Doe or Buck?

Oh, if I had a dollar for every e-mail I got asking how to sex a rabbit, I'd be wealthier than Bill Gates! LOL. Just kidding. But seriously, this is a very common problem with newbie rabbit owners and breeders. Just how do you determine what gender your rabbit is? Well, I'm going to explain!

First of all, let's get some terms out of the way:

Buck - Male Rabbit             Doe - Female Rabbit

It's not a "girl" or a "boy" - it's Doe and Buck. Whether you're a pet owner, 4-Her or a breeder, please, learn to use the proper terminology.

The sex organs are located down between the hind legs in the vent area. You'll need to flip your rabbit over in order to get a good view. Once the rabbit is on its back, either on a carpeted table, or nestled on your lap, locate the vent area. It will be above the tail, between the hind legs.

The genitals are hidden between two folds of skin. With your forefinger and thumb, separate the skin towards the head and tail and apply pressure to make the genitals pop out. You'll see the anus and the sex organs (either a penis or a vagina) right above it.

So - now that you've found the right "area" and you can see something sticking out, which is which?

A buck will resemble a tube and a doe will resemble a loop or a slit. As the animals mature, the sex organs will change somewhat in appearance.

Testicles are evident in the older bucks. Normally the testicles will drop at 4-5 months for small breeds and 6-8 months for larger breeds. Granted, sometimes you will get a buck who only drops one testicle, or doesn't drop at all. This isn't common, but it can happen - so don't rely on them when determining the sex of your rabbit.

Article written by Mindy Borer
Rabbit Registrar #RR473
www.TranquilAcresRabbitry.com