Many animals exhibit a wide variety of behaviors based on their gender. This applies to rabbits as well. A male rabbit will differ a lot compared to a female, and each attribute makes them unique as pets.
So, which one should you keep as your pet and why? Or, can you keep both together? If so, what procedures do you need to follow, and what things do you keep in mind?
There are ways you can differentiate between both sexes. Also, spoiler alert! You can definitely keep both male and female rabbits together, but with precautions.
Let’s have a look at how male vs female rabbits gets on as pets.
How to Differentiate Between a Male Rabbit and a Female Rabbit
The males are called bucks and the females are known as does. Differentiating between a buck and a doe is quite difficult from the surface.
The sure way to determine is by examining their genitalia. However, the time in which they mature sexually differs too, which is why you can’t detect their gender before a specific time.
There are some physical attributes and behavioral characteristics that you can look out for. These differ greatly between male rabbits and female rabbits. Let’s look at the comparisons.
1. Physical Attributes Between Males and Females
Although quite difficult to identify, you can still identify a buck from a doe using these visual differences below:
| Male Rabbits | Female Rabbits |
|---|---|
| 1. The average height range is 8 inches to 20 inches. | 1. Height can be up to 16 inches. |
| 2. Sexually mature from the age of 3 to 4 months. | 2. Sexually mature from the age of 4 to 6 months. |
| 3. A male rabbit can reproduce from the age of 8 months. | 3. Can reproduce from 4-6 months of age. |
| 4. Two oblong testicles are visible once they’re 3 months. | 4. Has a V-shaped protrusion. |
| 5. Sprays if not neutered. | 5. Sprays to mark territory if not spayed. |
Rabbits of both genders weigh the same and have the same life span. They have the same level of grooming and exercise needs and are quite trainable from a young age. They’re both family-friendly as well, but only if you take proper precautions.
2. Their Characteristics
Both males and females have pros and cons in terms of their characteristics. However, a lot of these characteristics depend on their personalities, and neutering or spaying them will also affect their behavior.
Let’s have a look at these key differences.
(a) Male Rabbits
Let’s look at the pros and cons of the buck:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. This rabbit interacts well with human beings. Also, they tend to be very cuddly! | 1. Typically male rabbits are very aggressive with other males. |
| 2. A male pet rabbit is usually calm and timid. | 2. The rabbit will spray everywhere if not neutered. |
| 3. Protective around females. | 3. An aggressive display of sexual needs. |
| 4. Quite outgoing. |
(b) Female Rabbits
Here are the pros and cons of the characteristics of the female:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. The female becomes less destructive when spayed. | 1. This rabbit is very territorial. They won’t even allow human beings allowed if not spayed. |
| 2. Reaches reproductive capability sooner. | 2. The rabbit can be very bossy and dominant. |
| 3. One is able to cohabit with another rabbit once spayed. | 3. One can display false pregnancies. |
| 4. Different personalities of cohabiting rabbits can create a conflict. | |
| 5. A female can develop reproductive cancer if not spayed. | |
| 6. The female will dig holes everywhere if not spayed. |
Can You Make Male Rabbits and Female Rabbits Get Along?
Bucks that are sexually mature tend to be very protective of the females around them, and they’ll be quite aggressive with other males. Does can be extremely territorial and aggressive, and won’t let anyone close.
However, it’s surprisingly easy to make a male rabbit and a female mix well. Once you neuter the males, they’ll be less aggressive towards other males, but will still be protective of their female counterparts.
Once you spay the females, they become much less aggressive and won’t growl as much at other rabbits, especially their male counterparts. They’ll even let the humans come nearby.
If you want to have a male and a female and you want them to get along, then you should neuter and spay them. They’ll be much less aggressive and dominant, both sexually and in terms of other behavioral tendencies, and will be much more receptive to each other.
Male vs Female: Which Rabbit Makes a Better Pet?
It all comes down to preference. What kind of rabbit do you like? Whether you like a buck or a doe will depend on what you expect from your pet bunny and how much time and room you can give to your rabbit.
Some owners like to have mellow rabbits, which is why they go for the bucks. However, there are some who like having grumpy rabbits, which is why they prefer does. Some owners also choose rabbit breeds as their main factor.
It doesn’t depend only on the rabbit’s sex. Their personalities play a big role in it too. While some rabbits can be timid, others can be bullies. So before you choose the rabbit’s gender, take its personality into account.
Should You Go for a Bonded Pair?
You should always have rabbits in pairs. Keeping them alone may cause them heartbreak syndrome. When you visit a pet adoption center or rabbit care, you’ll see rabbits playing around in pairs or trios. Ask the caregiver to give you such rabbits.
Ideally, you should go for rabbits from the same litter. They usually get along with each other really well.
1. What Does Bonded Rabbit Behavior Look Like?
Bonded rabbits, be it males or females, or both male and female rabbits, will be more receptive and accepting of each other.
If you’re opting for two bucks, then they’ll get along well once you’ve neutered them. And if you want the does to get along with the opposite sex, then you need to spay them first.
2. When Should You Go for Bonded Pair?
If you’re new to keeping rabbits as your pet, then the best thing you can do is to adopt them in pairs or trios, however, they appear to be in foster care. Also, adopting a bunny alone may not be good, as they can fall into depression if you’re not around for as long as needed.
You should get your rabbits in pairs or also in trios from breeders only when you’re sure that they’re neutered and spayed. However, you don’t need to worry about that for the time being if you’ve adopted them before their sexual maturity. But take them to the vet as soon as they mature.
How Should You House Them?
If you’ve got a pair or a trio of rabbits before getting them neutered and spayed, then you should keep them in separate cages. Keeping the rabbits together may be destructive, especially if they’re pairings of the same sex.
Opposite sex pairs can be catastrophic for you too, as mature bucks display more sexual aggression, and the female counterpart stays pregnant for only 31 days. They can even litter from 1 to 15 babies at a time.
House the rabbits together only when the vet has neutered and spayed your rabbits. Also, once they’re operated on, make sure that their living conditions are safe enough for the rabbits to recover quickly.
Conclusion
Having a male bunny or a female bunny as a pet isn’t an easy job, let alone keeping them in bunches. You have to be extra cautious before you do so. However, once you’ve taken the proper steps with your rabbits and educated yourself about the characteristics of the sex you’ll adopt, you can rest assured.
If you’re still indecisive about which you should have as your pet, take notes from our comparisons of a male vs female rabbit. You’ll get your desired answer! Best of luck!