How to Accurately Sex a Rabbit

You just brought a new rabbit home, but have no idea if it’s a male or female. How are you supposed to come up with a super cute name now? And how can you know if it’s okay to put your new furry friend with other bunnies? Fortunately, determining the sex of your rabbit is a fairly simple process. You just need to know what exactly you’re supposed to be looking for. This article will walk you through the process of examining your bunny to tell its gender, and hopefully you’ll have an answer by the time you’re done reading.

1

Flip the rabbit on its back.

Download Article

If you’re checking a rabbit by yourself, place your index finger between the rabbit's ears and grasp the base of its head with your thumb on one side and your other three fingers on the other. With your other hand, cradle its rump and scoop the rabbit up so it’s lying on its back.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Once you’ve flipped your rabbit, place it between the arm holding the head and your body. Then, let go of it’s rump so that it’s sitting securely in one arm.
- Another option is to lay the rabbit down on a low table. Gently but firmly hold your rabbit 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 it.

2

Find the genital region.

Download Article

To identify the sex of your rabbit, examine the rabbit's external genitalia. While it’s on its back, part the fur between its legs. Gently hold it in place while you part the fur with one hand. Both male and female rabbits have a pink, figure eight-shaped bump between their back legs called the “vent.” This is where their genitals will be.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If your rabbit starts to squirm too much, soothe it by talking to it and petting it gently. Rabbits can possibly injure themselves trying to escape, so do your best to keep your furry friend calm and relaxed.

3

Look for testicles on male rabbits.

Download Article

A male rabbit’s testicles are visible on the outside of its bodies. These are located in between its hind legs on either side of the vent. Rabbit testicles are long and narrow, rather than round like you might see on a dog. Look for two torpedo-shaped bulges, one on either side below the skin. They are usually slightly furry and purple in color.^{[3]XResearch sourceHarcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.}
- The scrotum can be covered by 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 most clearly seen starting from 10 weeks of age. Before this age, they can be tiny and harder to spot.
- In a well-developed adult male rabbit, the answer will be obvious because you can spot his testicles right away.
- If a male rabbit is frightened, it can pull its testicles into the abdomen and make them disappear. Talk to the rabbit softly and gently stroke its side to encourage it to relax before trying to check again.^{[4]XResearch source}

4

Check the genital openings to see if it’s an “I” shape or “O” shape.

Download Article

To locate this opening, gently part the fur between the back legs until you find the vent. The vent contains the opening to the anus as well as the reproductive tract. To see it more clearly, use your fingers to apply gentle pressure on either side, which opens up the area and makes things clearer to see.^{[5]XResearch source}^{[6]XResearch 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’ll see a slit-like shape, commonly described as looking like the letter “I”. If the rabbit is male you’ll see a round structure, which can be described as an “O” shape.
- The opening closest to the tail is the anus. This is identical in both males and females. If you look closely, you can check if it’s the anus by watching for the muscular contractions of the anal ring.

5

Double check to look for the penis or vulva.

Download Article

If you want to be extra sure, or if you can’t distinguish between the “I” and the “O”, take another look to check for the penis or vulva. Apply gentle pressure at the base of the opening, pushing gently towards the rabbit's back. 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.^{[7]XResearch source}

6

Sex your rabbit by looking at their genitals rather than their physical appearance.

Download Article

There are some people that say you can tell the sex of a rabbit by looking at its physical characteristics. Although mature adult male rabbits can have a heavier skull than female rabbits, this is not a reliable way to sex a rabbit. Instead, always check the rabbit's genitalia to be completely sure of the sex of your rabbit.^{[8]XResearch sourceHarcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.}
- Unfortunately, a rabbit’s external physical characteristics, such as the size and shape, aren’t distinctive enough between the sexes to make this useful when determining the sex of your rabbit.

7

Take the rabbit to the vet for verification.

Download Article

Checking your rabbit's sex at home is usually effective. If it’s important that you know the sex of your rabbit for breeding or other purposes, take your rabbit to your vet and get a professional’s verification.
- If you have multiple rabbits, you can take them at the same time.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question
Do male rabbits bite the female while mating?
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Expert Answer
It's quite common for a male rabbit to grab a mouthful of the female's fur in order to latch on during mating. Some males are more aggressive than others, but as a rule they don't break the skin and it looks worse than it really is.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 37 Helpful 92
Question
I have a female rabbit but noticed a pink sack hanging between her back legs. How can I be certain of my rabbit's gender without turning her over?
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Expert Answer
You need to clearly see the area between the rabbit's back legs, so turning the rabbit over is a basic part of doing this. Try covering the rabbit's head with a towel, and picking her up with the towel wrapped around her. Do this while sitting on the floor and then if she wriggles she won't fall and hurt herself.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn
Yes No
Not Helpful 28 Helpful 78

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Have a helper hold the rabbit so it’s lying on its back. Have your helper sit in a chair and tell them to use one hand to grasp the rabbit's scruff and use their other hand to scoop under its rump. Then, have them lift and turn the rabbit onto its back. Lay the rabbit with its head towards your helper’s stomach and tail on the edge of their knees. This will give you easy access to the genital area.^{[9]XResearch sourceHarcourt-Brown, Frances. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0
For the sake of hygiene and safety, wear gloves when you go about touching a rabbit's genital regions.^{[10]XResearch source}
Thanks
Helpful0 Not Helpful0
Cover your helper’s lap with a towel in case your rabbit urinates.
Thanks
Helpful1 Not Helpful0