Rabbit couples which ?

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

We are getting two mini lops and I had asked for two girls but the breeder has recommended m/f and getting the male spayed.

We don't want to breed them and they would be family pets (dc are 8, 12 and 17) we have a nice big hutch and run and we already have two male guinea pigs who live together nicely and don't fight they are just over a year now.

What would you recommend? I don't really want to
Be explaining birds and the bees to my youngest just yet so want to make the right choice. Thanks

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Guineas will live happily (most of the time ) as a same sex pair, but it's different with rabbits.

All the advice from rabbit owners, breeders, and rescues is down the male/female route.
They should ideally both be neutered, females to prevent ovarian /uterine cancers and males to reduce aggression.

My younger male boar was very very close to the older one - luckily my DC are older so I didn't have to do too much explaining.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Really? Um need to make a fairly speedy decision as at the moment two females reserved and obviously the breeder wants to home them as soon as they are ready.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

You need The Rabbit People here HelpMe I'm a Guinea-Slave

Have a perusal through some of the previous threads, especially ones about matching up a lone rabbit and rabbits fighting.
They always follow the 'match up with the opposite sex' and 'same sex rabbits tend to get narky'

The disadvantage of getting M/F is the waiting time till the buck becomes sterile. I'm guessing the female needs to be old enough to go through the more extensive surgery.
But if the breeder has the animals welfare at heart (which they should do) then they need to know that YOU have made the right choice.

[Midori1999]

Rabbits can live in any combination of sexes, as long as they are neutered (both males and females can be very territorial if entire) but a male/female pair is easiest and has the best chance of working out, especially if you are getting babies, as problems can occur as the rabbits mature, even if they are neutered. Generally female/female pairs are least likely to work, but they can.

It would actually be much easier to get a slightly older neutered, vaccinated pair from a good rescue, as well as cheaper and it removes the risk of accidental litters too. Just saying...

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

The breeder is a friend so I know she wouldn't be out to pull one over on me. I do worry about getting them neutered do young as well and tbh hadn't planned on neutering right away. But would have to if boy/girl.

The rescue near me is very expensive and they haven't been incredibly helpful when I've been in touch. They weren't very forthcoming with information and seemed fed up with talking to me.

[Midori1999]

That's a shame about the local rescue. Which one is it? Also, most charge £40-£80 for a bunny, or from £80 for a pair, but neutering can cost £90 per bunny and vaccinations are around £40, so that's a bargain really, also as the bunny will have been health checked by their own vet, so you'll know teeth etc are ok.

[FernieB]

The breeder should also have told you about neutering the female as this is essential. Most females if not neutered will die from uterine cancer. They can also be territorial and aggressive (more so than males). Males need neutering for behaviour reasons - they will spray everywhere otherwise. M/F are generally easier. They keep each other in line.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Yes she said if not breeding need to neuter. I just planned on not doing it right away. Planned on doing it within the next couple of months but not right away. Going to ring the vets today for prices on neutering and recommended ages.

[HappyAsASandboy]

Male/female pair with both neutered is the easiest combination to bond. Same-sex litter mates might work as well, though there is more chance of it working if they're neutered.

The neutering isn't just about preventing breeding. Female rabbits are highly likely to develop uterine cancer if left entire, and have phantom pregnancies where there hormones go bonkers. Neutered females are much calmer, less aggressive/territorial, and healthier. Males can also be aggressive/territorial if entire.

Even when they're neutered, they will probably still exhibit what looks like sexual behaviour to us. Whatever the combination of genders, rabbits hump each other (either end, mine aren't fussy!) to establish dominance within the partnership. This is entirely normal, I just mention it because of your comment about explaining the 'birds and the bees'. I am not sure why having them neutered makes much difference to having to explain that, if you keep neutering about reducing aggression and for health reasons.

There is a list of lots of rescues on the Rabbit Rehome website, as well as lots of information about keeping rabbits. The rescues might talk things through with you even if you are not intending on getting a rabbit from them.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

yes she did say about it from a health perspective too. the bunnies aren't due to be homed until the end of this month at the earliest anyway, so I'm making all my plans now and getting all the facts ready.

my dad said much easier when we had rabbits, you just brought one and a hutch and run! I think its better that whilst we loved our rabbit and he was a much loved family pet, we are much more interested in the rabbits health and welfare these days.

I'm probably being silly over not wanting to talk birds and bees with dd, made myself sound like a bit of a prude, although actually I'm not incredibly open about sex and sexual displays human or animal so perhaps I am a prude

[Nancyclancy]

I've just bought a male/female pair. I planned to get two girls but there was only one female left.
They are together at the moment ( indoors so we can keep a sharp eye on them.)
Boy will be neutered as soon as he's old enough and we have a spare cage to put him in should he start getting randy.

As long as they are neutered/spayed any combo should be fine!

[Nancyclancy]

Our boy will be neutered first, then his sister will be spayed in the next few months. I felt as long as the boy was done as soon as possible, I can wait a little bit (save up) for the girl to be spayed too!
Space it out a little.

[PricillaQueenOfTheDessert]

I'm so pleased to see so many positive comments on here about rabbit couples and spaying/neutering. I volunteer for a rabbit rescue and it's depressing how much ignorance there is out there about their welfare. To reiterate what has already been said. A male/female pair is easier to bond, but as they are from the same litter then that isn't an issue BUT rabbits do go through puberty - even when they are spayed/neutered - and you will have a couple of teenagers on your hands for a few months. Same sex rabbits may fight when they reach puberty. There again, they may not, and lops are considered to be one of the more laid-back (and cute) breed, but do you want to take that risk and end up with two separated rabbits living on their own?
Get the male neutered and the female spayed - this will calm their territorial behaviour down, boys spray and girls are very prone to uterine cancer - 95% if unspayed by age 5. Even if you do get a m/f pair they will probably hump - this is dominance and not sexual.
There is loads of really good information out there on the internet. Join the Rabbit Welfare Association if you can, they will also provide you with a list of rabbit-savvy vets in your area. Please do research behaviour and body language, and you will get a whole new level of understanding of them that will make them such valued pets. Until yesterday I had 6, but sadly one passed away yesterday and now I have 5. They are all so different in character and if you get to know them you will get what I mean

[HappyAsASandboy]

NancyClancy please separate your rabbits until your male is neutered and the right length of time has been left for residual sperm to die (your vet will tell you how long to wait).

It takes seconds for rabbits to mate and they are extremely fertile from a very young age.

It is highly likely that your female is already pregnant if she has been with a male, but on the off chance she's not, please separate them now :(

[Midori1999]

Yes, it's possible for does to breed from a very younge age and it takes a while for males to stop producing speed, so neutering both ASAP or separating is vital.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

well we have decided to stick with 2 females and to get them spayed. they are due to come to us in 2 weeks time and the decision was based on that we don't really have room currently to separate them until the male has been neutered and so don't want to risk a very young doe getting pregnant.

For health and because we wont be breeding we will be neutering them asap. We've been assured as much as can be that as they are siblings and same sex and will be neutered well before maturity (within 4 weeks of getting them) that they should be ok, as much a guarantee as anyone can give for any couple whether it will be m/f m/m or f/f from same sibling group. they are from the same litter. If I was buying from a pet shop such as pets at home and no guarantee of them being sibling I would look at m/f and look to keeping them separate until the ale at least had been neutered, but that's just not possible right now.

h is disassembling an old rotten shed and in its place will go a nice shiney new shed that's watertight and has functioning windows, will have a run that's full height and chicken wire running at least 6inches under the ground in case of burrowing. so that the bunnies will have plenty of room for roaming around but still confined, because of our dogs.

They are Bernadette and Penny, to go with Howard and Leonard the guinea pigs (they wont live together as I know rabbits can hurt gp's accidently, and also dietary needs are different)

[Nancyclancy]

Thanks Happy for the advice, I will do. I really do not want babies.

[Nancyclancy]

Separated!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

HelpMe I'd have called the rabbits Sheldon & Raj and feigned innocence when people ask "Are they males"

My car is called Wolowitz

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Aw at the death of your rabbit Pricilla

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

70 I did say we need a male pet called Sheldon at the very least now

Sorry to hear about your rabbit priscilla.

[Morethanalittlebitconfused]

Neuter both bunnies and have a m/f pair