Pairing rabbits is essential for them to have a happy and healthy life as it helps to avoid depression, stress, and even illness. Having two rabbits will be the best choice as both of your rabbits have each other company if you cannot give time to them. But the question is can I put male and female rabbits together? Can they be the best pair? How should I introduce them? So, let’s find it all in this article.
Neutered male and spayed female rabbits of the same age can be the best pair and could live together. However, unfixed rabbits of the opposite gender would lead to unwanted breeding, aggression, and territorial behavior. So, fixing the rabbits is essential before introducing them to each other.
This article will briefly discuss how to introduce male and female rabbits and what other things to consider while adopting opposite-gender rabbits. So, let’s get into it.
Contents
Should I put my male and female rabbits together?
Putting male and female rabbits together in the same cage or area is not a good option if they are not spayed or neutered.
Although pairing female and male rabbits is the best combination, the behaviors that unneutered or unspayed rabbits are most likely to exhibit are frequent mating and the subsequent litters, as well as frequent fighting.
Particularly unspayed doe (female rabbits) are protective of their territory and will fight with any other rabbit, doe, or buck, who enters it, sometimes resulting in severe damage or even death.
In addition, unspayed bucks (male rabbits) tend to mark their territory by urinating on anything, including people.
Pairing unspayed or unneutered rabbits could result in 1 to 12 babies at one time or even above when you leave your rabbits alone behind your back in the same area or cage.
It would help if you spayed your female rabbit once it turned 16 to 20 weeks old, whereas you should neuter your male rabbit when it reached 10 to 12 weeks of age.
However, do not put both rabbits in the same cage after neutering or spaying.
Even while same-sex pairings are not uncommon, mixed-sex pairs typically function best, so if you are thinking about adopting rabbits for the first time, it is recommended that you get a male and a female.
In addition, it is advisable to avoid introducing male rabbits to unspayed until six weeks have passed since it can take male rabbits up to six weeks to become fertile after being neutered.
Also read: Can You Introduce A Baby Rabbit To An Older?
Things to know before putting male and female rabbits together?
Pairing male rabbits with female rabbits is a great choice, as they can become good companions.
Every rabbit wants their companion or friend to feel safe and happy with them, but putting the wrong pair, which includes age gap, gender, personalities, breed, etc., could also become a bad choice.
However, every rabbit has a different personality, as the temperaments of the two rabbits play a significant role in how well they get along.
They are more likely to fight if they are both excessively dominant. The gender of the rabbits may be a key element.
In addition, here are a few things to consider before putting opposite-gender rabbits together.
1) Neuter or spay both rabbits:
To avoid breeding or mating, neutering your male rabbits is essential before introducing them to female rabbits.
Male and female rabbits can be great pairs as their personalities frequently match well, and a female rabbit rarely acts aggressively in the presence of a male.
However, unfixed rabbits could breed within a minute, resulting in frequent litters each time, around 12 babies at a time, or can develop reproductive cancer.
In addition, fixing your rabbit reduces territorial behavior, like spraying urine in males and aggression in females, reduces ovaries cancers, enhances their life cycle, and many more.
Rabbits’ growth can be affected if they breed too soon.
In addition, rabbits that have bred very early occasionally haven’t grown to their full mature size, and it’s important to note that this wouldn’t change the size of their babies.
If you have a male and female rabbit, that could be problematic because they can start reproducing at a very young age.
Males may be neutered once they have testicles, often occurring after 10 to 12 weeks.
When females become sexually mature at around 4-6 months of age, they can be spayed.
So, it is essential to neuter and spay your rabbit before pairing them to avoid unwanted breeding.
Also read: Should I Neuter Or Spay My Rabbit?
2) Group size:
Rabbits are social creatures and prefer to live in a group in the wild.
Also, keeping at least two rabbits would be best if you decide to own them.
In addition, preventing unwanted pregnancies is crucial if you have two or more rabbits.
Male and female rabbits should be separated into different pens, or your veterinarian should spay or neuter them.
However, males will fight less frequently if introduced at an early age.
Before allowing new rabbits to interact, ensure you help them become used to one another in a controlled environment because males and females can be prone to fighting among themselves.
But, if you don’t have the space, time, or money to raise two rabbits, you’ll have to take on the role of your pet’s companion.
Also read: 10 Signs Your Rabbit Is Getting Old?
3) Age:Â
The rabbits must be about the same age because this will influence their activity.
In addition, male and female rabbit pairing is the best option, but age is also significant.
Two babies:Â
Kittens or baby rabbits frequently work well together. They rarely fight before they are 3 or 4 months old.
After reaching sexual maturity, the personality of the rabbits changes.
When they age, they may smell differently from one another and may begin to fight or separate, which can be avoided by neutering or spaying.
Baby and older or adult rabbit:Â
It’s generally not a good idea to introduce a baby rabbit to an adult. While it occasionally works, this pairing has a substantial risk.
Even though the adult rabbit and the young rabbit have a bond, this relationship may end when the young rabbit achieves sexual maturity.
In addition, before bringing a young rabbit to an older rabbit, have the baby rabbit spayed or neutered.
They have a better probability of succeeding in this manner.
Two adults:Â
Pairing rabbits of the same age would be the best option as they will have the same activity level and energy, which keeps them healthy and happy around each other.
In addition, they will both be fully formed individuals with comparable energy levels.
Before introducing the rabbits, ensure they are both at least a year old and neutered or spayed, as it will lessen their territorial behavior and aggressiveness.
Also read: How To Tell If A Rabbit Is Pregnant?
4) Overbreeding reduction:
Every year, many unwanted animals are created; neutering or spaying your rabbit will result in not breeding unwanted rabbits, and you may help stop overbreeding.
Numerous pet rabbits are frequently left to fend for themselves after being abandoned, resulting in malnutrition, illness, and death.
Unfortunately, you cannot guarantee that your bred bunnies will find a loving home, even if you send them to a pet shop or a shelter.
How to introduce male rabbits to female rabbits?
Rabbits are social creatures and usually live in pairs in the wild.
They tend to create relationships on their own. They take some time to get along, but they typically stay close for life once they do.
You can find bonded rabbits in the shops or local humane shelters to adopt, but if you already have one rabbit in your house, you may need to introduce the rabbit slowly and carefully.
So, here are a few essential steps to follow when introducing your rabbit while a new one:
1) Separate the cages or pens:
The rabbits should be placed in close-by enclosures so they may smell and see each other through the pen’s wire.
Keep the cages initially in different spaces. Even by appearance, you shouldn’t introduce them too quickly.
Likewise, allowing your rabbits to run around should be done at different times or in different areas.
You must purchase a temporary cage if your rabbit already resides in a wooden hutch.
Afterward, if the hutch is large enough for both rabbits, you can return them there.
2) Neuter or spay rabbits:
Neutering or spaying your rabbit is essential before introducing them face to face with each other.
Fixing your rabbit prevents unwanted breeding and reduces the risk of reproductive cancer, aggression, and territorial behavior.
It is vital to wait at least six weeks after neutering or spaying your rabbit to introduce them because they could fight massively, resulting in severe wounds in the first meet due to unsettled hormones.
In addition, it takes some weeks for their hormones to disperse, so you should wait to introduce your rabbit even after fixing your rabbits.
Also read: How To Take Care Of A Rabbit After Neutering or spaying?
3) Place the enclosures together:
Once your rabbit can see or smell each other from the enclosure bars, you can place their enclosures to each other.
However, ensure to put some gaps so they can’t bite or scratch each other through the enclosure bar.
Make sure the wire allows them to see each other while leaving just enough space for them to avoid touching.
If cages are not being used, place your rabbits in adjacent rooms and divide them with a baby gate.
Because they aren’t encroaching on each other’s territory, they feel safer.
Two rabbits will be prepared for the following phase once they have lived side by side for a few weeks.
Also read: Can Rabbits Roam Freely In The House?
4) Introduction:
Start bringing the rabbits together for a very limited time in unfamiliar places like the bathroom or an unknown room once they are accustomed to each other’s sight and smell.
In addition, make sure to surround them with plenty of distractions, such as a tunnel, new toys, loads of hay, and herbs, and remove hazardous items that could harm your rabbit.
It must smell balanced, so neither rabbit feels like their territory is being violated.
Also, it is vital to supervise them by sitting on the floor with them.
Protect yourself by wearing sturdy footwear and carry a towel if you need to step in to separate them as soon as there is a hint of stress.
Your bunnies may likely begin to nose-touch and sniff one another. They might start to circle one another to establish dominance.
After allowing your bunnies to discover one another for around 10 minutes, re-separate them.
The following day, try again while progressively extending the bunnies’ time together.
It’s usual for there to be some chasing and biting, but it’s best to separate your rabbits too quickly than to run the risk of a massive fight.
Also read: 29 Things You Should Never Do To Your Rabbit.
5) Be patient:
Continue doing this until the bunnies are comfortable around one another.
Feeding the rabbits at the same time and giving them plenty of toys, like cardboard boxes and hiding places so they won’t have to look at each other, will be helpful for this process.
Make sure to double everything for both rabbits, including the water bowl, feeding dish, and hidden spots, for each rabbit because they are quite territorial and could become agitated if there is any competition for supplies.
6) Observe bonding signs:
The body language of rabbits will change when they are comfortable with one another.
They’ll begin to recline, groom, and eat close to one another.
The rabbits can be kept together alone without supervision when they are happy to lie down and groom each other.
The process can range from a few hours to a few months.
The rabbits will attach more quickly the better they get along during their initial encounter.
Additionally, the rabbits will become accustomed to one another much faster if you can group them daily for only short periods.
It’s okay to let your rabbits live together forever after they start grooming one another for a few days.
A mated pair of rabbits should never be split up unless they have a fighting battle or require immediate medical attention.
Also read: Are Rabbits Aggressive?
Conclusion:
- Putting male and female rabbits together in the same cage or area is not a good option if they are not spayed or neutered.
- Pairing unspayed or unneutered rabbits could result in 1 to 12 babies at one time or even above when you leave your rabbits alone behind your back in the same area or cage.
- Spayed your female rabbit once it turned 16 to 20 weeks old, whereas you should neuter your male rabbit when it reached 10 to 12 weeks of age.
- It is vital to wait at least six weeks after neutering or spaying your rabbit to introduce to avoid breeding and aggressive fight.
- Male and female rabbits can be great pairs as their personalities frequently match well, and a female rabbit rarely acts aggressively in the presence of a male.
Reference: NCBI