Sometimes it is essential to determine the gender of the rabbit to relate to bonding decisions and health concerns and to avoid unwanted breedings. It’s also crucial to be aware of gender because spaying lowers the risk of developing uterine cancer if a rabbit is female. But the question is how to identify male and female rabbits. What are the things to observe to examine their gender? So, let’s find it all out.
A rabbit’s gender can be examined by its genitals once they become six to eight weeks old. Male rabbits have two elongated testicles visible above their genitalia, and female genitalia is a v-shaped appearance. So, consider holding them gently while turning their rump to identify their genitals.
This article will briefly discuss how to identify the gender of rabbits properly, other factors to examine male and female rabbits, and many more. So, let’s get into it.
Contents
Identifying male and female
To identify whether a rabbit is male or female is to examine a rabbit’s genitals.
In addition, many other factors need to be examined to determine the rabbit’s gender, which includes size, personality, noise, aggression, smell, and many more.
To find the rabbit’s gender, you may need to wait until your rabbit is six to eight weeks old.
Although newborn rabbits have a penis or vagina, it is tough to tell if they are buck (male) or doe (female) because their genitalia is still developing and hidden inside a vent opening.
Female rabbits’ genitalia will have a highly prominent appearance, nearly projecting from their bodies.
In addition, a mountaintop or v-shaped appearance can be seen in does (female rabbits).
Whereas in male rabbits, two elongated testicles that are visible above their genitalia serve as a clear sign of their gender.
In addition, from the side, it may resemble a pyramid since it will be somewhat rising or pointing up.
Applying light pressure to the area where rabbits urinate can help anyone seeking to identify the sex of younger ones less than four months.
Your rabbit’s penis would stick out if it were a buck (male). In addition, if you want to identify the gender, around 12 weeks old is when a male rabbit’s testicles begin to drop.
Also read: Can I Put Male And Female Rabbits Together?
What are buck and doe?
Male rabbits are known as bucks, whereas female rabbits are called does.
The term “buck” refers to a male rabbit, which is known to be more placed and easygoing than a female rabbit.
Female rabbits are much more aggressive than males and may grunt or lunge if they enter their territories.
Physically, a male rabbit can only be identified by the presence of two oblong testicles, which don’t appear until they become 12 weeks old.
When a buck is unneutered, it will display its desire for a mate by thumping its foot or running around for another rabbit.
Males can mount things like pillows, toys, and other rabbits and spray urine to claim their territory.
A female rabbit who mounts a male rabbit is asserting its dominance.
On the negative side, females can be more aggressive and enjoy digging holes, which they do in the wild.
If your female rabbit is unspayed, it might try to run away, dig a hole in your carpet, or pretend to be pregnant, also known as false pregnancy.
Making a nest and using its fur to line the nest are two indications of a fake pregnancy in female rabbits.
Doe (Female rabbits) mature before bucks do, at around one year old, though it may be earlier depending on the rabbit’s size.
Also read: Can You Introduce A Baby Rabbit To An Older?
How to examine your rabbits?
Rabbits make good pets and are tolerant, but they do best when kept with other rabbits of the same species.
However, it won’t take long for them to make a lot of mates if unneutered male rabbits and female rabbits reside together.
Rabbits can start reproducing as early as they become three months old.
So before introducing a new rabbit into your home, it’s crucial to know the gender of your rabbit.
To examine your rabbit, here are some tips that are listed below:
1) Age:
It’s crucial to understand that baby bunnies can begin reproducing as early as 12 weeks if you have a litter of them.
It indicates that it’s crucial to divide the opposite gender of rabbits into same-sex pairs before or around the age of three months.
It might be challenging to determine the sex of a young rabbit.
You can try it earlier, but you should wait until your bunnies are at least four weeks old to determine their sex.
2) Adult rabbit:
It will be simpler to identify the gender of your rabbit once it is fully grown.
Four to five pairs of nipples run along the belly of female rabbits, with four being the most specific number.
The male’s nipples are so undeveloped that you most likely won’t even be able to find them.
Dewlaps, or fleshy bags under the chin, are developed by female rabbits.
When fully grown, female bunnies become larger and heavier than the bucks.
Also read: How To Tell If A Rabbit Is Pregnant?
3) Put your rabbit in position:
Hold the rabbit gently in place while turning it carefully on its rump. Males in their mature stages have purple testicles on either side of the tail.
In addition, to begin with, choose a rabbit. The rabbit has its genitalia between its back legs, like most mammals.
The rabbit must lie on its back to see this area.
The rabbit vagina of an adult female is protected by a pink vulva, which makes it simple to distinguish it from the male’s purple scrotal sacs.
The male rabbit penis’ oval entrance and the vulva’s vertical slit are easily different.
Since you’ll be handling a rabbit’s genitalia, gloves may be a good idea as it is safer and more hygienic to avoid spreading diseases unintentionally from you to your rabbit.
4) Size:
Any breed of rabbit’s males are typically smaller and have boxier heads than the females.
They also have different diet plans. Rabbits of both bucks and does consume roughly the same quantity of food, but doe (females) eat more, leading to weight gain and males producing more feces.
Also read: Should I Neuter Or Spay My Rabbit?
How to know the difference between male and female rabbits?
Understanding the distinction between male and female rabbits has advantages.
Knowing your rabbit’s gender will enable you to take better care of them and comprehend their experiences by learning about the benefits and drawbacks of each gender and certain traits they will exhibit.
So, here are some tips to follow to determine the gender of your rabbit, whether it is a buck (male) or doe (female):
1) Gentile area:Â
To determine the gender of your rabbit, you may examine its external genitalia.
Hold the rabbit firmly in place while turning it gently on its rump. Males in their mature stages have purple testicles on either side of the tail.
Each testicle has its scrotal sac, contrasting to several other animal species.
Despite the testicles being quite visible, a scared or stressed rabbit may pull them inside the body.
Some female rabbits have bald patches where their testicles are supposed to be, but the skin is tight and smooth in these areas.
Due to the male rabbit’s morphology, a thick fur mass frequently covers the penis. You can view the penile tip by gently stroking the hair to each side.
The adult female rabbit’s vagina is protected by a pinkish vulva, which makes it simple to distinguish it from the male’s purple scrotal sacs.
2) Examine for testicles:
Testicles are present in male rabbits and are visible outside their bodies. These are between their rear legs, in their groyne.
Typically, testicles can be seen as early once they become ten weeks of age.
Before this age, they may be small and difficult to identify accurately.
In addition, the rabbit’s age doesn’t matter, and it is simple to examine before looking for the penis.
Find two torpedo-shaped bulges beneath their skin, one on each side. They typically have a little fur and are purplish.
Remember that scared rabbits can pull their testicles inside the belly and make them disappear if you don’t see them quickly away.
Try talking to the rabbit and petting its side to see if you can get it to calm down.
Then perform a second inspection. It is inconclusive if you continue to fail to see the testicles. So instead, look at the genital holes.
3) Examine genital openings:
Now you must check to discover if your rabbit has a penis or vagina.
Gently split their fur between the hind legs until you find a little bump to locate these.
The vent is where the anus and reproductive tract openings are located.
Applying light and gentle pressure on each side will help you see it more clearly by clearing the region and improving your vision.
You will notice a slit-like feature, frequently referred to as a letter I if the rabbit is female.
You will see a circular feature that resembles an O if the rabbit is male.
The anus is the opening that is closest to the rabbit’s tail. Both males and females exhibit this in the same way.
If you look attentively, you can see the muscular wink of the anal ring, which will confirm that it is the anus.
4) Observe sexual behavior:
Once they achieve sexual maturity, even single rabbits will behave in a particular way based on gender.
Unspayed females, for instance, frequently dig breeding dens and will take measures to defend them, such as scratching, biting, or charging.
Males are capable of aggression as well, and they may grab, bite, or grind a human arm out of desire.
They also spray pee inside their cage and around the house to mark their territory and make themselves known to any nearby females.
5) Vet confirmation:
Checking your rabbit’s gender at home is typically successful.
However, you can take your rabbit to your veterinarian for confirmation if you need to know the gender of the rabbit for breeding or other purposes.
The gender of your rabbit can only be determined with certainty by the veterinarian.
In addition, you may take them all at once if you have more than one rabbit.
Also read: How To Take Care Of A Rabbit After Neutering or Spaying?
Conclusion:
- To identify whether a rabbit is male or female is to examine a rabbit’s genitals.
- It will be simpler to determine the gender of your rabbit once it is fully grown.
- To find the rabbit’s gender, you may need to wait until your rabbit is six to eight weeks old.
- Physically, a male rabbit can only be identified by the presence of two oblong testicles, which don’t appear until they become 12 weeks old.
- Doe (Female rabbits) mature before bucks do, at around one year old, though it may be earlier depending on the rabbit’s size.
Reference: NCBI