Which sex / How many?

Another often asked question is when getting a rabbit which sex is best to get and how many?1 or 2? This is a guide in order to help you decide which is best for you.

Only one:

If you are around a lot and will be spending lots of time with your rabbit such as a house bunny then one is best as you tend to build up an inseparable bond and won't start to favouritise which can lead to aggression. But which sex?

Male: Males tend to be much more playful and mostly prefer being on the ground running around your feet as supposed to cuddles. If you want a really playful bunny - a male is best. If you are wanting to show - a male is best as they have a longer show life as females get a dewlap at around 6 months old which can disqualify them. There is a down side to males though - unless they are for use as a stud buck they should be neutered. This is for a number of reasons. Males can get extremely aggressive and neutering will calm them down. It also helps prevent testicular cancer, and spraying. Once meutered however they are lovely pets. They must be neutered as young as possible in order to prevent aggression becoming the norm.

Females: Females tend not to be as playful as males and usually prefer cuddles and affection. They also tend to be more docile. Females unlike males do not need to be neutered however it is a good idea to as it helps prevent uterus cancer and any aggression.




Two:


If you are out at work or school for a number of hours each day and therefore can't spend as much time with them then it's advisable to keep two rabbits as they are sociable and will keep each other company. But which combinations?


Two males: It is not recommended to keep two males together as like any animal - they will fight. Even two brothers after around 6 months old will fight and cause serious injury. There are always exceptions however and i know of someone who got two males at the same time and kept them together, neutered and they are fine however that is extremely rare.

Two males will fight

Two females: Two females is the best option if you are not prepared to get them neutered. They must be from the same litter and got at the same time as females from different litters will fight and if you get one settled in then introduce another one the one already there will attack the new one as unneutered females are extremely territorial. Two females from the same litter will get on however sometimes dominance will occur and the dominant one may pick on the other one which can lead to one being fat and one being thin. If this happens or you see any signs of aggression i suggest keeping them in separate hutches at night as they need there space and sleep and one may be annoying the other. However during the day they can be free to play together in the same run or garden. Allowing them their own space to sleep and eat will allow the aggression to cease and they will get equal amounts of food. My two french lop sisters shared a hutch for 6 years before they started annoying each other so i put them in separate hutches at night but they played together during the day and that really helped and they were much happier. They are now almost 10.


A male and a Female: This is the best combination. Obviously they should be both neutered. This will cancel out any hormones and they will be the very best of friends. No fighting, no aggression - it's perfect. You must be prepared to get them both neutered.

A neutered male and female will get on



I hope this has helped. If you have any questions or enquiries just ask.

In the home or in a hutch?

I am asked quite regularly about housing a rabbit and where to keep it. When i first had experience with rabbits i was quite adamant that they should be kept outside in their natural habitat but what sometimes is the case is that the rabbit is forgotten about in a hutch at the bottom of the garden. If kept as a house rabbit however they will not allow this to happen and will constantly demand your attention. I will go into detail about each then it's up to you to decide. It is also about your circumstances. Whether or not you have large garden, etc.

-verses-

Any rabbit can be a house rabbit. A  house rabbit though, should NOT be kept in the house for its whole life without being allowed outside, that's as bad as leaving it in a hutch. They should be allowed outside whenever they want. Bunny proof your garden so that they can go out to play at certain times (i.e when your at work) to roam around so that they do not get bored and you come home to a wrecked house. If your garden cannot be bunny proofed get a run and transfer them into it for a play about although make sure you dig it deep into the ground otherwise your rabbit may dig out of the run or you can put it on slabs which will wear their nails down and they won't have to get them clipped as regularly.

If you don't have a garden then train your rabbit on the harness and take them for a good walk. People do not realise this but rabbits need to be walked just like dogs. How would you like to not be able to venture out of your own back garden?

It doesn't really matter about the weather, some rabbits love the rain but make sure they don't get too cold. House rabbits can become great pets and you can litter train them. A house rabbit will greet you from work and may wake you up in the morning. Rabbits have a very good time keeping instinct and need a routine for them to be happy. Unlike dogs, who will wake you up at any time (and babies), rabbits start to learn your routine. The time you get up in the morning and so if you have a strong bond with your rabbit, they will wake you up in the morning by jumping on your bed and continually nudging you or pulling at the covers. It's the best alarm!

They will also learn at what time you come home and may wait by the door for your arrival, but they will want immediate attention when they come  in and a treat or they may stomp their feet at you! They can be very well trained and will snuggle up to you. Your rabbit can sleep in a special cage in your house or it can be

allowed to sleep in a room that has nothing dangerous in it (wires,etc) and give them plenty of toys to keep them busy.

Despite what people say, rabbits do not need to be brought in at winter time and are not cold in their hutches if they have another rabbit, or plenty of bedding to cuddle into. Rabbits much prefer the cold than the heat and wild rabbits can survive temperatures way below freezing. Outdoor rabbits must have space to run around and be able to go in and out of their hutch freely. They must also have places to hide if feeling under threat such as a cardboard box with a hole in it, etc. Simple things to keep your rabbit happy and safe. To stop boredom some rabbits like to play with a ball and treats hidden around the garden is fun and time consuming. For rabbits that do not like running around and are fat, get a treat ball that has to be rolled around to get the treat out will help them lose weight but put healthy treats inside or it defeats the purpose.

Other suggestions for toys are tunnels and large blocks of wood to gnaw on and jump over. Outdoor rabbits can also be litter trained easily enough and will only use it after that. Outdoor and indoor rabbits can be well trained if enough time is spent with them and both are able to do agility training and showjumping.

You know your rabbit. They may like to follow you inside and snuggle beside you or prefer to roam around outside like a wild bunny. It's up to both of you!