New baby doe or buck best?? BONDING question.

[LibbyZ]

I have an amazing, goofy, fun, loving 9 mos old, spayed Holland Lop, named Bentley, or "B" as we call her.

I am getting an Eng Lop. Currently there is a doe and a buck available from a local breeder. I am leaning towards the buck because of everything I have read with doe:buck bondings be higher success rate, etc.

Regardless of sex, the bunny will be altered as soon as possible. Must I wait for the new bun bun to be altered before any sort of time together, whether outdoors in the garden, patio, indoors with baby gates between them etc?

Please give me some insight into personal experiences, opinions, etc. Thank you!

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

A buck would probably be better. A male and female tend to get along the best once altered.

Introducing them before he is neutered really depends on the rabbit. Some rabbits are really hormonal and just want to go around humping everything which makes it hard for them to focus on being friends. If he is calmer, then you can introduce them but be careful. Once he becomes hormonal (even before neutering), you should keep them apart and try bonding again once he is neutered and healed.

 

[LibbyZ]

I just had a thought... If I end up getting the buck and when he grows in spite of him getting neutered, could he hurt my holland doe buck by attempting to mount her? There will be quite the size difference in eng lop to holland... Thoughts on this?

 

[melbaby80]

A buck would be ideal. I doubt he'd be able to hurt her due to size if he fixed, but remember after fixing him you want to keep him away for a month or two to allow his hormones to settle and his body get rid of sperm. I'm sure more members will chime in, but a larger male and hurt a smaller female when mating (the babies would be too big for her).

 

[fuzz16]

It could work or couldnt it d3pends on theor personality so be prepared for two cages long term if you cant bond them. I would say go meet them both and see who you like personality wise

 

[LakeCondo]

If you could, I'd suggest letting her pick out a new companion from a shelter that has speed dating. That's the best way to virtually insure bonding. It's at the expense, though, of being able to choose the new one's breed. So it's up to you which is more important. Of course ideally you'll get both.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I have to second the idea of speed dates, it really makes the bonding process so much easier.

I know everyone says to keep them apart until they are both fixed, but twice I have introduced intact partners because it was more of an emergency situation, the original bun had lost their mate and they were depressed. I threw caution to the wind and decided the depression was worse than the humping. Granted I kept a close eye on them to make sure how they were interacting. Both times I sent the mate along to the vet to stay with each other through the surgery. It helps with the fear factor and helps strengthen the bond. I didn't have any issues with the buns being too rough during the healing process so they were always together. The first time it was a fixed female with an unfixed male (yes he humped her constantly, but she tollerated it very well) and the second time it was a fixed male with an unfixed female (she started nesting and thought she was pregnant because of the humping, but he was fixed so no babies).

Best of luck finding the perfect mate for your bun.



Oh, I forgot to mention that in both cases the buns went in to get fixed within two weeks of the meeting, so the original rabbit didn't have too long to be humped to death. :biggrin2:

 

[1357rabbitlover]

I have had 2 bunnies that i have tried to bond with my neutered male bunny and he hated them both, i then went to a local breeder and let him pick his own friend out of the 9 babies, they have got along from day one