Anyone have an unspayed bunny?

[lauraelizxo]

I am getting my bunny next Saturday, the 28th. She is a 6 week old holland lop/ rex mix.

I have been getting many mixed responses about getting her spayed. I have been calling around, and the average price for a spay in my area is $250-$300 dollars. I will have to start saving up!

The breeder I am getting her from says she has never spayed any of her females, and they have been lovey and never had problems.

Have any of you had similar experiences?

I am looking for any advice/opinions.
Thanks so much!

Ps: here is Peanut, I cannot wait to bring her home!

 

[toppsey]

Such an adorable bunny! And the breeder for my female rabbit said the same, I got to know her for a while and decided to get her fixed because she often grunted and pounced on me, maybe get to know the bunny first, and good luck!

 

[iLuvMyLilBuns]

I have had many females that weren't spayed and once they reach about 6 months they've all become pretty hormonal and aggressive. Every rabbit is different but it's in their nature once they reach sexual maturity and their hormones kick in, they want to breed and become aggressive and territorial. It's your decision whether or not you want to spay her, you should get to know her and then decide but I guess I would suggest doing it. Most people who aren't breeding and have a bunny as a pet usually fix them. Males that aren't fixed are better pets then females that aren't in my opinion.

 

[Ana_The_Dreamer]

My Lop hasn't been spayed yet. She is sweet when she wants to be, but she does have her moments. Sometimes she will grunt and lunge at me. Hormones can really change a rabbit. I will probably end up getting my girl fixed when I have the money. In the end, the decision is all up to you.

 

[Blue eyes]

Another advantage to spaying her is that you may, down the road, decide you want to get a bondmate for her. Females aren't likely to bond with any other rabbit unless they are spayed because those hormones and that territorial-ness get in the way.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

Breeders typically don't spay or neuter becasue they want to breed the rabbits. Rabbits who are bred do have more of an outlet for the hormones and the breeding can help a bit too. Breeding, especially for females, could lower the risk of cancer since the organs are being used instead of just sitting around doing nothing.

All that being said, I would not recommend breeding instead of spaying. There are risks to breeding and you also have to find homes for all the babies.

Spayed rabbits tend to make better pets, have a very low risk of reproductive cancer, don't have the hormones, aren't at risk of getting pregnant, should not have false pregnancies, tend to have better litter habits, and are more easy to bond to a neutered rabbit.

Personally, I would not have an intact female, at least not for long. The hormones can be a pain in the butt and I am a bit paranoid about pregnancy (I do have 2 intact bucks, and don't want to risk anything).

 

[lauraelizxo]

Thank you for all of your advice!! I think I am leaning towards getting her spayed.

When do bunnies reach puberty??

 

[Blue eyes]

I believe hormonal signs can begin to show as early as 3 months. But most vets won't spay until a bunny is 5-6 months of age.

 

[Devi]

I haven't neutered my Bunny (age 1), but he doesn't display any hormonal behavior no spraying, no territorial nothing even with another bun in the house and right next to him. In fact he tries to cuddle and play with the other bun. But A bunny hits puberty around 4-6 months of age I do believe.

 

[Ivythelionhead]

I had two lion heads and they were never spayed and there personality was lovely, I have had boys as well and I never neutered them and they were just fine

 

[PolishRabbitmama]

I have a brood doe who is the sweetest girl ever. Even 9 days away from having babies she just wants her head to be petted. Depends on the rabbit.

 

[surf_storm]

If your not going to breed her I would say spay her. Personally I think it's part of being a responsible pet owner. Rabbits are a pest in Australia (don't know about the rest of the world) and in some states you can not own a rabbit at all, as unlikely as it is that a pet rabbit will survive in the wild there is always a chance that it could breed and add to an uncontrollable issue. I would just like to remind everyone that is is my opinion only

 

[midatlanticrabbithutcb]

I do and I also breed

 

[Lati]

Mine wasn't spayed for 3 years and we never had a problem with her, bar nesting twice with phantom pregnancies and some occasional urine marking territory, the only reason we got her spayed was so she remained healthy and didn't start forming tumours in her womb - it's important to get females done before 4 years old to avoid this.

 

[bunnyornot]

I haven't spayed my bunny yet and she'll be 1 in august. she's always very nice but I am still going to spay for the health benefits.

 

[Azerane]

Breeders typically don't spay or neuter becasue they want to breed the rabbits. Rabbits who are bred do have more of an outlet for the hormones and the breeding can help a bit too. Breeding, especially for females, could lower the risk of cancer since the organs are being used instead of just sitting around doing nothing.

All that being said, I would not recommend breeding instead of spaying. There are risks to breeding and you also have to find homes for all the babies.

Spayed rabbits tend to make better pets, have a very low risk of reproductive cancer, don't have the hormones, aren't at risk of getting pregnant, should not have false pregnancies, tend to have better litter habits, and are more easy to bond to a neutered rabbit.

Personally, I would not have an intact female, at least not for long. The hormones can be a pain in the butt and I am a bit paranoid about pregnancy (I do have 2 intact bucks, and don't want to risk anything).

My thoughts on this issue exactly.

 

[Leopold_Ruby]

I have two females in my group and one has yet to be spayed. Shes very shy and skiddish but she will be spayed because unbred females are very prone to cancer.

 

[cdc7267]

I would say it would be fine if u did not spay her

 

[honeybunnies]

This might shock some people on here, but here goes!!!

I have 4 mini lop rabbits living in the house with me in 2 separate enclosures.

2 does in one enclosure - one doe is about 18mths old & the other about 6mths old & I never have any problems with them. They are both unspayed, as I like to breed my lops a little in spring & summer. I sell them on gumtree within 2 or 3 days of them being on the site. So selling them for me is no problem where I live.

Now I also have 2 unaltered bucks living in another enclosure with me in the house. They are about 6 meters away from the does & they can't see a lot of each other & I don't have any trouble with them being together either. One buck is about 18mths old & the other about 6mths. It did take a good month to bond the bucks. At first the older one would chase the younger one, but never fought him. So I persisted with it & I'm glad I did, as they like to lie & sit together & groom each other just like my 2 does do.

 

[RandomWiktor]

The only unspayed doe I've ever had who didn't turn into a hormonal nightmare beast at maturity was our Flemish Giant. I had one other who was mostly gentle but could have her moments, but that aside? They've all be snarling, lunging, biting, stomping hellions at maturity. I've also had two die of reproductive cancers, which is the main reason I now try to have bunnies spayed.

OTOH I have a rabbit in foster currently that the previous owner claims is spayed, and she is the most vicious rabbit I've dealt with in a LONG time; I've only had one that was worse. She has inflicted deep, bleeding bite wounds on me many times now. I'm not confident she is actually spayed, but she is also 8-9yrs old and a larger breed, so I don't know that I'd bother risking it at this juncture.