Mounting Behavior

[Kerr310]

I found two abandoned bunnies and have decidedto adopt them.They have both been check by a vet and found to be males.One of the males keeps mounting the other one and we are sure the otherrabbit is a boy. Is this normall bunny behavior?:?

 

[Shuu]

It's not a sexual behaviour in this case; it'sdominance. Until both boys are neutered it's probably best to keep themseperated lest they hurt each other in a struggle for authority.

 

[BlueGiants]

Generally speaking, 2 un-neutered males will notbond as close companions. Males mounting each other isusually a dominance issue.

You should consider getting them neutered if you intend to keep themtogether, before this behavior escalates into something that will causeserious harm to one or both of them. Twointact boys will fight.

 

[Kerr310]

They both get along fine and they snuggle andsleep together.It also seems that he only mounts in the evenings therest of the time they love being together. Does this mean would stillbe better off separated.

 

[Shuu]

How old are they? Estimate, if necessary. Theymay just be reaching sexual maturity so that could be why they're stillgetting along.

 

[Kerr310]

I have a relative who has had and still has bunnies and she estimated that they are about 6 years old.

 

[Shuu]

In that case, if you're not going to neuterthem, keep a close eye on them and check at least once a day for bitemarks or any evidence of a fight. Also make sure you have an extraliving space lying arond so if it does per chance happen, there'ssomewhere for one of them to go.

 

[BlueGiants]

If they really are both males and they reallyare that old, it's just a dominance issue. As long as they are notfighting or biting, it's OK... But I would keep a close eye on them.

 

[Kerr310]

Thank you so much, I have never have bunnies before and I really didn't know what was going on or what to do about it!!!

 

[Kerr310]

If I make thier cage lager will that solve minor teritoial issues betwwen my 2 bunnies?:?

 

[naturestee]

It helped with mine. But they weren'treally territorial, just a bit grumpy from being unspayed females in asmallish cage. Now they have tons of room and still mount abit, but don't chase each other any more.

 

[TinysMom]

Kerr310 wrote:

Ihave a relative who has had and still has bunnies and she estimatedthat they are about 6 years old.

Did she say why she felt they were that old? Just curious...

I have two young boys - I loved it when they were little - they'dsnooze together and play together. Then hormones hit....andthey wanted to kill each other (sometimes they still do).So...they are separated.

I tried to introduce Tio to a girl the other day...so he could have afriend. Well - when I tried to break up their fighting - hebit me. I haven't decided yet whether to give him morechances to bond or just let him live alone - I may try to introduce herto Kyo and see what happens.

Anyway - I hope your relative is right about the age. Even atthat age - after seeing males fight, keeping them together would be toorisky for me. I've seen one rabbit almost neutered by anotherone (and that wasn't so much a fight as self-defense as the youngerrabbit mounted the older rabbit and the older rabbit got scared wethink).

Enjoy the rabbits though....I think you'll find them a lot of fun.

Peg

 

[ariel]

Kerr310 I just lastnight read this maybe it might help you.

It is about dominance but it can also be about establishing how to communicate.

I found this very interesting given we have a bunny who has been withus for just under a year and us bringing home new bunnies and trying toget them to be friends.


To quote part of the article "Irealized that the chasing and mounting phase is not just a contest fordominance, as we humans usually assume. It is also a program ofbehavior modification."



http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/bunnies_teaching_bunnies.html