"I gots to get fixed? What?"

[6chickens in St. Charles]

We'll never get around to showing him, but he has a very good pedigree from a breeder in Indiana, a very nice man.

Will the bunny get lonesome for bunnies if he's the only bunny here? He does try to hang out with the chickens all day, but they peck him. He's OK now with getting petted but he's hard to pick up. Lately he pushes out of his in-house enclosure and is THRILLED when we wake up in the morning, he's running figure 8's around our ankles and laying down all stretched out where we're cooking and eating for breakfast.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I've had two pet bucks that were never fixed, and two that were. One was supposed to be, but the darn vet office that was supposed to do the surgery said they couldn't because his testicles descended (well...yeah...that's what rabbits do. Edit: long day, meant retracted), but still charged us.

I really didn't notice a difference. The nuetered bucks still spread their territorial droppings, it's just easy to sweep up. Neither of my unneutered males sprayed as far as I could tell. Both are still into the chin rubbing. Both neutered and non were as sweet as could be. I have heard of some males who mount people, and in that case I'd be snipping them. Otherwise, I think I'm going to stop spending money to snip them as I've notived no difference in health, lifespan, or temperament. I'm not sure about does, as I don't prefer them for indoor pets.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

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Whew, I'm glad you shared your experiences. Perhaps God has been good, yet again, giving me a buck bunny. He's a nice pet. I had been wondering if a doe would be even nicer, or if I made a mistake in accepting a buck bunny instead of a doe bunny. They look identical! All I want is a happy, peaceful household where everybody's happy.

 

[FireTigeris]

My rabbit vet triple checks gender and then says, 'if it ain't broke...'

(she is a rabbit specialist)

I got two other bunnies siblings from the same litter fixed as one of them was the 'wrong' gender.

It's expensive but relatively safe, (most issues are from infection at the surgery site or loss of life under sedation)

I did have one numb-nut vet 'fix' a boy as if it was a girl- then tried to charge me for the more invasive procedure even though he was a boy...

I only paid for the previously agreed price - it shorted Oreo's life - there are reasons to open the abdomen for a male neuter of a rabbit, but not all the way up to the ribcage!

Ask how many rabbit 'fixes' they have done and how many they have lost (my rabbit vet has 32 years experience and has lost 8).

 

[Bossroo]

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There is VERY little risk in neutering rabbits... I have neutered HUNDREDS of rabbits myself at the University and never had a problem or lost a single one. One would have a much more preasant pet rabbit when fixed.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

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There is VERY little risk in neutering rabbits... I have neutered HUNDREDS of rabbits myself at the University and never had a problem or lost a single one. One would have a much more preasant pet rabbit when fixed.

Yes that's my youngest son's worry, "what if it hurts him?" and "he's fine the way he is!" we know the risk is probably small, but when it happens to us it feels like the risk is 100%.

 

[wolftracks]

I may have strange rabbits, but all of mine are intact and my bucks are easier to handle than the does. I've had a lot of rabbits over the years and with handling nad care they are great even if not fixed.

If you decide to get another though, you may want to fix one. Many times the bucks become territorial and fight. Does will do the same thing. If you do get a doe and do not want to breed, than fix one.

Too bad you don't want to show. He's a very nice guy. Hope you and your son enjoy him.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
There is VERY little risk in neutering rabbits... I have neutered HUNDREDS of rabbits myself at the University and never had a problem or lost a single one. One would have a much more preasant pet rabbit when fixed.

well.. i must have had a really bad vet when I lived in Delaware then.. 3 of mine didn't make it through the anesthesia.. and i only took in 5 to be neutered .. after that I figured I would rather have a happy LIVE rabbit than to be paying for a dead one

So I suppose it boils down to the skill of the vet who is doing the procedure

 

[Matthew3590]

I want to see a rabbit hump someones leg... What a sight. But seriously if you aren't having problems with him don't get him fixed. I had a buck when I was younger and my mom had him fixed and after the surgery he would never let me near him again.

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

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Oh thank you! I do want to do things like 4H and I wish I had a family who wanted those things, too, but I don't.

I'm glad the bunny's here, though. He makes us laugh. There's nothing like sitting down to dinner in the backyard and 'round the corner he bounds, a wad of dry maple leaves in his snoot, happy as a bunny can be without a care in the world. Then he stretches out on his belly with his legs behind him in "superman flying" mode.