Young baby bucks- same litter / conflicting advice

[drewpea]

Hi, 

My partner and I are introducing our first house rabbits into our home early June. We want a pair for all expected reasons; it’s just the right thing to do!

The boys will be the second bunnies in my life, but I did the first one wrong – an impulse easter present that ended up rehomed. I want to do everything right this time, for that buns sake!!

Just keeping it brief: Fiver n Strawbs are two brothers from the same litter, and we will be collecting them at around nine weeks old. I am reading conflicting advice on whether they can remain together or not. The first thing we are doing is having a check up at the exotic vet and scheduling the paired to be neutered. I believe this is around 12-14 weeks?

Sorry boys!

Until they are neutered can we home them together? They will be indoor buns so will feel extremely bad for one of them to have to remain in a temp expen whilst the other gets the run of the mill crate that should be the pairs hidey hole. Thankfully, our living room is big enough to cage them near one another IF we have to.

Could anyone please give me the best advice for our situation? I don’t want to have to lose one of the boys due to unforgettable fights and non repairable bonds.

TIA!!

Drewpea, Fiver & Strawberry 

[BanditCamp]

Baby bunnies can be homed together for a short period. Buy as bunnies are they grow fast and anywhere between 12-14 weeks their hormones might kick in and the battles will start.

I would suggest taking your bunnies to the vet regardless and see when they can be neutered. The rule of thumb for most vets is that if they see them (testies) they can cut them meaning that they have defended. After the operation baby boys will be out for about 1-2 days and will bounce back easily but ensure that they are eating and pooping and drinking water.

Restricting space is moderately important however my bandit wanted to come out of his pen and sat on a towel near a couch and just wanted to be social.

I would suggest giving your buns a week or so to accumulate to their new home then put them in a carrier to go visit the vet for a first time checkup. This should give you ample time to setup two seperated enclosures and when both bunnies are ready you can begin the bonding process. It is super important that you prepare by ensuring that there is a neutral space somewhere the bunnies don’t go and prepare for fluff to fly possibly when bonding.

There are lots of videos on YouTube on 101rabbits and stormyrabbits who uave excellent videos on the subject as well as information here up top and the bonding fourms.

[sarahthegemini]

Doesn’t matter if they’re from the same litter. Hormones can make them aggressive and cause serious fighting. You need to separate them by the time they are 12 weeks, keep them apart until a month or so after their neuter.

[drewpea]

Thanks so much guys!

Really appreciate the advice and help. I have been marathoning 101bunnies and budgetbunnies too to see what they say!
Thank you again! <3

Does this mean until 12 weeks I can home them together?

[Mikey]

It is best to separate them sooner but keep their cages/pens close. Hormones can hit as early as 3 months for male rabbits, which can lead to horrible fights if theyre together in a cage. You also risk one of them being sexed wrong which could lead to unwanted pregnancy which can deal great harm to the female at such a young age.

So, separate them but keep their cages/pens about 10 inches apart. This way they can smell one another and see one another, but cannot actually reach one another should hormones start to kick in causing aggressive behavior

[drewpea]

Thank you!

What about play time? Also can I keep the in the living room, where I want to keep them after they’re bonded?

[tobyluv]

They will have to take turns coming out for play and exercise time, before their surgeries and before they are properly bonded.

It would be good if you kept one room or space where neither could go, then that would be a neutral space you could later bond them in, after their surgeries and a month or so has passed. I have found a good way to bond bunnies is to put them together in an x-pen. My husband and I get in with them, to stop any fighting that might occur and to stop any excessive humping. If just one of them has used the x-pen, go over it with soap to remove any scents. You can put a sheet down on the floor under the pen to also create a neutral space, since that will mask any scents that may be in a rug or carpet.

You can house them in any room that you have available after they are bonded. You will have to “bunny proof” the room or any room they are in if they are running around loose.

[drewpea]

Thanks for your help!

The plan is to get two pens for them in the living room, and bond them in the hallway and bedroom. Once this is complete, they can return to a shared pen in the living room? Hopefully there’s no territorial issues in that!

We will use the xpen to bond them, but we will have to wash over one as there’s no feasible way we could afford three separate pens and never use the third. 

We are almost excited to find creative ways to bunny proof- we are both pedantic about visible wires!

Sorry for having to ask the same thing twice, just want to clarify  

[Carrie]

We housed our baby bunny brothers together from the start thinking that hormones would kick in much later. However, one of the two started mounting, spraying, scent marking etc at 9 weeks old. The two had one scuffle but nothing serious.

Our vet knew we were planning to bond them with our other rabbits and advised that they both be castrated right away, so our boys were castrated at 10 weeks old. They bounced back in half a day after the surgery.

Our bossy little Roo took about three more days after that to calm down completely but all four live very happily together now.

[drewpea]

Thank you all so much for your help!
Went to see the boys yesterday. They are adorable but it’s safe to say that the breeder didn’t know what she was doing- so separated is best just in case we end up with an accidental litter on our hands.

Real shame, this lady had beautiful bunnies kept in small hutches outside and green algae water bottles. I couldn’t even see hay or pellets; but the boys dad seemed friendly enough.

Wanted to rescue all of them then!

[Mikey]

If possible, please report her. It sounds like shes neglecting them based on the algae water and absolutely no food

[drewpea]

I certainly will! I am going to have another look for food when I collect the boys – but their bottles were filthy with green residue.

[drewpea]

I certainly will! I am going to have another look for food when I collect the boys – but their bottles were filthy with green residue.

Is it normal to feel the spine prominently of a young kit? I would say about 6 weeks?

[BanditCamp]

Rabbits at 6 week don’t really have the fat layers developed, My bunny I thought wasn’t eating enough but now at 3.5 months I think hes fat but then again I might be overthinking it. consider looking at the breed charts at the ABRA and what they consider is “Healthy” for a show/breed bunny and make your own decision from there. For example they say my bunny should be 4.5 LBS to 6.5 LBS but I think 4.5-5 LBS is ok for my bunny personally.

[Floppy]

I fostered 2 baby male half wild rabbits before. I got them neutered as soon as the vets would do it, I never had to seperate them except two nights, but kept the cages next to each other. They still live together now! A friend adopted them both and still has them together and I visit them sometimes. They are best pals!

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