Baby bunny question

[Bun&Guns]

Hey everyone, first of all i’m new here. I’v been getting some information from here off and on for a while now. I figured i would finally participate. I have a question or two.

First of all, my girlfriend and i have had 4 rabbits that are all about a little older then 2 years now. We broke up a few months ago and she took 3 of the bunnies with her and i kept my baby Muffin who is about a year and a half old. She has her own cage which is actually in her own bedroom ( the guest room which is completely empty, and i let her run around her room during the day and she goes in her cage at night). She pretty much won’t leave that room for anything. She has spent time in the rest of the apartment but still she steps up to the doorway and looks out like it’s a foreign planet or something then immediately retreats.

I miss the other bunnies, and Muffin really doesn’t have too much enthusiasm for me, even though i love her to death, so i decided to get a new bunny. I found a breeder who had really nice 4 week old blue eyed white lionheads. I decided to get one. I think it’s a boy but not 100 percent sure. At the time the breeder checked but couldn’t give me a definitive awnser. It’s been a month now but i haven’t looked yet.

Anyway, from the moment i got Gaston home he has been nothing short of absolutely loving and sweet. I decided to take the approach of letting him roam the entire apartment as he pleases. He goes in his cage at night but during the day i open it and we both just do our thing. A different approach then with muffin who basically has free range of the guest room, Gaston has the whole apartment (except for Muffins room). Even though he’s a baby he has actually been suprisingly good. I really feel good about letting him share the apartment with Muffin and I because he never hides. He is ALWAYS trying to come out and see what i’m doing and constantly try to lick me. I’v never had a rabbit that i could tell so quickly that he genuinely likes me. I have honestly never seen a rabbit look so happy. I’m just worried that because he’s so young (probably 8 weeks now) and the fact that i’m giving him so much freedom will end up being a bad thing for him. Like he might not learn to litter train because he’s not in his cage as much or something. I put the litter box in the living room when he’s not in his cage at night so hopefully he’ll learn to use it. The thing that makes this easier for me is that i’m really not finding pee anywhere in the apartment other then a few accidents here and there, so i have to assume he’s going in his cage. 

Another thing, since he’s so young, will his behavior change for the worst once his hormones kick in? Muffin acts like shes scared to death of me and i’v had her for a while. Gaston has only been here for a few weeks and it’s like i can’t even scare him. He might get startled by something but immediately comes back to me. I live in an apartment alone so i’m thinking maybe since i’m the only one he’s seen since a young age he’ll assume i’m his parent or something. Idk how that works. I hope thats what he thinks though, i love this little guy. p.s. sorry for the novel

[LBJ10]

Bunnies have different personalities, that’s for sure. He is also a baby, so he may not act the same when he gets older. Yes, there is a very good chance his behavior will change when he hits puberty. The best way to curb hormonal behaviors is to have him neutered. Once his hormones are gone and he starts to mature, his true personality will likely show. If you want to bond your rabbits, they will both need to be spayed/neutered anyway.

As for all the space, yes it could be a problem when he hits puberty. Some bunnies just don’t know what to do with all that freedom and they mark everything. Be prepared to box him in with an exercise pen if needed. Again, once he is neutered, you should be able to work on expanding his space again.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Is Muffin spayed? If not, that needs to get done ASAP or you’re gonna have one heck of a time with hormonal issues introducing a boy into the mix.

Also, separating her from her bonded friends probably threw her for a spin. Everything is sudden and new and she is probably just adjusting. When she’s more comfortable she will probably start feeling more adventurous.

As for litter training, I’d start that now and not allow him to get in the habit of just going where he pleases. He has to earn that extra space by proving his litter habits. Start small and work your way out to full range.

His behavior may likely change when hormones begin kicking in, including spraying. Also, please keep close watch on his health since he is way too young to be away from mom. They aren’t supposed to be separated until 8 weeks.

Would love seeing pics of your buns.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!!!

It sounds like Gaston is a really sweet little guy! I’m hoping the breeder was wrong about his age, and he was closer to 8 weeks when you brought him home-mammals should stay with mom for at least 8 weeks, the longer the better!
Is Muffin spayed? Are Muffin and Gaston interacting at all?

I wouldn’t worry about him changing much at puberty-they get more active and mischievous and often more destructive, but after the neuter they return to how they were for the most part and settle as they get older. I think his affection will remain intact.

Do we get to see some pictures of these two?

[Bun&Guns]

I would love nothing more to take pictures of them trust me, but i do not have a camera at the moment and use a home phone so i dont even have a cell camera available. Ya, i’ll keep an eye on him. The breeder definitely said 4 weeks. That sounded kind of young to me. He was just a tiny fluffy thing. They both look amazing. Muffin is a double mane sable point, honestly she looks like a triple mane because she has so a crazy amount of fur, lol. Gaston is all white, with a grey fur circle around each eye and pretty blue eyes.. I definitely plan on getting a couple x pens so i can give them a better set up. I just feel so guilty keeping them in a cage when i have all this extra space. I have no doubt that Gaston’s healthy though. He is super active and looks great.

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