Q about bunny sexual maturity

[bartandmilhouse]

Hi guys. Well I have a ridiculous question. My buns Bart and Milhouse will be 13weeks this weekend. I got them when they were 8w from someone who had pet goats and chickens and a few rabbits. They were apart of an oops litter and lived in an outdoor hitch with parents and two other siblings. I thought they were both girls when I got them but it was hard to tell. I have had them in a condo together since they got them even though I wasn’t 100% on their sexes. It soon became clear (and they became easier to sex). Bart is a boy and has circled Milhouse and attempted to hump her. I intervene and divert his attention to something else.

I do know I need to separate them and am in the process of getting a cage/materials to make a second condo. I just want to make sure they don’t distress being separated after being together all the time. When separated, does that include play time?

Also, and this is silly, at what age do bunnies become able to get pregnant? I fully intend to separate like…tomorrow haha, but I just want to know for my own peace of mind. Does it just depend on the rabbit? I feel terrible not having separated them earlier. The vet will not alter either until they are 6months.

Thank you!!

[LBJ10]

Gender is a tricky thing in young rabbits. Did you have anyone help you look at them down there? Did you find any family jewels? At this age, there should be clearer differences in their genitals IF you have one of each. I would not rely on humping as a way to determine sex. Bunnies hump for dominance. Girls hump boys, girls hump girls, boys hump girls and boys hump boys. It’s a normal part of growing up and bonding with one another. Unfortunately, it’s impossible (if you have one of each) to tell the difference between establishing dominance and making baby rabbits. Since you are not 100% sure, it’s even more important to separate them. When females are able to reproduce depends on the individual.

This is why it’s so important to keep older baby bunnies apart until everyone is spayed/neutered. If Millhouse is a girl, then she could actually become sexually mature at any time. So there is no need to risk having an oops litter. And yes, this includes playtime since mating literally takes a split second.

[Bam]

Just wanted to add: When you separate them they should still be in the same room, within hearing, smelling and preferably seeing distance. They won’t like being apart. Their cages should be separated by a few inches because buns can mate through cage bars. This is important during playtime as well, they mustn’t have direct contact with just the cage bars between them. That’s important also because intact bunnies can fight really bad, and they can do considerable damage to each other.

[Azerane]

Some good info, I just wanted to add that in some individuals, they can become able to sexually reproduce from around 12 weeks. In most cases I suspect it is a little later, but it’s not unheard of and you are better off separating sooner rather than later. The only thing worse than an unwanted pregnancy is an unwanted pregnancy in a rabbit that is too young to be pregnant safely.

[bartandmilhouse]

I did not find testicles when I got them, but I watched a video on what to look for when sexing them (the itty bitty hole or dash). From that it looks like Bart is a boy and Milhouse is a girl. I looked today to try and find testicles on Bart and I am not sure they are descended. Thankfully he is very good about letting me hold him to examine, so I was able to feel around and I felt some…thing. Like maybe they are just small, or it is just the general area. This would be my first boy so it is my first time discovering them. 

[bartandmilhouse]

Thank you, everyone! I have arranged to get a dog crate today so they can see, hear, and smell each other while still be separated. I will alternate their play times as well!

[Azerane]

Male rabbits are able to withdraw their testicles into folds of skin so that they’re not visible, so you’re not always going to find them when looking, although as you said it could be that they aren’t yet descended.

[Author]

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