Neutered buck goes crazy over intact doe

[Orrin]

We have two five month old "live-in" bunnies, a neutered buck and an intact doe. The pair were great pals while growing up and for another two weeks after the buck was neutered. All of a sudden, things changed. The buck goes bonkers over the doe, pursuing her all over the house, trying to mount her. To give the poor doe some peace and quiet we now keep them in separate rooms.

I suspect that when the doe matured, she started giving off odors that trigger the buck's behavior. Any other ideas?

The doe is still too small to be spayed. When she gets big enough we'll have our vet do the operation. I hope that after her hormones dissipate, we can let them live together, again. (The picture was taken before either of them developed a case of hormones.) Any ideas?

We dearly love these little rascals and hope that someday they can eat, sleep and play together, again, like they did when they were babes. Every day we let them get together for a while to see if things have settled down; but, it is the same old story. At first meeting the two will touch noses as if glad to see one another; then, the buck chases and the doe runs and hides.

Does anyone have any suggestions; or, has anyone had similar experiences?

 

[Blue eyes]

What you describe isn't unusual at all. This is why baby bonds don't count -- it all can change with the onset of hormones. The girl's hormones (obviously) can influence the buck's behavior. Also, it can take roughly 6 weeks after a neuter surgery for hormones of the buck to fully dissipate. Both of those may be coming into play here.

She may get tired of his advances and may turn back and lash out. So keep a close eye. It may be safest to separate them if they aren't being watched. She should be ready for a spay soon.

You'll want to avoid any increasing aggression as that could sabotage their chances of bonding later. Whether or not they decide to bond after she is spayed will be up to them. There are no guarantees. Unfortunately that's the risk taken when starting with 2 babies. After she's spayed and healed, it's advisable to act as if they've never before met. Treat them like two new bunnies and begin the bonding process from the start. That will give them the best chance.

 

[JBun]

Also to add, if he was neutered less than 8 weeks ago, that can explain the ongoing hormonal behavior, which means it should subside over the next few weeks. But also if it's been less than 6 weeks since his neuter, she's at risk of becoming pregnant(if she isn't already) if they continue to have any contact with each other(cases where this has happened 6 weeks post neuter). Males need 6-8 weeks post neuter for the hormones and sperm to be gone. Just so you're aware.
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/neutering/

If it's been longer than 8 weeks since his neuter, do you have confidence that the vet did the surgery properly? Might be worth giving his underside a peek just to make sure nothing is there that should have been removed.

 

[Orrin]

Blue eyes and JBun, I appreciate your advice. Thank you for the link, JBun.

The buck was neutered three weeks ago; we realize it will take another month, or so, for his hormones to dissipate. Just to make sure the doe is not pregnant the vet made a radiographic examination, yesterday, and she's not.

When the buck started going nuts we immediately separated them. We've given them a couple of chances at togetherness since then, but always supervised. Those encounters lasted a minute at the most because the buck would immediately go bonkers, mounting the doe's head every time.

Even with the doe in a separate room the buck is super-hyperactive. He calmed down when she was taken out of the house for her trip to the vet.

This whole episode has been very interesting.

The buck that sired these two settled right down after he was neutered. When he is around intact does he stays placid.

 

[JBun]

So just sounds like he's still hormonal. It almost seems like some will get a surge of hormones post neuter before it dies down. Another 3 weeks and your bun should be calmed down.