Neutering an older rabbit

[mlmmars89]

I have three rabbits. But I have had my first one for a little over a year now. I was wondering if neutering him at an older age is ok. My step brother got him for me as a surprise from one of those fair games, my step dad had just built me a rabbit cage because I really wanted rabbits and thought about using them in 4H. My bunny is a standard chinchilla (might be mixed a little), his name is Flower after the skunk in Bambi (my step dad told me that it was a girl and i just recently found out that its really a boy). He has been hard to tame more. He has improved a little (doesn’t always mind getting his nose rubbed). Growing up he was destructive of the wood of the cage. But will neutering help him with taming and stuff. He can be really nice, he doesn’t bite, he’ll just trying running away usually when someone tries to pet him. My other rabbits are bonded, I got them about two months ago from the shelter because they would be better for 4H. (Flower is too spoiled for that now and probably wouldn’t like all the strangers at the fair.) I do know that the mini rex mix is a boy for sure (just reached maturity) and the other I think is a boy but is still young (dwarf hotot). They all got along when they went in the playpen (except for when Flower tried mating with the mini rex- Sven. Flower likes my other Bambi because he used to sneak up in his cage since its a two level cage with a trap door separating the cages). Would it be best to get Flower neutered? 

[Bam]

Male bunnies can be neutered at an older age. About how old do you think he is?

If your other rabbits are boy and girl they could get babies before you know it, so it’s really best to separate them.

Generally neutering a bunny is the best remedy for unwanted sexual behaviors, not so much personality issues. Some bunnies are not so cuddly, and some bunnies that are not so cuddly will become cuddly with lots and lots of time.

[Eepster]

A bit over a year, is not really an older bunny. They live up to 10+ years sometimes, so older would be more like 4 and over.

Since you have multiple bunnies and don’t want him getting the female pregnant, you should get him neutered. However, the behavior you are describing doesn’t sound hormonal, so I would not expect much change there.

I’m a bit confused as to how you plan to use your bunnies for 4H. Usually there is a project or focus to 4H. Since we live in a pretty urban area, our 4H is mostly therapy pets. You don’t just show up at the fair, you have to actively take the animals to nursing home and hospital, train them, etc. As a teen, I was in 4H and it involved going to shows where my hamsters and my sister’s rabbit competed against others based on breed standard. I had a dutch rabbit as a pet, but he wasn’t a show bunny, so he wasn’t part of my 4H projects.

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