crazy bunny

Question
at what age should i look at having my bunny fixed?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have the CUTEST, loviest little bunny I've ever seen, and thank God for him that he is (I think it's a he) because he is CRAZY! He's a little lionhead. I have him indoors, and I let him out of his cage several times a day.  We've tried our best to "bunny proof" the area, but this little stinker is like Houdini.  He's very young- I just got him on Valentine's Day, and they said he was 2 months old then.  He's not scared of ANYTHING!!! I've used a spray bottle and loud noises (like clapping my hands)when he tries to chew the carpet or sneak under the couch- but it doesn't faze him.  He even jumps up ON the couch! He is extremely inquisitive.  His motto is "where there's a will, there's a way."  We love his orneriness, but sometimes it's ridiculous, and I end up putting him back in his cage when I really want him to just play and behave himself.  Do you have any suggestions for how to keep him under control. I thought of using a harness with a leash, but I think it would offend him.  Okay, well thank you, and I look forward to your reply.
-----Answer-----
Hi Heather,

it sounds like you have some more bunny-proofing in your future.  You will need to make certain areas inaccessible to him, and/or possibly alter the room he is in playing, or maybe make another room/area that is specifically set up for him to exercise in.

Barricades of some sort can help keep him out of areas you don't want him to get into.  For example, our couches.  We have designed wood pieces (that I also covered with something safe) that fit under the armrests (our couch has an open front and back) in both the front and back.  He can run behind the couch, but can't get under it.  Other examples: we have stuffed towels underneath our tv armoire to prevent our guys from trying to squeeze under there and maybe get stuck or tear their skin on something poking out down there.

Other things you can do is give him an alternative to hang out in, like a bunny condo or cardboard cottage, or even making your own from cardboard boxes.  You can get concrete form tubes (they are very hard cardboard) and make tunnels for him to run and rest in.

If you do not want him going behind something, try to push the piece of furniture as close to the wall as possible, and then scribe a piece of wood your baseboard pattern curves (that is as high or a little lower than your furniture is, and cut out the pattern so you can make a really tight-fitting custom barrier.  If it is still too loose you can attach a wide base to the piece so it will be able to stand on its own.

As per jumping on the couch, indoor bunnies like to do that.  He should not damage your couch, but often if you are sitting up there they want to be next to you or get a better view of the room layout.  We have an ottoman one of our guys likes to hang out on and relax.  It is a great place to be able to pet them too.  

One thing our guys like is a 'diggy-pile' where you have clean, old tshirts and/or cotton towels that he can dig in and chew/nibble on.  If he likes to do this in a box, you could put them in a box and cut a hole in the side he can use.  He may be able to take some of his chewing out on the old cotton tshirts and towels.  Many of our guys like them because they feel good to chew on.

If he still goes for carpet corners and such, you can get some 1 ft by 1 ft ceramic tiles and put them in the corners he chews on.  You can also get 'sacrificial' cotton rugs inexpensively from a place like tj maxx and put them over areas he wants to chew.  He will probably dig on the carpets too, but this is normal.

I should also point out that in the springtime (starting now) rabbits get more active digging and chewing and acting a little more feisty than usual.  So what you are seeing is normal too for this time of year.

All of his exploring is healthy and needed for an intelligent creature a rabbit is.  They can get bored if they are not challenged.  Learning patterns in the room, running fast and exploring new parts of a room is all good for him and is normal.

If he gets out of control, he should be learning what "No" is and normally we do this immediately after whatever thing he does that he shouldn't do.  A "No <his name>" and possibly using your hand to gently but firmly push his head down to the floor can sometimes get the point across.  You basically are asserting your dominance as the alpha bunny with this move.  

But the normal stuff - running around the room, hopping onto couches, that's pretty normal.  You'd really have to make up a room without anything for him to jump on.  But they can learn limits.  for example - we let our guy hop on the couch and ottoman, but not on the arms or climb the back of the couch.  He knows those two areas he is not allowed.  When he does do that, its a "No Buster!" and if he doesn't come down I come over, pick him up and put him on the floor (unless he hops down before I do it).  Some nights he doesn't do it at all.  Some nights he does it three times.  He tends to do it more when he's hungry.

Feel free to write back anytime.  Especially if you have any other specific examples of things you would or would not want him to do.  But basically, in many cases, if you offer him an alternative outlet for some undesired behavior, that can be the solution to a problem.

Lee

Answer
Hi Heather,

it depends if you have a male or female.  Males reach maturity a little sooner than females.  The general rule is that when you notice a change in behavior (anywhere from 3 1/2 to 6 months old), they have hit sexual maturity and can safely be spayed (female) or neutered (male).  The males may circle and honk lightly, and possibly 'mark' you by spraying on you.  The females may get a little more cage aggressive when you put hands in there.  Both males/females may mark more by dropping more pellets and peeing.

These telltale signs indicate a rabbit that is sexually mature and can be fixed without causing problems.  Just go to a very good rabbit vet (a cat/dog vet is not the same thing).  If you don't have one yet, go to:

www.rabbit.org/care/vets.html

and find a good rabbit vet in your area.

Lee