Anyone help me with a couple of bunny questions?

[em2007 10]

Hello, I'm hoping someone will be able to help me by answering a couple of questions I have.

We are getting 2 rabbits at the end of may. As far as we can see they are 1 male and 1 female but I'm no expert so I could be wrong. Theyre from the same litter and we wanted 2 so they can live together and obviously be company for each other. so, should I keep them together as soon as I bring them home? or keep them seperate until theyre neutered/spayed? or keep them seperate but let them socialise when supervised? the original cage I wanted to get has lots of space for them but it wouldnt be possible to keep them seperate and I couldnt afford to have 2. the other cage I saw doesnt have constant access to quite so much space but has a locking ladder so I could keep them seperate.

 

Next question.. is it worth having insurance for rabbits? I was originally just going to put some money to one side in case of emergencies, would that be ok?

 

And final question.. please can someone reccomend a good vet that deals with rabbits? Has anyone used springfield vets? Theyre the ones we've always used but for cats/dogs, never rabbits. I plan on finding one and having a chat/check up as soon as bunnies are here and booking them in for neutering/spaying. when can this be done? I don't want babies but also don't want to risk their health either and most things I've read so far are a little conflicting.

 

I hope one of you is a rabbit expert and can help me, any advice appreciated xx

[dumplindeb 10]

you shouldnt keep a brother and sister together, because they will almost certainly attempt to breed, and you could end up with deformed kits..if you're wanting 2 its better to have 2 girls, they're less likely to fight..i personally had bad experiences with springfield vets with the rabbits we used to keep, so no recomendations for them from me,

[em2007 10]

well theres no guarantees as to sex but I've read in numerous places that a boy and girl should get on best, is this not true?? I'm hoping to get them neutered/spayed at the earliest opportunity so there should be no chance of babies.

[helenasq 10]

well theres no guarantees as to sex but I've read in numerous places that a boy and girl should get on best, is this not true?? I'm hoping to get them neutered/spayed at the earliest opportunity so there should be no chance of babies.

 

You can't keep a young brother and sister together as he can't be neutered till 16 weeks and could still possibly get her pregnant for the following 6 weeks. I'm not 100% sure what age you can have the female spayed but I 'm sure it's quite a bit later than the male.

Peak vets on Olivet Road at Woodseats are very good with rabbits. You're looking at about £45+ for a male doing and £80+ for a female.

[em2007 10]

I'm going to take them to the vets for a check/sexing as soon as possible. If I'm right and they are male/female should they be kept completely seperate straight away or let them stay together a couple weeks before seperating . Should I wait until they are both desexed before putting back together or would it be ok to get male done and then reintroduce them after a few weeks?

 

sorry for so many questions I just want to be fully informed so I can have happy healthy bunnies!

[teeny 10]

good rabbit savvy vets are peak vets in woodseats and Anita fox at huntersbar vets. Not all vets are rabbit savvy .

I have a my rabbits insured but its an individuel choice really , I have mine for peace of mind.

[nox2693 10]

Whoever is selling the rabbits should be able to tell you what sex they are, if they can't they should not be breeding. There are already far too many adult and baby rabbits sat in rescue centres, without people breeding for the sake of it.

 

Males can't be castrated till 14 weeks old at the earliest, some vets won't do them this young. Females have to be done later and as helenasq said males are still fertile for up to 6 week after the operation. Also, after being split for that long, they aren't guaranteed to get on with each other. You'd be best of either getting 2 of the same sex, or getting one of them, having it neutered/castrated and then bonding another bunny to it at a later date

 

Also, don't take the vet's word for it unless they are very rabbit savvy. The number of times friends have been told their rabbits/guineapigs are opposite to the gender they actually are is astonishing, and these came from a small rescue which the woman has been running for years and yes, they are what sex she said they were.

Edited April 26, 2011 by nox2693

[purplepeke 10]

I have 2 sisters at the moment, they are 12 weeks currently, and are booked into peaks for speying when they are 16 weeks, they are german lops, so a larger breed than tha 'average' bunny, hope this helps.

[em2007 10]

thanks. nox, they are not purposely breeding. they are a result of buying 2 female rabbits from pets@home!

Ive been looking at Abbey vets in high green after a couple of reccomendations from friends with rabbits. Anyone have experience with them?

'The cage Ive ordered has 2 seperate areas so if they are male/female I shall have to split them up and hope they get along when I try to bond them.

[bogwoppit 10]

I don't agree about getting two sisters! Female rabbits are feisty and often don't get on!

Could you set up your cages so the two can see each other whilst still being seperated?

In my experience, neutered boys get on with everyone and everything! I think, keep him seperated and then re introduce after five or six weeks - you should have no problems. My females are entire with my castrated boy and they get on fine.

[teeny 10]

I have had both sisters that get on and sisters that don't its a bit of a lottery and not a science .

[bogwoppit 10]

I am the same Teeny!

When I was younger, I had six females that all loved each other. More recently I have had two that it took nearly a year to successfully introduce - even then they weren;t the best of friends, just tolerated each other.

I think a neutered boy and a female are generally a pretty safe bet.