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[Janerabbit]

Hi
2 weeks ago I purchased 2 rabbits from a well know store. I was told these rabbits were females and would live happily together and should he spayed around 6 months. On Friday I noticed they'd had a little fall out few patches of fur around their inclosure. I decide to investigate and turns out 2 female rabbits are actually 2 males who are probably starting to show some sexual maturity. My question is what to do now ? I have no way of seperating them other than 1 living in a small cage which is not what I want. Will the store take back 1 rabbit ? Or if I book for them to be neutered ASAP is there a chance if saving their bond ? sorry for the long post feeling overwhelmed and sad that rabbits I've come to love have been letdown.

 

[InspectorMorse]

The bucks MUST now be separated. Entire bucks will fight to the death .

Can you construct a temporary enclosure for one of them?

I would definitely contact the store to tell them that (yet again ) they have mis- gendered two Rabbits which has now caused you significant problems. They might take one back, but personally I could not bring myself to send any Rabbit back to a Pet Shop.

So, separate them now, before a serious fight occurs. Get them neutered which can be done as soon as their testicles have descended and as long as they weigh at least 1kg. This is usually at about 14-16 weeks of age. Then you need to allow 6-8 weeks for their hormones to settle after castration. You can then attempt to bond them. It isn’t impossible to bond two neutered Bucks, I have done so several times. The chances of being able to bond them after neutering will be significantly reduced if they fight now.

Are you certain that they are BOTH Bucks? If one is a Doe then keeping them together will have an obvious outcome and you will end up with several more Rabbits.

 

[Graciee]

The bucks MUST now be separated. Entire bucks will fight to the death .

Can you construct a temporary enclosure for one of them?

I would definitely contact the store to tell them that (yet again ) they have mis- gendered two Rabbits which has now caused you significant problems. They might take one back, but personally I could not bring myself to send any Rabbit back to a Pet Shop.

So, separate them now, before a serious fight occurs. Get them neutered which can be done as soon as their testicles have descended and as long as they weigh at least 1kg. This is usually at about 14-16 weeks of age. Then you need to allow 6-8 weeks for their hormones to settle after castration. You can then attempt to bond them. It isn’t impossible to bond two neutered Bucks, I have done so several times. The chances of being able to bond them after neutering will be significantly reduced if they fight now.

Are you certain that they are BOTH Bucks? If one is a Doe then keeping them together will have an obvious outcome and you will end up with several more Rabbits.

I agree, plus being in a small cage whilst you figure out what to do, whilst not ideal, means both rabbits will be alive

 

[Shimmer]

The advice that 2 females would live in harmony is also dubious. Females often get feistier than males. Whatever gender, they need neutering to live together. If it's just fur pulling and no blood drawn, there's a decent chance of getting yours back together after neutering and time for hormone levels to reduce - but they absolutely must be separated now for their own wellbeing. Any temporary solution that keeps them apart but alive will do for a few weeks. You can always keep swapping them over until they are ready to be rebonded.

Can you borrow eg a large dog crate? Or get a second hand one from a local FB group?

 

[Janerabbit]

The bucks MUST now be separated. Entire bucks will fight to the death .

Can you construct a temporary enclosure for one of them?

I would definitely contact the store to tell them that (yet again ) they have mis- gendered two Rabbits which has now caused you significant problems. They might take one back, but personally I could not bring myself to send any Rabbit back to a Pet Shop.

So, separate them now, before a serious fight occurs. Get them neutered which can be done as soon as their testicles have descended and as long as they weigh at least 1kg. This is usually at about 14-16 weeks of age. Then you need to allow 6-8 weeks for their hormones to settle after castration. You can then attempt to bond them. It isn’t impossible to bond two neutered Bucks, I have done so several times. The chances of being able to bond them after neutering will be significantly reduced if they fight now.

Are you certain that they are BOTH Bucks? If one is a Doe then keeping them together will have an obvious outcome and you will end up with several more Rabbits.

Thank you for your reply. They currently live in a large converted shed. I do have a old dog crate that I've put one in but he seems very stressed and pulling at bars. I'll switch them over often so they have access to more space.
They are definitely both bucks. 1 has 2 testicles the other has 1 presuming the 2nd will desend soon. Will they be able to neuter as soon as both testicles are visible ?

 

[Janerabbit]

The advice that 2 females would live in harmony is also dubious. Females often get feistier than males. Whatever gender, they need neutering to live together. If it's just fur pulling and no blood drawn, there's a decent chance of getting yours back together after neutering and time for hormone levels to reduce - but they absolutely must be separated now for their own wellbeing. Any temporary solution that keeps them apart but alive will do for a few weeks. You can always keep swapping them over until they are ready to be rebonded.

Can you borrow eg a large dog crate? Or get a second hand one from a local FB group?

 

[Janerabbit]

Hi so that's what I'm currently doing have 1 in a dog crate and trying to swap so neither is spending to long cooped in a small space. They have an appointment for vaccines on Wednesday so will check if they are then ready to be neutered while we are there

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thank you for your reply. They currently live in a large converted shed. I do have a old dog crate that I've put one in but he seems very stressed and pulling at bars. I'll switch them over often so they have access to more space.
They are definitely both bucks. 1 has 2 testicles the other has 1 presuming the 2nd will desend soon. Will they be able to neuter as soon as both testicles are visible ?

Yes, once the testicles are down they can be neutered. I would try to find a way to house them completely out of sight and smell of each other tbh. They will really wind each other up as they are entire and will want to get at each other. They are likely to get very cross and stressed which will have a negative impact on any prospect of bonding in the future. Also, it’s possible that either of them could nip the nose of the other via gaps in the cage bars.

Call the Pet Shop tomorrow and ask them to supply you with a suitable hutch and run to keep one of them in on a temporary basis. It won’t be adequate for longterm use, none sold in Petshops ever are. But OK for a few weeks. Given it’s the Pet Shops fault you are now in this situation you should not have to be paying out money to buy housing you would not have needed had the shop not sold you two Bucks. They might suggest you return one of the Rabbits. Only you can decide if you would agree to that.

 

[Janerabbit]

Yes, once the testicles are down they can be neutered. I would try to find a way to house them completely out of sight and smell of each other tbh. They will really wind each other up as they are entire and will want to get at each other. They are likely to get very cross and stressed which will have a negative impact on any prospect of bonding in the future. Also, it’s possible that either of them could nip the nose of the other via gaps in the cage bars.

Call the Pet Shop tomorrow and ask them to supply you with a suitable hutch and run to keep one of them in on a temporary basis. It won’t be adequate for longterm use, none sold in Petshops ever are. But OK for a few weeks. Given it’s the Pet Shops fault you are now in this situation you should not have to be paying out money to buy housing you would not have needed had the shop not sold you two Bucks. They might suggest you return one of the Rabbits. Only you can decide if you would agree to that.

So I contacted them today, and they basically said that nothing they could do get them neutered and keep them together so they don't loose their bond. But they wouldn't help with either neutering or providing temporary housing. From the info I've been given by yourself and others I know this is incorrect and will not be keeping them together at all. I've also decided I will not be them either. I've made a complaint online the lady I was chatting to was helpful and said that pets at home should help contribute to a temporary house shes escalating it. I Will move the crate to the hall for the time being so they are out of sight of each other. Thanks for your help