Can Two Male Rabbits Be Together?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can two male rabbits be together?

Two male rabbits can get along together, but this is usually the least successful pairing

. For a male-male pairing to work, one rabbit needs to be much more submissive than the other. They also must be neutered. Neutered males tend to be calmer and more likely to get along.

Will two male rabbits fight?

Housing unfixed male and female rabbits together will lead to pregnancies. If you are looking for harmony with two male rabbits, neuter them both.

Unfixed male rabbits may get very aggressive with each other — constantly fighting for dominance.

How do you get two male rabbits to get along?

Will neutered male rabbits fight?

Your neutered male rabbits will live longer as well, given that

he won’t be tempted to fight with others due to his sexual aggression

and will help improve friendships with their bonded partner.

How do I stop my two male rabbits fighting?

If your rabbits are mounting each other a lot, instigating fights,

stop them, place them side by side

. Pet them together and talk to them quietly. Do not let much chasing ensue. If they are persistently aggressive, separate them to prevent injuries.

Will male rabbits fight to the death?

As a general rule, rabbits can fight to the death, though escalating that far is rare.

Male rabbits will fight to assert dominance

, and even females rabbits may attack one another at first. If you’re cohabitating rabbits, make sure they’re fixed, of similar size, and introduce them gradually.

What age do male rabbits start fighting?

While some intact male rabbits can live together peacefully, it is more likely for aggressive behaviour to develop between intact male rabbits than neutered male rabbits. This can cause ‘uncoupling’ where previously bonded rabbits start to bully or fight with each other as they reach sexual maturity (

3-6months

).

Is it better to have 1 or 2 rabbits?

Barring the odd rogue rabbit that likes the lonely life,

rabbits generally benefit from the company of other rabbits

. They will often be far happier and content with a mate. Rabbits are not that unlike humans, they also get bored, even depressed, and when they do, they often act it out with destructive behaviour.

Is it normal for 2 male rabbits to hump?

Why Do Two Male Rabbits Hump Each Other? Male rabbits hump each other for the same reasons that female rabbits do:

to show dominance

. There is a slight chance that this behavior could inspire more aggressive nipping if one of the rabbits does not cede to becoming subordinate to the other.

How do you introduce a male rabbit?


Put the rabbits in nearby enclosures, where they can sniff each other through the wire

. If your existing rabbit is free range, put the new rabbit in a small separated area so they can get used to each other’s scent. You can swap around their litter trays and rub a cloth over each transferring scents.

Why do my 2 male rabbits fight?

Two males might also fight

for dominance

. Rabbit society is hierarchical, which means that there’s a pecking order. Your rabbits may not always agree on who’s who in that order, and may fight to establish the hierarchy. Rabbits may also fight out of boredom.

Can 2 unneutered male rabbits live together?

Two male rabbits from the same litter have the best chance of getting along. They must be neutered to prevent hormones from damaging their relationship.

Never keep two unneutered male rabbits together

, even if they’re brothers. They will fight to the point of causing injury.

Should I let my rabbits fight it out?


If fighting is serious, the bunnies should be separated when unsupervised

. Once they seem to be getting along, they can be re-introduced into familiar territory. Often they start to fight again in their own space, so be ready with the water, and don’t give up.

Why do male bunnies fight?

Like many other animals, rabbits often nip and play fight

as part of their bonding

. Nipping is also linked to mating. Even a neutered male may nip and mount another rabbit – male or female. This is an act of dominance, not lust.

Do male rabbits show dominance?

The first thought in a rabbit’s mind when encountering another rabbit is “are you superior or inferior to me?”

Classic signs of dominance are mounting (this can be done by either a male or female)

, chasing, circling and, if the other rabbit doesn’t submit, nipping and fur pulling.

How do you introduce a new rabbit?


Prepare a neutral area separate from their enclosures

Have hiding places and toys ready to put in the area, but leave it empty for when you first introduce them. Once the rabbits are comfortable with the sight and smell of each other, they can be introduced for short periods in the neutral area.

How do I know if my rabbits are bonded?

As a general rule, rabbits are bonded

once they can spend 48 hours together without any chasing or aggressive behaviors

. You also want to see positive signs such as grooming, sharing food, and sleeping next to each other to confirm that your rabbits feel safe around each other.

Do both rabbits need neutered?


All rabbits not used for breeding should be neutered

; rabbits should always be kept with at least one rabbit companion and, even in same-sex pairs, neutering is a vital part of a forming a loving and sustainable bond. To book your rabbit in to be neutered, or for more information, please contact your local Vets4Pets.

How can you tell which rabbit is dominant?

How Do Rabbits Show Dominance? You can recognize the dominant rabbit in your home by

observing your pets’ interactions

. For example, when two rabbits meet, the subordinate greets the dominant by stretching out his head and lowering his ears to the other rabbit. It’s like when we say good morning to our boss at work.

Should I get my male rabbit a friend?

Should I get my pet rabbit a friend?

Absolutely!

It’s one of the best things you can do to make your bunny’s life a happy and fulfilled one. Rabbits in the wild live in big groups and are very sociable animals, so it makes sense that they should live with at least one other bunny friend!

How much space do 2 rabbits need?

One guideline to go by is

at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least at least 24 square feet of exercise space

, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day.

Can two rabbits share a cage?

Because rabbits are social creatures, they will bond with the individual that they are in contact with the most; this can be either a human or a rabbit. In other words, if you plan to have your rabbit as a companion,

you may only want to have one rabbit in a cage

.

How many rabbits should you keep together?

Most owners house a pair of rabbits, but keeping

three or four are also popular options

. Be sure that you have enough space to comfortably house all your rabbits, or else you’ll have to purchase multiple runs to create enough space.

Can you introduce a new rabbit to a bonded pair?

Pet rabbits need at least one bunny bestie to live with but they’ll be even happier in larger groups.

It’s easiest to adopt rabbits that are already bonded

– brothers and sisters from the same litter will be really happy to live together, so long as they’ve been neutered (or you get them done when they’re old enough).

How do you bond two dominant rabbits?

  1. Pay attention to the pecking order. Give the dominant rabbit their treats first and give them their first choice of toys. …
  2. Give the dominant rabbit enough attention. …
  3. Don’t prevent dominance rituals.

Can rabbits share a litter box?

If you have a pair of bunnies sharing the same litter box, you’ll want to get one very large box, or give the bunnies multiple boxes to keep them well supplied with hay and fresh litter. We recommend using CareFresh and fresh hay to prepare your bunny’s litter box.

Can a male rabbit live alone?

Rabbits are a social species and have evolved to live in groups.

In the wild, rabbits do not live alone

. Rabbits kept as companions are not biologically different from their wild counterparts and so their innate need to be kept in the company of other rabbits is just as strong.

What does it mean when a bunny flops?

Fish Flop (“Life is good”): When a rabbit dramatically gets into resting position by suddenly ‘flopping’ onto their side. If your bunny fish flops, it means that

he is relaxed and ready to nap

. Fish flops tend to look like a sudden and dramatic death, but there’s no need to be concerned.

How do you bond a bunny quickly?

When should you give up bonding rabbits?

In general, the only time you should give up on bonding rabbits is

when they have injured each other

. You should also reevaluate the bond if one rabbit is a bully, making the other rabbit anxious and afraid to eat, use the litter box, or even move around too much.

Why do two male rabbits fight?

Two males might also fight

for dominance

. Rabbit society is hierarchical, which means that there’s a pecking order. Your rabbits may not always agree on who’s who in that order, and may fight to establish the hierarchy. Rabbits may also fight out of boredom.

Do male rabbits show dominance?

What age do male rabbits start fighting?

While some intact male rabbits can live together peacefully, it is more likely for aggressive behaviour to develop between intact male rabbits than neutered male rabbits. This can cause ‘uncoupling’ where previously bonded rabbits start to bully or fight with each other as they reach sexual maturity (

3-6months

).

Why do male rabbits hump other males?

Male rabbits hump each other for the same reasons that female rabbits do:

to show dominance

. There is a slight chance that this behavior could inspire more aggressive nipping if one of the rabbits does not cede to becoming subordinate to the other. It’s worth noting that female rabbits may also mount male rabbits.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.