Colonies-- making friends

[ellie ember]

Hello! My husband and I are seriously considering turning our hutch rabbits into colony rabbits. One question we have is-- how do you put does and bucks in a colony together without territorial wars and fights? Thanks!

 

[ladysown]

generally you'd start with a single doe and buck and her female offspring, or a bunch of younger rabbits. Trick is to have enough space for them all to run around and hide. You need sufficient hidey holes that they can get out of the line of sight of anyone they need to. DO NOT overcrowd the area.

 

[Robochelle]

Also, even when thoroughly colonized, you need to check on each rabbit often, to ensure they are not being bitten too often. It's fine to have a scab here and there, it's an unavoidable part of establishing dominance hierarchy, but a bunch of bite scars on the butt means that that bunny is not suited for colony life.

 

[Preitler]

I had 2 mother daughter tandems inb seperate hutches, when one was alone I gave them to opurtunity to meet up in the big garden, when I saw them hanging out together I connected the hutches with a tunnel. Did work fine.

Usually I have 4 does, don't have scabs or fights. Some humping now and then, but that's it. I think a structured space helps where they can claim one part or get out of each others eyes when they feel like it.

Bucks, no idea. If I want all bred he can spend the day in the garden with them for three weeks, otherwise he has his seperate hutch. Never tried something with multiple bucks.

 

[judymac]

Multiple bucks in a colony can be a problem. I have had multi-buck colonies, and eventually had to separate the boys. As has been said, check the rabbits often for signs of fighting. A few dominance skirmishes are expected, but more vigorous fighting can be an issue. Some rabbits will love colony living, others will not be thrilled with sharing their space. Keep the rabbits that do well in the colony, and eventually you'll have a line that doe well in the new situation.

 

[MsTemeraire]

Bucks, no idea. If I want all bred he can spend the day in the garden with them for three weeks, otherwise he has his seperate hutch. Never tried something with multiple bucks.

The orphaned litter I hand-raised two years ago was 4 bucks and one doe... as the mother died of suspected RHDV (I lost a few others as well) I was in 'bunny quarantine' for 4 months, and the question arose, "What do I do with 4 bucks once they all hit puberty?" Being in quarantine meant I couldn't sell them and they had to remain here until the 4 months was up. I decided to have three of the bucks castrated as soon as the testicles appeared, which was at around 13 weeks.

Two of the boys went to someone else after quarantine and have remained very happy together (and live with another castrated buck). I kept one boy entire, and he has stayed living with his neutered brother. I sometimes find bits of fur where he has been 'riding' his castrated companion and the latter can look a bit untidy on the shoulders but apart from that they are a stable and bonded pair despite one still being entire. At some point I will have him castrated as well. At the moment he is the only buck I have left of his breed, which is a rare one, so finding another buck is not an easy task.