|
||||||||
Rabbits Humping |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
Rabbits Humping
I have 2 male rabbits I've had them since they were 3months old they are now 6yrs old I got them neutered at around 7months old because one would always hump the other ones head & chase him around for ages so I figured it was the best thing to do, after that they never humped each other ever always were very calm always used their litter tray.
Recently I have noticed a change in their behavior they have stopped using their litter tray they pee everywhere & one of them has started to hump the other one he chases him around for ages until he gets hold of him bites on to him then doesn't let go sometimes they even get into a nasty fight it's so hard & upsetting seeing them behaving like this when they have been good friends for 6yrs I have never seen them fight like this before. What is causing them to behave like this? Is there anything I can do to make them stop? |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
|
Really strange, because that's the sort of behaviour you get if you don't get them fixed. The fact that they were fixed years ago and have happily lived together until now would tell me they've simply fallen out. That's the problem with keeping more than one, there are no guarantees they will be friends for life, they can take a sudden dislike to one another or fall out completely, even if they've been fine up to that point. Their not robots, their animals and they can dislike another animal just as a person can dislike another person.
Have you got space to keep two separate rabbits? As if they were mine I would be separating them completely. They've fallen out badly and fighting, your not going to be able to do anything with them, because the solution for fighting is to get them fixed and pair them back together, which you can't do because its already been done so the only option is to split them up. Leaving them together is no good, fighting rabbits can do a great deal of damage to each other and vet bills for them aren't cheap. It's also not fair on the one who is getting jumped on. I would split them up, maybe put the run next to each other (not touching as they can bite each other through the bars/mesh) so they can just see each other and leave it at that. You should find that they calm down again once the anxiety from one and the hostility from the other is no longer there, and their litter training should also return as they've no reason to be territorial. If it doesn't, try moving them to completetly separate spaces from each other, if they've fallen out that badly and can still see or smell each other it will still wind them up. If they seem unhappy alone, you can try very carefully, wearing thick gloves! to put them back together, but at the slightest bit of aggression separate them back again instantly and don't try it again. Just give them some toys and extra attention yourself instead .
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,022
|
I know they have a rep for being cute and cuddly but I have a friend who likes the smaller furry animals guinea pigs rodents and rabbits etc. They are actually quite aggressive. Even when neutered.
I agree with the above poster keep them separate. I know one guy who ended up giving a rabbit away rather than keep two. He ended up giving it to my mate. |
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
They don't fight all the time it's only when one tries humping the other one the one that's trying to get away will sometimes fight back because he obviously doesn't like it then they get into a fight. The humping is causing the problem. When they are calm & one is not trying to hump the other one they get on fine like normal.
They have gone 2 days without a fight or humping so fingers crossed it was just a one off disagreement they had or something. I really don't want to separate them I think the humping is what was causing the fights & not because they hate each other all of a sudden. I keep my rabbits indoors they have a whole room just to themselves & are never locked up in a hutch or cage so I was shocked to see such happy rabbits all of a sudden become out of character. |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,022
|
Quote:
I keep my rabbits indoors they have a whole room just to themselves & are never locked up in a hutch or cage so I was shocked to see such happy rabbits all of a sudden become out of character. ![]() It's probably just a one off thing. It's probably one was feeling out of sorts just that day. Animals just sometimes have little spats now and again. |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
|
Quote:
They don't fight all the time it's only when one tries humping the other one the one that's trying to get away will sometimes fight back because he obviously doesn't like it then they get into a fight. The humping is causing the problem. When they are calm & one is not trying to hump the other one they get on fine like normal.
They have gone 2 days without a fight or humping so fingers crossed it was just a one off disagreement they had or something. I really don't want to separate them I think the humping is what was causing the fights & not because they hate each other all of a sudden. I keep my rabbits indoors they have a whole room just to themselves & are never locked up in a hutch or cage so I was shocked to see such happy rabbits all of a sudden become out of character. . I hope you can keep them together, but if they start or continue to fight they really would be better apart for them and you. Good luck with them .
|
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
I think I know what was causing the problem, my rabbits have been living happily together for 6yrs & if you have two rabbits living together you will always get one that is dominant & one that is for a better word a pushover that's how a rabbit pair works in Harmony, they know their place and hierarchy the dominant one always gets the food first & gets groomed by the pushover one & he his happy to be a pushover if it means he has an easy life by not getting attacked or humped by the dominant one.
What I noticed was that the pushover rabbit was the one doing the humping he was trying to gain top position & the other one was not giving his top spot up easy male rabbits hump each other as a way of showing their dominance. I think after getting humped for the 100th time the dominant rabbit has given up & now the roles have reversed as the humping & fighting has stopped. 6yrs of being a pushover he finally had enough I guess lol |
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
|
Quote:
I think I know what was causing the problem, my rabbits have been living happily together for 6yrs & if you have two rabbits living together you will always get one that is dominant & one that is for a better word a pushover that's how a rabbit pair works in Harmony, they know their place and hierarchy the dominant one always gets the food first & gets groomed by the pushover one & he his happy to be a pushover if it means he has an easy life by not getting attacked or humped by the dominant one.
What I noticed was that the pushover rabbit was the one doing the humping he was trying to gain top position & the other one was not giving his top spot up easy male rabbits hump each other as a way of showing their dominance. I think after getting humped for the 100th time the dominant rabbit has given up & now the roles have reversed as the humping & fighting has stopped. 6yrs of being a pushover he finally had enough I guess lol .
|
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
I think if it had been any new rabbit fighting for his top spot he wouldn't have given it up so easily but because it was his buddy he gave in, even when they did have one nasty fight it was more like he was annoyed & trying to push the other one off him because he was getting humped not because he wanted to actually harm him.
They have been fine for last few days now my bedroom is next door to their room & I haven't heard any fighting or stomping etc although I do think the dominant one is a bit pissed he lost his top spot everytime I go to see them they are sleeping miles apart from each other when before they would cuddle up |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: France
Posts: 3,592
|
When there's an upset between two happy bunnies, it can be one just feeling bolshie but if the dominant and not dominant start regularly trying to reverse roles, it might (only might) mean that the previously top bun isn't well and the other bun is trying to dominate - or even to drive the other bun away. This can happen if an older bun is dominant but age takes its toll... the other bun may try and reverse the hierarchy.
But also, as they are prey animals, an ill bun may be driven out by healthy bun/s to protect the warren from disease and also to be predated. If it happens again, bear in mind you may be getting an advance warning of an unwell bun... being prey animals, they hide their symptoms but a bonded bun is always going to pick up on signals faster than even an exceptionally knowledgeable and observant human. As you say their behaviour is not totally back to normal (now sleeping apart) I'd try and keep an eye on previously dominant bun's food intake and quality of droppings. But more likely you are just seeing a bunny spat - my two do that occasionally with much chasing but they don't do each other damage. I'm touching wood, now...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Some Where Only I Know
Posts: 5,678
|
I don't know it's difficult isn't it. Find extra space is always an issue and having to re home, after how long you have had them bot of course you want to avoid.
I have only ever kept pairs, with neutered male with a female. |
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
I never thought about that the fact the dominant bunny might be feeling unwell that's why he gave in to the humping & that's why the submissive bunny saw his opportunity to take the top spot. Maybe he knew the dominant one won't put up as much of a fight. The dominant bunny did look a bit sorry for himself after getting chased & humped but he seems to be eating & drinking like normal only thing I have noticed is he feels slightly lighter He's always been the smaller out of the two but he definitely has lost weight compared to the other one he is chubby maybe he is eating all the food.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: France
Posts: 3,592
|
If you think he's losing weight then I'd take him to the vet - assuming you've got a good one that properly understands rabbits.
In the meantime, perhaps you can separate them for feeding (assuming they don't just graze throughout the day) to check his food intake and whether he's chewing comfortably. Has he ever had dental problems? If you take him to the vet, perhaps take the other one too so they're united in adversity (in the carrier) and the one that may have a problem isn't the only one to end up smelling of the vet. If he goes by himself, when he's reintroduced to his buddy in the room, he may smell 'wrong' and buddy may be aggressive. Good luck, hope it's just a passing blip but I would be concerned if bun is losing weight. |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,022
|
I came for an update on the bunny situation!
Maybe try feeding them separately. Would it be possible or awkward to do that? |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 546
|
The dominant bunny has had tummy problems before but I think that was down to gas when he would eat broccoli so I stopped giving him that, he would hunch up & just sit there not eat or drink for a couple of hours which is unusual for rabbits because they are always munching on hay, I have taken him to the vets about this when he was younger the vet felt his tummy couldn't find anything wrong she said just keep an eye on him but after a few hours he would spring back to himself again he also liked having his tummy rubbed because I think that helped but I noticed the days I gave him broccoli he would get a tummy ache but the other one had no problems with broccoli.
I let them graze on hay all day, I know he is still excited about food because as soon as he hears the hay bag rustling he comes running over all excited I give them nuggets separately & he still eating those fine as well. I'm surprised he was the dominant one in the first place as he is the smaller out of the two & is the more shy & timid one |
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Another time, another place..
Posts: 24,629
|
How are your bunnies BG?
If their both hungry and happy waiting for food but one is getting lighter, the more dominant of the two is probably stopping him getting any food, or only letting him have the leftovers! Dominant animals always get the best cut of the food and first choice of it. Try feeding them separately to make sure both get a chance to eat the same thing undisturbed. If one is taking everything it will help the quieter one to relax too knowing the other one isn't going to come along and pinch all his dinner. If you've got a horse supplies store near you get some barley rings. Rabbits love them and their very good at bulking up ones that are a bit on the thin side. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 9,096
|
Im not a rabbit expert but im pretty sure 85% of their brain is devoted to telling the rabbit brain owner to hump like theres no tomorrow.
Therefore ensuring another humping rabbitness. They are hard wired to hump. That's what they do. |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 10:49.


.
. I hope you can keep them together, but if they start or continue to fight they really would be better apart for them and you. Good luck with them