Boy or girl?

[Rain]

I’m so very confuzzled! I’ve been told so many different things when it comes to male rabbits and when their testicles drop! I’ve read 3-4 months. I’ve heard 8 to 10 months. I’ve heard 2 months. My Rain is five months old now and there is nothing showing there. What age should male bunnies be mature by? He/she? seems a lot more territorial, and feisty. Rain always chins things the second he sees something new. Isn’t territorial behavior typically a female thing? I need to know if he’s a boy or not because first, of Rainy is in fact a girl, then I would need to know sooner so I could spay her quickly without her getting cancer. If he’s a boy, then I would need to know when their testicles drop because then I would have to neutuer him before he starts spraying and peeing everywhere. I know this is a very basic question and I’m sure many are tired answering questions such and these, but i don’t know what number to trust! I’ve read different ages on here and different websites. I need someone to help me clarify what gender my bunny is. I don’t want to be with him for like a whole year and then find out he’s a girl and then keep making a mistake like “who’s a good boy” or “sup dude”. Not that he would understand me. ( well in my world he does.) But still.

[Mikey]

Bombur’s testicles dropped around four months old. Blue’s around six months old. Badger’s around eight months old.

Bombur was (and still is) incredibly territorial. Before being neutered, he would lunge at anyone who entered his cage, and he often boxed and scratched anyone who disturbed his cage. Outside of his cage, he constantly left territory poops and pee marks. I would often end up picking up 20+ territory poops and atleast 4+ territory pees per day. Now, over a year since hes been neutered, he still lunges if someone disturbs his territory, and he leaves a good single territory pee per day as well as a few territory poops per day. Hes just a naturally territorial and feisty bun. Very much a male. Sex stereotypes dont always match.

If youre really concerned, you can head to your rabbit certified vet and have an ultrasound done. If there is a uterus, you have a female. If there are testicles, you have a male. Also be aware that its fairly common for rabbits to have both or a mix of both sexual reproduction systems.

[jerseygirl]

Haha. Well you could technically keep saying “who’s a good boy” or “sup dude” even if Rain turns out to be a girl. I don’t think Rain would mind.

Territorial traits are common in both sexes. Sometimes it depends on the bunny itself too. 2 of my boys chin things a lot.

With the timeframe when testicles decend, it can depend on the breed. Smaller breeds will often get them earlier, even around 8 weeks old. And larger breeds take longer to mature and may get them later. It also varies bunny to bunny. Another thing that can happen is one or both testicles not descending. This is called cryptorchidism. So the absense of testicle doesn’t necessarily mean a rabbit is female.

A vet should be able to determine Rains sex by now, just by looking to see if there is a penis or vulva.

 ETA: Will he allow you to check this??

Regarding uterine cancer, the risk of female buns contracting this increases with age. Being only 5 months old, if Rain was a girl, she wouldn’t be at high risk. A spay does remove the risk altogether, but spaying is usually done as there is less fat developed around the uterus and easier for the vet to perform the surgery. But you’d have some time if Rain turns out to be a girl. It would be safe to desex now but you could also wait a bit longer if you wanted.

[jerseygirl]

Sorry Mikey. I was writing my reply when you must have posted yours. I hadn’t seen it before I posted mine. Good example with your boys of how it can vary from rabbit to rabbit!!

[Deleted User]

Both of my boys had dropped by week 10. They both also still chin everything… all the time.

[Muchelle]

My boy dropped his family jewels rather late, I think he was seven or eight months old. We eventually were able to tell he was a boy before he decided it was time to drop them blingz by checking if he had a penis (I was scared he could be a girl cause I didn’t have the money to pay for a spay lol)

He’s also super territorial. Doesn’t get aggressive with humans, but he will attack to kill every animal that cross his path ^___^” and that’s how you end up with a solo bun, kids!

[Mikey]

Hahah, no worries Jersey I had no idea that smaller breeds usually drop earlier than larger rabbits! That is pretty interesting to think about.

[Rain]

Wow I have not really researched about a buns reproductive system just yet. But now I know. Thanks guys! I learned some very useful information from all of you. Rain is a nethie but he hasn’t dropped yet. Or maybe she. Or he that won’t drop at all. Confusing!!! I guess it all depends on the rabbit. And that territorial stuff is a psychological thing.
Guys will neutering him make him less afraid and hyper when I try to pick him up?? And how will the vet pick him up if he’s never been picked up before. Once I tried when he was a baby and he kicked so hard that I had to put him back down. And in another one of his many scenes a lady at the pet store ( she’s probably very experienced because she has a bunny and she’s the same person who gave me his gender but I’m not always ready to trust pet store people) dropped him when she tried to cut his nails. He absolutely hates being picked up. Well technically attempted to being picked up. I don’t know grammar. I don’t want to break his back so I didnt try. But will fixing him help this?

[Mikey]

My Bombur is the same way with picking up. We use treats to lure him into his carrier, then close it when he enters it. This way, he doesnt need to be held We warned our vet the first time she met him. She got a clean towel and set it out in front of the carrier, lured him out with treats, them bunny burrito’d him in the towel. She then spent the next few minutes talking to him softly and petting him. Once he calmed down, she unwrapped the towel, continued petting him gently, and talked to us about treatment.

Dont trust people just because theyve had rabbits. Especially if they drop your rabbit. It is very easy to misgender rabbits, especially before they hit puberty (anywhere from four to ten months, usually).

[Deleted User]

If even two of Asriel’s paws leave the ground you’d think the world was ending! He is a no pick up at all costs bunny. The vet and techs called him spirited during his neuter stay… my guess is he kicked several of them for picking him up. Bombur is okay for the most part, but I’ve never attempted to pick up either of my boys.

[Muchelle]

Buns are prey animals, so they like to have their butt on the ground at all times. He will probably never get used to being picked up (some buns tolerate or even like it but I think it’s pretty rare). Vets know how to handle them and properly hold them so that they don’t wriggle or take a dive, so don’t worry! You can ask your vet to show you how to properly pick him up and hold him for when you absolutely need to do it, like to put him in his carrier or to give him medicine or cut his nails.

The only time mine was genuinely happy to be in my arms was that time when I literally kidnapped him from the vet hospital. I could see his eyes screaming “yaaaas slave take me hoooome!”

[Rain]

I think the only way I could ever hold Rain again was if he was sedated! Ha! These are some hilarious stories.
Mikey, I believe you are right about that. She told me his gender when he was like two months old. I suspect she might have not gotten it right.
Thanks everyone for the help! I will try to go to the vet in the next few months. Speaking of which, does anyone live in San Antonio and know of a good vet? I’ve been emailing various vets to ask if they know how to fix or treat a rabbit, and none ever reply. Although they are all probably busy. If anyone does know of one, tell me ASAP!!! I want to get Rain fixed so that he can stay with me longer hopefully, as fixing gives them two more years of life, right?

[Rain]

Also another thing, Rain has the weird double chin thing. I’ve heard that’s an indicator that a rabbit is female?? Does anyone else know about that?

[Muchelle]

If Rain’s a girl, definitely spaying will preserve her from reproductive organs cancer, that have and higher and higher chance to occur in unspayed females with each year that passes by. If Rain’s a boy, well you won’t have hormonal spraying around and prevent testicular cancer, which should anyways have a low rate of occurring.

Fixing doesn’t automatically give them more years to live, but surely it gives them a less stressful life, since it removes hormonal behaviour.

If Rain’s developing a dewlap… well it can be she’s a girl after all! Not sure at what age it should start developing, though

[Deleted User]

My husband and I are moving to San Antonio in another year, so we’ve done our research! Here’s a few we’ve found:
Southeast Animal Hospital
Mission Pet Emergency
10 West Bird and Animal Hospital
VCA Becker Animal Hospital
Northern Oaks Bird and Animal Hospital

Hope this helps!

[Rain]

Thank you Asriel and Bombur! Btw i contacted the first two and they don’t have any vets that are experienced with bunnies. I will definitely check with the others!!
Dewlap! That’s what it’s called!!! I called it a double chin before. It certainly seems that a little thing of skin is growing there.
I’m super excited!! The sooner Rain is spayed or neutered the sooner they can get a friend!!!!
Thank you again everyone for the help. I think that’s the last of my questions.

[Author]

Messages