the Xpen. Unfortunately her little sister Pipi is a poopy head and keeps wanting to box and bite. (Guess who is off to the vet for spaying first)

But if you can afford to care for both and have the room and are willing to take the right precautions I would say the rewards are worth it.

[Elrohwen]

As bunnyfriend said, they will not know they are siblings, so it doesn’t matter if you get two now, or wait to get a second until your boy is older and neutered. They will need to be separated completely (no playtime, nothing) until they are altered, and then you will still need to bond them as any other pair. They won’t remember that they are siblings and supposed to get along, so bonding won’t be any easier than if you got another adult rabbit.

I’m not trying to discourage you from getting her if you really want her, just keep in mind that it won’t make your bonding any easier and you’ll need two separate cages and habitats for quite a while.

[Roberta]

I know you said the hutch has an upstairs and downstairs…. Bunnies are inventive and a few bars or an Xpen is no obstacle so if someone is in the playpen make sure someone else is upstairs ! If there is a gap between the bars it can be used for amorous purposes

[RabbitPam]

I want to echo that by saying that separate habitats are necessary, with a couple of inches minimum between them or even a piece of cardboard to block a mutual side, because the two bunnies will be able to get together through adjoining cage bars etc. And they will reach hormonal maturity long before you think they do, so it isn’t something you can wait a few months before doing. As Elrohwen said, they won’t remember so you are not harming them emotionally when separated, or reinforcing any bond made at birth by keeping them together after a certain point.

[tanlover14]

Just wanted to say hey and welcome to BB!   Giving a home to another bun is always a really great idea — and everyone pretty much gave you all the information you needed to know in earlier posts.  So I just wanted to show you my bonded buns!  Three siblings.  Two brothers and a sister! Fleury, Sidney, and Tanger!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about them being sideways — I’m not quite sure why all my pictures are turning when I upload them.

[Author]

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