Two baby male bunnies

[Mushroomsmom]

I have two baby unneauterd males that currently live together. They are seriously close and seem to have always been together. I’m worried I’m making a mistake by trusting them together in their condo. The slightly older boy will be neautered asap. ZERO signs of aggressions. The rabbit savvy vet said to just keep an eye out for humping and behaviorial issues. Please tell me anyone has had experience with this? It would break my heart to separate them but if it’s for their health… I will.

[Mikey]

I have experience! Ended in a literally bloody scuffle. Separate them but keep their cages/pens about 10inches apart until atleast one month (recommended two months) after BOTH boys are neutered

[Barrett]

My God, talk about perfect thread perfect time!

I came here to start my own advice thread, and if Mushroomsmom doesn’t mind, maybe we can share the thread??

OK, I’ve always been a solo bun daddy, so I’ve never had to bond bunnies myself. But my brother is about to bring home two bucks from the same litter. I need to start collecting advice!

So I assume for his case (as well) he should bring them home and keep them in separate cages until a month or so after they are both neutered?

So until that time, they have to take turns being let out for play time? What then about ‘neutral’ territory? When they play out of their pens, should they only play in one room and save another room for their ‘introduction room’? (or REintroduction in this case)

Thanks in advance!

[Mushroomsmom]

The bloody mess thing terrifies me… Did you feel bad about the thought of separating them? They rely on each other so much.

[sarahthegemini]

Don’t feel bad, you’ve got their best interest in mind. I did feel guilty seperating my buck and doe, they weren’t aggressive either but obviously it could have led to that. I had to avoid pregnancy too.

[Mikey]

After my smallest bun was bleeding: NOPE! Separations are very much needed. I was lucky neither bun in the scuffle held a grudge and bonding went fairly easy after both were neutered. If one held a grudge, it would be impossible to bond them. Separating them before they fight ensures they will go into bonding with higher chance of coming out bonded

[Mikey]

Posted By Barrett on 5/11/2017 1:17 AM

My God, talk about perfect thread perfect time!

I came here to start my own advice thread, and if Mushroomsmom doesn’t mind, maybe we can share the thread??

OK, I’ve always been a solo bun daddy, so I’ve never had to bond bunnies myself. But my brother is about to bring home two bucks from the same litter. I need to start collecting advice!

So I assume for his case (as well) he should bring them home and keep them in separate cages until a month or so after they are both neutered?

So until that time, they have to take turns being let out for play time? What then about ‘neutral’ territory? When they play out of their pens, should they only play in one room and save another room for their ‘introduction room’? (or REintroduction in this case)

Thanks in advance!

Yep, both babies need to be separated. They can live in the same room and their cages pen can be as close as about 10 inches apart, or farther. This is so they can see and smell one another, but cannot fight (or try to mate) through the bars. Rabbits dont understand siblings and will treat them as brand new bunnies (ei: strangers) when hormones kick in

Play time will need to be alternated, and done in a separate room or pen from the one they have their cages in. If they can only have play time in the same room, whichever bun is caged needs to have extra protection around their cage to ensure they cannot touch (this is how mine got bloodied; he stuck his paw through the cage bar and got a chunk of skin torn off of his foot). Neutral territory is a room neither bunny has ever been in, usually small. Many use the bathroom or a blocked off hallway

[Carrie]

Our baby brothers got along fine until around 10 weeks old. I’d read that bucks dont come into sexual maturity until much later so I was quite surprised. We have an unspayed female and even though they were separated from her, seeing/smelling her seemed to get our Roo all riled up. He started being very dominant with Rocket which ended in a fur flying scuffle. It wasn’t too dramatic, Rocket only had a stratch on his ear but the poor little guy was terrified and hid under a cushion all afternoon! The week after they were both castrated and everyone lives together very harmoniously now.

[Mushroomsmom]

UPDATE: thank you guys for all your input! We just separated our boys after Lionel started trying to hump Leonard. It didn’t break out into a fight because it wasn’t aggressive but we knew it was time to separate and we were glad we were home for it. Thank you for the hope of them being together after neutering.

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