Separate now or not?

[LittleGiant]

Hi!

I have two rabbits, a boy and a girl and both 2 months old (the guy who sold to me told me), I have one cage for them (I have divider in case I need to separate them now).

My question is, should I separate them at their age right now or let them together in one cage (but on what age should I separate them)?

[BanditCamp]

Since there are approaching sexual readiness I would separate them. The best way to bond them is AFTER their both fixed and you allow a cooldown period for them to heal (from a few days to a month) then you can begin bonding them properly.

[tobyluv]

It’s probably best to separate them now. Sometimes people are told incorrect ages of rabbits and it’s possible that they could be older than 2 months. Make sure that they can’t nip through the divider. Rabbits have also been known to mate through cage bars, so there should be a double divider or some kind of space between their two areas. If that’s not possible, you may have to get another cage or some kind of pen for one of them. Once they are separated, they shouldn’t be allowed to be together for play or any time at all. It only takes a few seconds for them to mate, and it can happen without you realizing it. You also don’t want any fighting or injuries, which can occur when their hormones come flooding in.

After they have had their spay and neuter surgeries and a month has passed, you can start the bonding process.

[LittleGiant]

Thank you guys for your advices!

[LittleGiant]

I told that to my mom but she ask me if separating is neccesary if she wants to have baby bunnies because my mom want them to have babies before getting spayed and neutered. Can we do that? Does they still need to be separated(when not mating) and let them together when mating?

Another question is, on what age we will get them spay and neuter? Cuz I think they are still young for operation.

[Boston's Mama]

We do not support breeding here – there are too many unwanted bunnies in the world in need of homes to be supporting more coming in on purpose.
You also should not be breeding her younger than 6months old and they would def mate before then so you must seperate them – or you not only risk fighting but breeding a for that young can kill her.
And no he can not stay with her through pregnancy – he will mate her again as soon as she gives birth meaning another litter – and that’s if she survives the first ..

I strongly advice you neuter and spay them. For their bonding – for their health – reduce cancer risk and increase possible life span- also there are so many reasons why breeding them is not a good idea.

[Boston's Mama]

And yes 2 months is to our young to operate – but they are not too young to mate. From 9weeks-13weeks they could mature and mate. It’s risky to have them together. They need separated now , in cages near each other ( to keep them close for bonding later) but not close enough to fight or mate ( yes they can mate through cage bars)
And a vet will advice when you can neuter your boy ( once he matures anywhere from 2.5 months to 4.5months ) and your girl at 6months. Then 4 weeks after your girls spay you can begin to bond them. Not before, as her hormones need to settle first.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By LittleGiant on 5/16/2017 1:55 AM

I told that to my mom but she ask me if separating is neccesary if she wants to have baby bunnies because my mom want them to have babies before getting spayed and neutered. Can we do that? Does they still need to be separated(when not mating) and let them together when mating?

Another question is, on what age we will get them spay and neuter? Cuz I think they are still young for operation.

If a doe gets pregnant at such a young age, she could literally die. And please think logically, if they’re too young to be neutered and spayed they are too young to mate.

There are tons of unwanted bunnies in shelters, breeding is just contributing to the number of bunnies that will inevitably be put to sleep because there aren’t enough homes.

I find it concerning that your mother knows little about rabbits yet has decided she wants to breed them 

[BanditCamp]

Also concerning your mother wanting to breed bunnies before they are fixed, most buyers of rabbits are unwilling to buy from breeders or pet stores. There are so many unwanted or unloved bunnies out there and they do not sell for a lot. I purchased bandit for a total of $8 USD, so if our mother really wants to save money on 4-5 cups of coffee for kits that’s kind of selfish.

Not also to mention if you don’t have any paperwork on your parents (your buns now) most likely they wont buy as most require purebred info especially if they want to do show bunnies. Be responsible and love your home bunnies for who they are, if you are going the breeding route know that the fourms do not support it other than accidental pregnancy support and there are other fourms that answer more breeding specific questions.

[vanessa]

It’s not that we don’t support breeding here – it’s that we don’t discuss intentional breeding on the forum because it generates a lot of emotional and heated responses.

So if you do want to breed your bunnies (I understand it is your mom’s idea), you will be advised to go to a bunny breeding forum for those discussions.

That being said – advice – and I have bred bunnies before – I agree that your bunnies are too young to be bred. Yes they can do it – but it is not healthy at that age.

Bunnies are complicated pets. Way more difficult and tricky to own than cats or dogs. This leads rabbits to be high on the abandoned list, and the kill list at shelters. Because rabbits don’t show their pain like dogs do, adults whose children have rabbits as pets, often don’t think the rabbit needs to go to the vet. So many minors on this forum have rabbits who need veterinary care and can’t get it – because the parents don’t’ think it is necessary. If a rabbit vocalized it’s pain like a dog does – the story might be different. Many adults have a different concept of rabbits as pets – they often think they belong outdoors in a small hutch. So again – minors on this forum who wish they could bring their rabbit inside and give it more space and attention – can’t. Because they still live with their parents. It is difficult for minors to have rabbits as pets for reasons like these. What I’m saying is – if you breed your bunnies, you might be contributing to the problem of rabbits who can’t get the veterinary care they need, or the space and attention that they need.

Why does your mother want to breed them? What breed are they?

I bought Guinivere for $10, Merlin for $15, Morgana for $10, and I adopted Lancelot for $40 from a shelter. They are not money making machines. You will spend more feeding and housing the kits and the doe, than you will earn selling babies.

I had them spayed/neutered at a low cost clinic for $50 per neuter and $75 per spay.

[sarahthegemini]

I totally agree with Vanessa regarding how complex rabbits are. I had done (what I thought was) tons of research but in hindsight I knew nothing when I first got my rabbits. I knew nothing about having to separate them before their spay and neuter and I knew nothing about the bonding procedure. I was a little in denial actually! Me and my partner got our bunnies and we had no intention whatsoever in giving them up just because they are quite tricky pets and we are lucky that we could afford everything they need (altho it means more sacrifices for us but I don’t care – I can eat garbage but the buns get everything they could possibly want lol) but I can totally see why they are an animal that often gets given up on. Don’t get me wrong I don’t agree with giving up a pet because it’s more work than you bargained for but most people think rabbits are easy and are flabbergasted to discover they’re not.

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