Help! My boy bunny keeps humping sr bunny and she's in distress

[katcepeda]

Hi! My two elder rabbits both spayed/neutered were once bonded. She is 11 and he is 7. A year ago she developed glaucoma in both eyes and a repository infection, she wanted nothing to do with him and would bite him viciously. He has stayed away from her for over a year. This past week something has come over him and he constantly has been jumping over her fence and trying to to hump her. Each time I take him out, he jumps right back in, tears up her area and dumps her water bowl and tries to hump her. He has also started thumping until he gets back in. He is fixated on her. She is blind and is most likely in pain from her glaucoma in both eyes. She is now too weak and feeble to defend herself. She needs to rest and you can see she is in distress. The only thing that is different is that his bun dad has been away for 3 weeks. Bun dad hardly interacts with him as he mainly gives attention to our 3rd bun who is handicapped. I don't know what else could have sparked this new behavior in him. Please help!

 

[JBun]

It could be 'spring fever', where even fixed rabbits can have increased hormonal behavior due to the season. It usually only lasts a few weeks.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/hormonal-behaviour-in-neutered-rabbits/
Increased and excessive hormonal behavior in fixed rabbits can also sometimes be caused by adrenal issues. If it doesn't clear up in a few weeks(due to spring fever), worsens, or you have any concerns, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet right away.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Adrenal_disease
https://rabbit.org/journal/4-10/sexhormones.html
https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/
In the meantime, to better protect your girl bun from his harrassment, I would suggest a higher barrier if he's jumping over, or ziptie cardboard to his pen if he's climbing over(smooth surface prevents climbing). But also the cardboard is to block his view of your girl bun. It will help reduce his anxiety and sexual frustration if he can't see her.

 

[katcepeda]

It could be 'spring fever', where even fixed rabbits can have increased hormonal behavior due to the season. It usually only lasts a few weeks.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/hormonal-behaviour-in-neutered-rabbits/
Increased and excessive hormonal behavior in fixed rabbits can also sometimes be caused by adrenal issues. If it doesn't clear up in a few weeks(due to spring fever), worsens, or you have any concerns, it's best to consult with a knowledgeable rabbit vet right away.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Adrenal_disease
https://rabbit.org/journal/4-10/sexhormones.html
https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/
In the meantime, to better protect your girl bun from his harrassment, I would suggest a higher barrier if he's jumping over, or ziptie cardboard to his pen if he's climbing over(smooth surface prevents climbing). But also the cardboard is to block his view of your girl bun. It will help reduce his anxiety and sexual frustration if he can't see her.

Thank you for the advice. This guy is an Olympic jumper (j.k.) and he's able to clear high places such as the dining room table. I've tried blocking the gate with everything I can find, boxes, electric guitar, sweep and he still manages to climb it. I've closed the gate downstairs for now as it's the only thing that keeps him away. Hoping Spring Fever dies down soon! :-\

 

[Jocee]

If you have something big enough you could maybe put something over top of his pen, Maybe.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Raise the wall or cover the pen.