2 males baby bond

[CocoLoco]

New bun parents here!
Recently got 2 baby male buns from a friend. They are about 8-10 weeks old. Before getting adopted by us, they were living together since birth in a hutch along with other rabbits. I’m assuming they’re not siblings as they’re not of the same breed. At the moment, they seem bonded and currently live together (free roam). However, I’ve also read about baby bonds being “false” bonds. I’m just scared that they may start fighting out of nowhere when they hit puberty as I’m not sure if they really are truly bonded. So far, they are both not neutered. Was planning to get them both neutered until i saw people saying that fights just started once they got their already bonded bunnies neutered. Need some advice! Thank you!

 

[InspectorMorse]

New bun parents here!
Recently got 2 baby male buns from a friend. They are about 8-10 weeks old. Before getting adopted by us, they were living together since birth in a hutch along with other rabbits. I’m assuming they’re not siblings as they’re not of the same breed. At the moment, they seem bonded and currently live together (free roam). However, I’ve also read about baby bonds being “false” bonds. I’m just scared that they may start fighting out of nowhere when they hit puberty as I’m not sure if they really are truly bonded. So far, they are both not neutered. Was planning to get them both neutered until i saw people saying that fights just started once they got their already bonded bunnies neutered. Need some advice! Thank you!

Unfortunately you will need to separate the Bucks BEFORE they hit puberty. Entire Bucks will fight, sometimes causing fatalities. They need to separated BEFORE any aggression, however minor, is displayed in order to maximise the possibility of getting them back together 6-8 weeks after neutering. If Rabbits fight prior to neutering it can be much harder or sometimes impossible to get them back together. They never forget the fight. So they will need separating by about 12 weeks.

Have you had their genders confirmed by a rabbit Savvy Vet? Petshops and Breeders often mis-gender babies.

Bucks can be neutered as soon as their testes have descended, usually this occurs at about 14-16 weeks of age. It then takes another 6-8 weeks for their hormones to settle. Only after that time can an attempt at bonding be made.

Have they been vaccinated ? This needs to be done straight away. The vaccine is called Nobivac Myxo RHD Plus and offers some protection against two horrible diseases, Myxomatosis and RHD1+2. The vaccine can be given to Rabbits aged 5 weeks and over and then an annual booster is needed.

There is a vast amount of information about all things relating to Rabbit Care on the RWAF Website. I suggest you bookmark the page, it gives the most reliable advice.

Rabbit Care

Explore essential rabbit care tips for happy, healthy bunnies. From housing to diet, find expert advice and resources to ensure your rabbit's well-being. Learn more

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

 

[CocoLoco]

Unfortunately you will need to separate the Bucks BEFORE they hit puberty. Entire Bucks will fight, sometimes causing fatalities. They need to separated BEFORE any aggression, however minor, is displayed in order to maximise the possibility of getting them back together 6-8 weeks after neutering. If Rabbits fight prior to neutering it can be much harder or sometimes impossible to get them back together. They never forget the fight. So they will need separating by about 12 weeks.

Have you had their genders confirmed by a rabbit Savvy Vet? Petshops and Breeders often mis-gender babies.

Bucks can be neutered as soon as their testes have descended, usually this occurs at about 14-16 weeks of age. It then takes another 6-8 weeks for their hormones to settle. Only after that time can an attempt at bonding be made.

Have they been vaccinated ? This needs to be done straight away. The vaccine is called Nobivac Myxo RHD Plus and offers some protection against two horrible diseases, Myxomatosis and RHD1+2. The vaccine can be given to Rabbits aged 5 weeks and over and then an annual booster is needed.

There is a vast amount of information about all things relating to Rabbit Care on the RWAF Website. I suggest you bookmark the page, it gives the most reliable advice.

Rabbit Care

Explore essential rabbit care tips for happy, healthy bunnies. From housing to diet, find expert advice and resources to ensure your rabbit's well-being. Learn more

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

at the moment, we are still trying to find a rabbit savvy vet to get them vaccinated. They’re basically inseparable rn they follow each other around and sleep beside each other. We live in a small space so setting up separate pens would be hard.

 

[InspectorMorse]

. We live in a small space so setting up separate pens would be hard.

I am afraid it is essential that you do so somehow. They will fight eventually.

Have you looked on here for a Rabbit Savvy Vet

Recommended Rabbit-Friendly Vets

Find recommended rabbit-friendly vets near you. Explore our directory for expert care and support for your furry friend. Ensure the best healthcare for your rabbit

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

 

[Omi]

I am afraid it is essential that you do so somehow. They will fight eventually.

Have you looked on here for a Rabbit Savvy Vet

Recommended Rabbit-Friendly Vets

Find recommended rabbit-friendly vets near you. Explore our directory for expert care and support for your furry friend. Ensure the best healthcare for your rabbit

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

I agree. Entire Bucks will fight once one or other or both hit puberty. You will get very little warning and aggression is likely to appear out of nowhere. Rabbits can and do inflict horrific injuries to each other too, so, even if it means compromising their space for a very short time, I would advise that they are split up asap. It's also very likely that, once there has been some aggression between them, it will be very difficult to re-bond them post neuter.

 

[Orenoko]

Best to separate them now while they're "friends" before any signs of aggression show and for the best chance of rebonding them later. It might feel mean to separate them while they are close but it will be better long-term. Agree with the others about checking their gender once you get them registered at the vet as well as vaccinating.

 

[William]

Yeah, it might feel mean to separate right now, but if they're in pens next to each other it won't be so bad. They can still see, smell, and interact together through the bars/mesh and then after they're neutered and their hormones have settled they can be re-bonded in one space.

i've had baby boys and it's not a matter of if they'll fight, but when. Luckily I had no injuries from the inital fights before I separated. But not everyone is so lucky.

 

[tulsi]

I agree re separating them. I had two boys (impulse buy from a local pet shop} who were very loved up until they suddenly werent. My poor boy Snowflake was really bullied by his brother Frosty.

I separated them completely. No sight or smell of each other {they were neutered before the fighting began) and kept them apart until the autumn when they are less hormonal than in the spring and summer.

I did manage to rebond them and even bonded two does from a rescue so making a quad. That was twelve years ago. Only Snowflake remains from that quad of rabbits and he will hopefully be bonded to a recently bereaved younger doe that I have.

Best of luck. It is a delicate business getting rabbits to bond.