It can be difficult to find the sex of a rabbit that is a few days old. You can attempt it at a younger age, but to definitively find the sex of your rabbits, wait until they are at least 4 weeks old.
If you are still not confident, you can ask your veterinary clinic for help. Take your rabbits to your local veterinarian for help if necessary. [3] X Research source Harcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.
Tell her to use one hand to grasp the rabbit’s scruff and use her other hand to scoop under his rump. She should then lift and turn the rabbit onto his back. Lay the rabbit with his head towards her stomach and tail on the edge of her knees. This will give you easy access to the genital area. [4] X Research source Harcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001. You may want to wear gloves since you are going to be touching a rabbit’s genital regions. It is more hygienic as well as safer. You may unintentionally spread the disease to the rabbit or to your other rabbits if you don’t. [5] X Research source
Once you have flipped your rabbit, place it between the arm holding the head and your body and let go of the rump. Your rabbit should be secure in one arm. You can also lay the rabbit on a low table. Gently but firmly hold them at all times. Make sure the table is low enough that, if the rabbit squirms enough to get away, jumping off the table won’t injure him. [6] X Research source
If he starts to squirm too much, try to sooth him by talking to him and petting him. You don’t want him to get hurt while you are working. [7] X Research source
The scrotum can be covered in fur, so you may need to dampen the fur in this area with water to make the testicles clearer to see. Testicles can usually be detected from 10 weeks of age. Before this age, they can be tiny and hard to spot reliably. However, no matter the rabbit’s age, it’s easy to check before you look for the penis. In a well-developed adult male rabbit, the answer will be obvious because you can spot his testicles right away. [8] X Research source Harcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001. If you don’t spot testicles straight away, be aware that frightened rabbits can pull their testicles into the abdomen and make them disappear. Talk to the rabbit, stroke his side, and see if you can encourage him to relax. Then check a second time. If you still don’t see them, it is inconclusive. Check the genital openings instead. [9] X Research source
The genital opening is the one farthest from the tail. Apply gentle pressure with a finger and thumb on either side of the opening. If the rabbit is female, you will see a slit-like structure, commonly described as a letter I. If the rabbit is male you will see a round structure, which can be described as an O. The opening closest to the tail is the anus. This is identical in both males and females. If you look closely, you can check it is the anus by watching for the muscular winking of the anal ring. [10] X Research source [11] X Research source
If a penis is present, it will sometimes protrude and become more obvious as a tube-like structure. If a vulva is present, the lips tend to peel back in a petal shape. [12] X Research source
If a penis is present, it will sometimes protrude and become more obvious as a tube-like structure. If a vulva is present, the lips tend to peel back in a petal shape. [12] X Research source
If a penis is present, it will sometimes protrude and become more obvious as a tube-like structure. If a vulva is present, the lips tend to peel back in a petal shape. [12] X Research source
Always check the rabbit’s genitalia to be completely sure of the sex of your rabbit. [13] X Research source Harcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.
If you have multiple rabbits, you can take them at the same time.
