Bunny is hot /cold pregnant or not? fighting then best buds again?

Question

Ok,

We have 2 bunnies, male and female.

bought together, growing up together as very affectionate...male starts mating w/female...she becomes increasingly NASTY to male.

We separate them -because she is seriously NOT wanting him near her, he goes crazy -becomes houdini and escapes from everything to try and "visit"

But she keeps kicking him out. Then today, they are all Buddy,buddy!

We have him going to another home in a week because it got so bad, but now my daughter is begging for us to keep him.

What is going on ? If she is pregnant, why is she letting him in w/ her now. Still doesn't want to mate and tells him, but is cuddling with him!

Anyone know?

Answer 1

Rabbits should always be fixed, no matter what gender or gender combination. It's also pretty risky to keep two rabbits together, even if they're the same gender.

Given the roller coaster relationship of your bunnies, I'd recommend fixing the male and sending him off to a new home as you had planned. It's sad seeing a bunny go, but it's probably the safest option.

On the plus side, single rabbits often bond more with their owners and learn to be part of the family as opposed to just a pet. Good luck.

Answer 2

You house the female and male separately AT ALL TIMES except for the actual breeding. You put them together to breed (female is taken to the male's cage, not the other way around), separate right after, then repeat in 8 hours to make sure she 'took'. Other than that, they MUST be housed separately always! There's a few reasons for that.

1) Female rabbits can carry two litters of different ages at the same time, resulting in a stressful situation for her and it's hard on the babies from both litters, since the first litter often has to be weaned early to make sure the second gets enough milk, and the female will not produce as much milk for the second litter, most of the time.

2) Male rabbits re-breed the female immediately upon birth of a litter. Back-to-back litters are hard on her body and irresponsible.

3) Female rabbits who are not altered are very territorial. if she gets tired of the constant harassment or objects to his presence in 'her' territory, she can and will seriously injure or kill her.

Since you don't know this, you shouldn't be breeding them at all. Please spay and neuter your rabbits. They make better pets and live longer, healthier lives. Once that's done and they are healed, if you introduce them properly, they can live together happily on a permanent basis.  Take a look at the information on properly introducing two rabbits here: http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/index.htm...  To curb the female's territoriality, they do both need to be altered, not just him, she will continue to attack him if she is not also spayed.