Unsure about sexing kit

[Juci]

I’ve been going back and forth with this kit- I thought female at first and then at around 2 weeks it looked like male. Now the kit is almost 8 weeks old and I’m pretty sure it’s a doe, but wondering if someone can help. This is my first time breeding rabbits and still trying to figure out how to tell. Some of the other bunnies in the litter looked really obvious to me when compared with photos online but I’m having a hard time telling with this one. I want to keep the kit for breeding either way, but if it’s male I need to start building him a new cage.

Thank you!!

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Would you describe it as a burrito/volcano or a taco?

 

[Juci]

Would you describe it as a burrito/volcano or a taco?

Hmm, I guess a burrito? Like the top end of one. XD
Maybe he’s buck after all!

 

[Alaska Satin]

View attachment 33234
I’ve been going back and forth with this kit- I thought female at first and then at around 2 weeks it looked like male. Now the kit is almost 8 weeks old and I’m pretty sure it’s a doe, but wondering if someone can help. This is my first time breeding rabbits and still trying to figure out how to tell. Some of the other bunnies in the litter looked really obvious to me when compared with photos online but I’m having a hard time telling with this one. I want to keep the kit for breeding either way, but if it’s male I need to start building him a new cage.

Thank you!!

That looks like a male to me. The opening is round rather than long, although that can be tricky at this age. But more than that, the end of the opening is a relatively long distance from the anus.


A female would be more likely to have a slit that extends farther down toward the anus, like so:


Some bunnies are a lot trickier than others in their development, but I'd probably be building a cage.

 

[Buknee]

It looks like a buck. Put a bit more pressure on it to see if it pops out.

 

[Juci]

That looks like a male to me. The opening is round rather than long, although that can be tricky at this age. But more than that, the end of the opening is a relatively long distance from the anus.
View attachment 33238

A female would be more likely to have a slit that extends farther down toward the anus, like so:
View attachment 33240

Some bunnies are a lot trickier than others in their development, but I'd probably be building a cage.

Oh yeah that makes sense! That you for the photos too, that really helps. I think in this litter there was only one female, and I could tell right off because of what you said about the slit being longer. Funny how some are way easier to tell than others.

Thanks again for the tips! Time to start a new cage.

 

[Juci]

It looks like a buck. Put a bit more pressure on it to see if it pops out.

I’ll definitely keep that in mind, that makes sense as to why it was harder to tell with a male. I bet a lot of inexperienced people like me mistake males for females by not pressing hard enough.

 

[Alaska Satin]

I’ll definitely keep that in mind, that makes sense as to why it was harder to tell with a male. I bet a lot of inexperienced people like me mistake males for females by not pressing hard enough.

Also, when they're very young, there is nothing to pop out! That usually shows up later, in fact right around your bunnies' ages.

 

[arachyd]

I agree with Buknee. A little more pressure is needed to expose more.

 

[MuddyFarms]

Yep- does look to be a buck

 

[Buknee]

I’ll definitely keep that in mind, that makes sense as to why it was harder to tell with a male. I bet a lot of inexperienced people like me mistake males for females by not pressing hard enough.

Experienced people as well.

I went to pick up a Rex doe once, flipped her over to sex her. Um, buck! The kid, about 15, had shown it in 4H and the gal there had told him it was a doe as well. Not!
This was on the same day I went to pick up my Flemish Giant Buck, um no, doe. I bought her anyway! LOL

Another situation, a gal got two does/sisters from a breeder. When she discovered she was allergic to them, she gave them to me. After being at my farm in quarantine for a day, I walked by their cage and quickly recognized, that ain't no doe. I immediately separated them. Ten days later, I had 6 kits.

 

[Juci]

Experienced people as well.

I went to pick up a Rex doe once, flipped her over to sex her. Um, buck! The kid, about 15, had shown it in 4H and the gal there had told him it was a doe as well. Not!
This was on the same day I went to pick up my Flemish Giant Buck, um no, doe. I bought her anyway! LOL

Another situation, a gal got two does/sisters from a breeder. When she discovered she was allergic to them, she gave them to me. After being at my farm in quarantine for a day, I walked by their cage and quickly recognized, that ain't no doe. I immediately separated them. Ten days later, I had 6 kits.

That’s hilarious! I guess sexing rabbits is just one of the more difficult animals.

 

[Scooter1A]

I got a magnifying glass out one day. Ha it's difficult sometimes but these tips will help me next go round.

 

[Juci]

I got a magnifying glass out one day. Ha it's difficult sometimes but these tips will help me next go round.

haha, that’s so funny! I should get one to have on hand.

 

[Scooter1A]

haha, that’s so funny! I should get one to have on hand.

I kept saying to myself they are all slits.....the picture that is above helped me. Can't wait until my next litter but waiting for winter to subside. It is nice enough today so I let them out to scamper. So much fun for me. I got a bag of whole oats and gave them some today, they love them. Some people say oatmeal, well, why not whole oats from the feed store. Price has gone down.

 

[Secuono]

Tube, buck.

 

[ladysown]

buck. missing two thin red lines on either side of the "hole".

 

[Ablebreeze]

Someone told me it's usually easy to tell when they're 1-3 days old and then harder to tell until they're about 3 months.
It's been many years and we're just getting back into breeding.
If that's the case (that it's easier to tell at a couple days old) I was thinking about tattooing just a dot in the ear of all of the bucks (or does) to make it easier later.

I'm open to more experienced thoughts on that idea.

 

[Juci]

I kept saying to myself they are all slits.....the picture that is above helped me. Can't wait until my next litter but waiting for winter to subside. It is nice enough today so I let them out to scamper. So much fun for me. I got a bag of whole oats and gave them some today, they love them. Some people say oatmeal, well, why not whole oats from the feed store. Price has gone down.

I had that same problem at first! They do all kind of look like slits, but Buknee pointed out I wasn’t putting enough pressure to tell. That makes sense as to why the picture I took still wasn’t matching up with the other photos of bucks on here.
I’m also so glad the price of oats has gone down a little at my store too. They love them so much, and I’ve been giving my nursing doe a lot. She needs the extra fat. I bet the whole oats are the same as oatmeal to the rabbits!

 

[Juci]

buck. missing two thin red lines on either side of the "hole".

When I was looking on here to find the answer before I posted this I remember seeing you mention the red line thing before. Are the lines like a subtle fold of skin? Or actual lines appearing on the skin? I couldn’t see it but I want to because it seems like a really good trick for telling.
The bunny I was 95% sure was a doe sold last week, or else I would add a photo of her and see if I can see those lines. I’m pretty sure all my other bunnies from this litter are bucks.