Separating genders of "stranger" rabbits

[chickenwhisperer]

So in the last couple weeks, I have become the owner of no less than 9 rabbits of various ages and families, including 2 rescued females that each have 4 less-than-week-old babies.

Dont even ask me why . . .

Anyways, I have gotten a few hutches donated to me by some good people, to help me cage all these rescued bunnies, which were dumped then gave birth, then captured by a good samaritan, then I opened my big mouth and said Id take them.
But the donation response was great, and I should soon have everything I need.
One lady even gave me 2 older hutches that need a lil fixin but are in great shape and all the wire is there.

So, this brings me to my questions and concerns . . .

I have the caging to have 2 nice large hutches and one smaller.
Id like to keep all these rabbits by gender, so there arent any more!

There are at least 2 families of rabbits here, the first bunch has a father and 2 mothers and there are 2 young from each mother left here, the other bunch is the new rescues which is the 2 mothers and the 8 babies.

Concerning the new rescues, I had to foster a set of babies to the other mother as the other wasnt getting it done and she killed 1 of her babies(she had 5).

So besides the nursing mother, who gets the small hutch to herself, can I put ALL my females together in one hutch and the big male and his sons if any in the other hutch?

Should I convert the hutches to 2 separate sides and just separate sexes in each family and each family in a hutch?

And, MOST IMPORTANTLY, how do I tell if a rabbit is a boy or a girl?
I know, lift it up . . . but what am I lookin or not looking for?
Please dont say I have to fondle a rabbit to find out its gender . . .

Having each gender in its own large hutch seems like the easiest solution to my problem, I guess Im just concerned that strange rabbits are gonna fight and Ill have nothing but problems.
The female hutch would have 3 confirmed females, the male hutch would have 1 confirmed male, there are 4 bigger babies to go thru also . . .
Then, that leaves me the nursing mom and her 8 babies to place in the appropiate hutch when ready/gender is known.

BTW, does anybody want to adopt a rabbit?

 

[Bossroo]

Mature rabbits are terratorrial... expect fur to FLY !!! Possibly a blood bath or killed. So a rabbit per cage it is. However, I have kept hundreds ( 3 per cage ) castrated males well into maturity for laboratory use with only some slight disagreements from time to time. Some females , especially littermate sisters, will accept each other as cagemates if NO males are in vicinity. To sex a rabbit... hold it in one hand by clasping the ears and the ruff skin, place it onto it's haunches, then with the other hand , using 2 fingers, on each side of it's genitalia, gently squeeze down and slightly outward. If a male , it will appear like a small round tube and will protrude outward.. If the male has any age to it ( 3 months or older) you should see the testes inside the scrotum on both sides. If a female, it will appear as a slit. Enjoy your bunnies !!!

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Ok, so they need to be separated . . .
Does that go for siblings that are raised togehter?
I remember reading somewhere that rabbits that are bonded together can live togehter . . .

If I have to have a separate cage for each rabbit, thats gonna create some issues . . .

Maybe I will put the confirmed male in the smaller hutch, and divide the remaining large hutches to accomodate all this.

Say I was gonna get my males fixed, is there an age when it is to late to prevent the associated problems of not having it done?
Basically, will getting the male/s fixed "fix" any aggression even in my older male?

 

[dipence71]

I have to males that were raised together in the same cage but they do tussle occasionally. I had 3 together until I had the cages built but Thumper( the biggest one) also a littler mate, did not get along living with anyone so he is alone unless his girlfriend comes for a conjugal visit LMAO.... My goal is to have everyone in their own cage but it has not happened as yet. The 2 males together seem to get along ok but not sure how long that will last lol.

So to answer your ? If you have them together and they are geting along well no blod bath then temporarily it will work. BUT make sure they are the same sex or you will have more babies and more room problems.

The mother and kits stay in the same cage until they are weaned between 6-8 weeks. THEN the babies can be house in their own cage until they get a bit bigger and start to mature then they will need to be separated into their own cages if they are fighting or male/female mix, or you will get MORE babies.

Hope that helps.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Definately dont want more babies . . .

 

[Citylife]

I agree with everyone else........ separate them.
Here is a link to help you identify their sex's.

http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/sexing.htm

Hope this helps you out.

The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 4 meat rabbits, kits, a lizard and a stray kitten needing a new home.

 

[Citylife]

I agree with everyone else........ separate them.
Here is a link to help you identify their sex's.

http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/sexing.htm

Hope this helps you out.

The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 4 meat rabbits, kits, a lizard and a stray kitten needing a new home.