by EmmaleeGW on April 8th, 2005

EmmaleeGW

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How do you tell a rabbit's sex?

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Answers. 18 helpful answers below.

  • by on March 22nd, 2010

    Answerbag Experts

    Great Answer

    Professionally Researched. (What's this?)

    If you've recently adopted a pair of rabbits, determining if the rabbits are male or female is critical. According to House Rabbit Network, "Rabbits should be separated by the time they're three months old, to prevent accidental litters." By performing a careful examination, and recognizing different characteristics of rabbit gender, you may be able to determine if your rabbits are males or females.

    Positioning

    Place the rabbit on its back on your lap with the back legs facing away from you. If you have a larger rabbit, you may prefer to hold the rabbit with the back legs facing towards you. Placing a rabbit on its back will cause the rabbit to enter a semi-conscious state, similar to a trance. Don't leave a rabbit on its back for long periods of time, as this position may cause the rabbit to feel pain.

    If you're just learning how to sex a rabbit, you might want someone else to gently hold the rabbit's head; you'll need to use both hands to part the fur, and gently apply pressure to the sides of the vent, where the genitals and anus are located. As you gain experience, you can hold your rabbit's head with one hand and apply pressure with the other.

    As you're applying pressure to the vent area, you'll see an opening closest to the tail, which is the anus; the opening farthest from the tail is the genitals.

    Males

    Male rabbits have a tube-shaped penis that protrudes from the vent area. In young males, the penis will have a round diameter, with a tiny round opening at the center of the vent, and is a light pink in color. If a male rabbit is older than 10 weeks, his testicles will be visible on each side. Testicles feel like small lumps under the skin and are covered with fur in young males. Male rabbits have the ability to withdraw the testicles into their abdomen, so even if you are unable to feel the testicles, your rabbit might still be a male.

    Females

    Female rabbits have a pink, oval-shaped protrusion from the vent area and have a slit rather than a small round opening.

    Older Rabbits

    As rabbits get older, physical differences between males and females become easier to spot. Males are smaller than females from the same breed and have a head that is more block-shaped. Most medium or large breeds of adult females have a large fold of skin, called a dewlap, underneath their chins. Females have nipples, and males do not, but if your female rabbit has never had a litter, her nipples may be difficult to find. However, even if you can't find your rabbit's nipples, she might still be a female.

    Source:

    Rabbit Network: How To Sex Your Rabbits

    More Information:

    Pet Education: Sexing Rabbits

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  • by Galeanda on January 19th, 2008

    Galeanda

    Especially at younger ages, there are no outward signs of sex in rabbits. Bucks may not show testicles or even a penis until several months old. So you have to be good at 'reading' their genitals. You can sex rabbits as young as a few weeks old if you know what to look for. Unfortunately a lot of people out there don't know the early signs and employees at pet stores haven't a clue how to sex rabbits.

    Instead of trying to explain it to you, here are two websites with photos that will explain it. It's so easy to teach in person but this will have to do. The first link has two links at the bottom for boy and girl. Be sure to look at those:-)

    http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/sexing.shtml

    http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/sexing.htm

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  • by Smoke on January 19th, 2008

    Smoke

    Don't the males have balls?

    I wouldn't know though, I've never looked at a rabbit that close.

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  • by pink_glittery_stuff on April 22nd, 2005

    pink_glittery_stuff

    You have to craddle the rabbit back into your arms or on to your lap, MAKE sure you hold it tight and be carful of its back. Put your index and your middle finger either side of the rabbits middles, And push slightly. If a long tube pops out its a male and with a big slit its a female. If you still cant tell take it to the vets. As i thought my female was a male so i bought anthor male, but thankfully i took it to vets and found one was male and one was female so i had to seperate them untill they were 6 months and got them neutered and spayed. now they are 2 happy bunnies and are 11 months old!

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  • by Ethan Allison on April 13th, 2005

    Ethan Allison

    Check if it has a penis. It'll be there .. or it'll be a girl.

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  • by Siyanor on July 13th, 2009

    Siyanor

    I'd suggest looking for a penis.

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  • by Shatzee coming back? on July 13th, 2009

    Shatzee coming back?

    It can be very tricky as the female rabbits have something that looks like a penis too. http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/sexing.shtml this link has good info on how to determine your bunny's sex.

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  • by on May 4th, 2010

    Answerbag Experts

    Great Answer

    Professionally Researched. (What's this?)

    Males

    Identifying the gender of a rabbit can begin as early as three weeks of age. A male rabbit, known as a buck, generally has a head and body shape that is described as "blocky." Spotting the testicles is easier on a hot day, as they will descend further. On cooler days, the testicles will shrink back toward the body. It is also possible to identify a male rabbit by its personality traits. Males tend to be more curious and interactive, as well as attentive and affectionate. They are also more likely to spray their scent when they feel it is necessary to mark their territory or if they are startled.

    Females

    To physically identify a female rabbit, look for a vertical slit with pink folds of skin in the genital area. A doe will also have four or five pairs of mammary glands and nipples once she matures. Additionally, females generally have a rounder head with a fold of skin, called a dewlap, under the chin. When they are ready to breed, does can become aggressive with their grunts and lunges because their nesting instincts make them territorial. A doe may also use her scent glands to mark her nest.

    Source:

    Rabbit Anatomy

    Sexing Rabbits

    Precious Pet Rabbits

  • by iKnow on July 30th, 2009

    iKnow

    http://www.hopperhome.com/hopperhometoomanyrabbits.htm

    There are also other links at the end of that page to other sites that show pictures to help you.

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  • by Anonymous on November 28th, 2008

    Anonymous

    At young ages (under 3-6 months depending on breed) it is difficult. To tell, turn the rabbit over so you have access under its tail. There will be two openings, the one further back is the anus. Place one finger on either side of the front opening, and press gently. If the result is a distinct pointed organ, often emerging from the opening, the rabbit is male. If the result is more rounded than pointed, the rabbit is female. If the rabbit is to be placed with other rabbits, it would be best to have someone experienced check for you.

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  • by Brian I on March 27th, 2008

    Brian I

    I was going to be facetious and say the ones without willies are female, but then I put my sensible head back on and found that you can find that information here:
    http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/19349

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  • by saiyang on July 8th, 2010

    saiyang

    how to know rabbit's sex

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  • by aiar on April 15th, 2010

    aiar

    ASK THE RABBIT

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  • by danielle9 on November 19th, 2010

    danielle9

    Put it with another rabbit and whichever one has babies a few weeks later is the girl. hahaha :)

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  • by solsticexcorona on June 28th, 2011

    solsticexcorona

    Look at its privates. It doesnt lay eggs you know.

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  • by (,,,)(-.-)(,,,) on April 15th, 2010

    (,,,)(-.-)(,,,)

    To tell it's gender you have to use the same technique for a dog which is by looking under them but for a rabbit you may have to look closer. A guy on a farm showed my the sex of a rabbit by pressing down on its groin which caused it's private part to show.

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  • by egrdog on November 29th, 2005

    egrdog

    If you see the balls you know definitely its a male. but not seeing them doesn't mean its not a male because when its colder he will tuck them up and you can't see them.

    **And note, the other person described it well how to sex them, was just adding on**

  • by armygirl on September 23rd, 2008

    armygirl

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You're reading How do you tell a rabbit's sex? - which can also be phrased in the following ways:

  • How can you tell the sex of a Rabbit??..
  • How do I tell the sex of a rabbit?
  • How do you sex a baby rabbit
  • How do you know the difference between a male or a femal rabbit?
  • How do you tell the diffrence between a female and a male bunny
  • How do you tell if you rabbit is a boy or a girl?
  • I just got a new rabbit today and itis from germany it looks like it is perfectly healthy but i dont no if it is a boy or girl... i need your help!
  • How to tell if your rabbit is agirl or a boy ? website please other than www.rabbitnetwork.org
  • How to tell if your rabbit is agirl or a boy ? website please
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  • How do you tell the sex of a rabbit? And how old?
  • How do I tell the difference between a male& female rabbit?

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