Hi everyone,
Three months ago I took in a domestic rabbit that has been a stray in our area for at least eight months (or so the neighbours tell me). A vet has confirmed she is not a wild rabbit (she does look a lot like one which is why no one picked her up sooner) and that it is female but cannot confirm if she is spayed.
The rabbit seems very happy; she lives loose in my garden as it is all wired in and safe, and has an open hutch she goes in when it rains. She is very friendly, loves being petted but not held, and follows me around the house and garden when I am in.
I had been considering bonding her with a rabbit from the local rescue, the guy who runs it and he says he can take her for a week and get her bonded with a suitable partner. However there are a few questions I have:
1) I don't want to bond her without knowing if she is spayed as unspayed females are unpredictable; are there any behavioural signs of whether she is spayed or not that I can look for?
2) She has a very large territory; my whole back garden and then my kitchen and sometimes living room on an evening. I have heard this can cause problems with bonded rabbits and make them start fighting.
3) If she does need to be spayed I'm not sure I want to risk it as I don't know how old she is. She seems content, flopping on her side, munching teeth when I stroke her, binkying around.. could she be happy alone?
Three months ago I took in a domestic rabbit that has been a stray in our area for at least eight months (or so the neighbours tell me). A vet has confirmed she is not a wild rabbit (she does look a lot like one which is why no one picked her up sooner) and that it is female but cannot confirm if she is spayed.
The rabbit seems very happy; she lives loose in my garden as it is all wired in and safe, and has an open hutch she goes in when it rains. She is very friendly, loves being petted but not held, and follows me around the house and garden when I am in.
I had been considering bonding her with a rabbit from the local rescue, the guy who runs it and he says he can take her for a week and get her bonded with a suitable partner. However there are a few questions I have:
1) I don't want to bond her without knowing if she is spayed as unspayed females are unpredictable; are there any behavioural signs of whether she is spayed or not that I can look for?
2) She has a very large territory; my whole back garden and then my kitchen and sometimes living room on an evening. I have heard this can cause problems with bonded rabbits and make them start fighting.
3) If she does need to be spayed I'm not sure I want to risk it as I don't know how old she is. She seems content, flopping on her side, munching teeth when I stroke her, binkying around.. could she be happy alone?