2 young minilop bucks fighting

[2littleprincesses]

Hi, I'm hoping someone may have some answers for me, since the breeder I bought them from won't answer my emails or phone calls. Hmmm ...

Anyway, we bought 2 mini lop bucks about a month ago, they were kits (although one I found was only 4 weeks when we bought him, learnt after the fact) and the other I don't know as the breeder won't send me the papers or tell me his birthday. Yes, I know I'm in a strange situation.

At the present time, the one who is 10 weeks old is a lot smaller than the other so I'm wondering if the other is a lot older.

I have been housing them in the same triangular hutch together without trouble, but on Friday I bought them a larger double storey hutch and now the bigger buck is sexually harassing the smaller buck. I was told this doesn't happen until around 6m and they can be desexed. So why is he doing it already? There was also a lot of fur and some blood in the hutch, they also have nipped ears.

Is it perhaps that the bigger one thinks it's a breeding cage? Because it's only started since. Needless to say I have separated them.

Any ideas what I can do to stop this, or do they have to be in separate hutches from now on?

Thanks for your help

[Honeywood]

hi,
rabbits arnt social animals and need to be kept separate from 8wks of age.
rabbits can be sexually active from as early as 3 mths, it sounds like one might be alot older than you were told. they need to be separated as he is marking his territoryand will possibly end up killing the younger one. if the breeder was a good one they would of given you the pedigree with the animal then and there.
some does can be housed in pairs if purchased at an early age but bucks need to be kept separate or fur will fly. and as for desexing sorry i dont agree with it not only is it hard to find a vet to do it it's not cheap and doesnt make a difference but that is my opinion. i've bred and shown rabbits for the past 12 or so years and i handle my bunnies from the time they start to come out of the nest -about 2-3 wks of age they are all quiet and like to be handled. so if they are handled regulary the will stay quiet and theres no need to desex them

krystal

[reAllytee]

Yeah it was always my understanding that two males couldnt be housed together .....

Sorry.

[2littleprincesses]

I have been told by a few breeders that 2 bucks will be fine until around 6m when they mature. I originally thought we would get two does, but were told that they'd fight when they mature, too, and that bucks make more playful pets.

The two were from different breeders, basically one's owner was on holidays and had another breeder looking after her kits, so he sold us both kits, gave me the papers for his, and said that she'd send down the other kit's papers when she returned from holidays. She's been back for about 3 weeks and still won't send them. I'm not impressed.

We do play with them, and are trying to get them used to a harness (kids love it), do you think if we spent a lot more time cuddling them, he'd settle down???? I'd really prefer them to get along . . . but will keep them separated if that's the only answer.

[Honeywood]

sorry to disapoint you but bucks can be extremly territorial and need to be kept separate as they will fight the more they are handled the better and quieter they will stay, but make sure it's early morning or in the evening when it's not so hot as they can stress out and overheat. [/URL]
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd144/pigglewinks/bun3.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd144/pigglewinks/bun2.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd144/pigglewinks/bun1.jpg
[URL]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd144/pigglewinks/bunbun2.jpg

check these pics out of my mini lop buck this is what happened when he got out with another buck and he was only a young thing when it happened
and i threw in a pick of his bubs to!!

krystal

[2littleprincesses]

Thanks HOneywood, point taken.