Baby Bunny + Unneutered Male

Question
Hello..
I have an 8 month old un neutered male and two days ago we got a 2 month old unknown sexed bunny...Well it has been non stop for these two... my male will run around the house chasing the baby and mounting it and even knibbling on it a little too. He'll then forget about the baby and lay down but once that baby comes up to him ..he chases it again. The baby will even just lay there almost dead like and let him push it around. I want these two to be a pair. Is there any hope? We are getting our male neutered ( hopefully Tuesday).  What can I do until then so I dont go crazy and worry about the little one getting hurt. Also, after he gets neutered will the chasing and mounting stop?

Answer
Do not allow both to come into contact anymore.  there is hope but you have to be in control of it and you should only bond two rabbits that are fixed.  

You need to get your 8 month old male neutered first.
It will take a month to get his hormone levels down.  Do not allow them to be together in the same space during this time.

Determine the sex of the younger bunny and if he's male, he should be able to be neutered around 4-6 months.  You will notice behavior changes to indicate this (spraying, wanting to mount your arm).  If she's female you will want to have her spayed.  then wait another month for the hormones to come down.  You will need to take this guy in to the vet for a general exam (before they will even consider surgery) so they can tell you what gender he is.

For your guy getting neutered: make sure they give you a few days' of pain medicine for him (metacam, probably).  Pain management is very important for rabbits and if he's in pain he won't eat, and then gi stasis can set in and kill him.  Also he should be given a few days of antibiotics (baytril, usually) to make sure the incision doesn't get infected.  Push for these if they don't plan to do this.  Good rabbit vets will understand what rabbits need after a surgery.  Also bring along his favorite foods and some pellets so that they can give this to him as he recovers, in case he is hungry and wants to eat.

After this, you can then start trying to bond them.  Not before.  You can have them in the same room, but in separated cages and separated areas (use pet exercise gates and if they nip through the bars, use double gates with a few inches of space in between).

Go to the House Rabbit Society  web site (www.rabbit.org) and read up on bonding.  Search for articles on terms:  bonding, bunny dating, dates.

Lee