Hi all,
I have 2 specific questions. Please, please, please share your rabbit wisdom.
Part 1:
Background:
I have two rabbits, one male, one female (not neutered or spayed). Recently I noticed that the male has been chewing the fur of the female, to the extent that the female has developed not just a bald spot (behind ears on her back), but also has developed calluses. I once tried to separate the two while in this act, but the male had such a tight grip with its mouth that the female got lifted along with the male up to half a foot from ground. But what further puzzles me is that after separation, when they meet, the female seems to offer the same bald spot for the male to chew at, and the female doesn't seem to mind.
Question:
Is this normal? Should I be worried? I don't want to permanently separate them but it is difficult to watch the female get hurt - what to do? Suggestions please.
Part 2:
Background: The female rabbit delivered her first litter of 3 babies on 1st July 2022. I don't want to get my rabbits spayed/neutered just as yet. However, I read that it is unhealthy for the female to get pregnant too soon after delivery, so i keep a watch and make sure they don't mate - either by separating them through a mesh, or by separating them when they seem to be mating.
Question:
When is it ok for them to mate again, that is, when I can put them back in the cage again - where they can, and most likely will, mate? How long should I wait given that the female rabbit delivered babies on 1st July 2022.
PS: The behavior i talked about in part 1 had begun before the pregnancy and continues today, as of 12th July 2022.
I have 2 specific questions. Please, please, please share your rabbit wisdom.
Part 1:
Background:
I have two rabbits, one male, one female (not neutered or spayed). Recently I noticed that the male has been chewing the fur of the female, to the extent that the female has developed not just a bald spot (behind ears on her back), but also has developed calluses. I once tried to separate the two while in this act, but the male had such a tight grip with its mouth that the female got lifted along with the male up to half a foot from ground. But what further puzzles me is that after separation, when they meet, the female seems to offer the same bald spot for the male to chew at, and the female doesn't seem to mind.
Question:
Is this normal? Should I be worried? I don't want to permanently separate them but it is difficult to watch the female get hurt - what to do? Suggestions please.
Part 2:
Background: The female rabbit delivered her first litter of 3 babies on 1st July 2022. I don't want to get my rabbits spayed/neutered just as yet. However, I read that it is unhealthy for the female to get pregnant too soon after delivery, so i keep a watch and make sure they don't mate - either by separating them through a mesh, or by separating them when they seem to be mating.
Question:
When is it ok for them to mate again, that is, when I can put them back in the cage again - where they can, and most likely will, mate? How long should I wait given that the female rabbit delivered babies on 1st July 2022.
PS: The behavior i talked about in part 1 had begun before the pregnancy and continues today, as of 12th July 2022.