My rabbits have swapped roles and i'm worried!

[Nicky T]

Hey guys, we've had Pudding (boy) for about 6 months and then got Poppet (girl)about a month ago. He has always humped her - and i don't think he will ever stop!! But all ofa sudden she has started humping him-Pudding doesn't like it and then they start to chase each other-i'm worried it will turn into a fight. They love each other normally-licking each other and stuff but lately Pudding seems a little down and I think she's taking advantage! Does anyone know if this is normal and if I should worry?!

Thanks guys.

 

[Flashy]

How old are they both? Are they both spayed and neutered? Healthy? Any other different behaiour? Has anything changed in their world at all? Like new additions to the house? Moving their home?

 

[Sweetie]

My female rabbit, Sweetie will hump my boy rabbit, Prince all the time. I think that it is to get him to hump her but I am not sure. I think that it is normal, again I am not sure about this!

 

[Bunnymom,K]

Are they spayed and neutered?
Rabbits as with many animals will mount each other as an attempt to gain dominance and out of excitement. Has anything changed in their environment lately?

 

[Maureen Las]

Poppet may be growing older ( if she was a baby) and better able to set limits

 

[Sweetie]

Prince is neutered, Sweetie will be spayed hopefully this month. Maybe Nicky T's rabbits are not fixed yet. Nicky T: are your rabbits spayed/neutered?

 

[Nicky T]

My rabbits are both spayed/neutered and they're about 1. We introduced poppet about a month ago-that's the only change but Pudding has always humped her! I just wasn't sure if to worry as they have swapped roles and Pudding seems a little down in the dumps! Thanks guys.

 

[Flashy]

It is possible that Pudding is ill and Poppet is using that to gain dominance over him, so it might be worth carefully checking him and maybe getting him checked out.

Another possibility is the weather. even neutered and spayed rabbits get the 'spring' feeling and it seems to be triggered by the nice weather. We've obviosuly had some of that recently so that might have triggered her. It does seem to be a problem time of year for many pairs/trios, etc, of rabbits, because it brings out different behaviour from the norm. I would guess she will probably be most likely to do it at dusk and dawn. If Pudding is healthy, yet grumpy about it, then it may be worth looking for ways to temporarily separate them (but keep them next to each other) when she is in that mood.

 

[Nicky T]

Thanks everyone-this is my first post-I can't believe what a great response you get! It's so nice to know that there are people out there who can advise-I feel stupid running off to the vets every 2 mins! It's just strange as Puddy has always binkied and seemed really happy but over the last couple of weeks he's really subdued-we did have them vaccinated a couple of weeks ago so maybe that's making him feel a little poorly? I'll keep my eye on them though-thanks for the advice. x

 

[Flashy]

The vaccination should maybe have an effect for a week minimum. It could potentially be something like molar spurs which maybe are uncomfortable but currently not agony, or it could be a horrendous moult making him feel rough, or something completely different. Definitely worth watchingt them. It does sound like its more than spring behaviour if you are seeing such a change in Puddy.

 

[tonyshuman]

It could be an illness making the formerly dominant one less strong, but I've seen it happen with totally healthy bunnies as well. My Tony is a bossy bunny. We had a hard time getting him a buddy as he was too rude to all the bunnies he met and they didn't like it. Muffin, however, let him hump all over her and didn't mind. She groomed him and asked for nothing in return. She was such a sweet, giving girl.

Then, we got her home and after several months she stopped being so scared of everything. She had been a momma bunny in bad circumstances without proper food and housing, and eventually she learned what it was to be happy, have a nice boyfriend that didn't want to make you have babies, and not have to fight for food with your own grown kits. She started demanding some grooming from Tony. She started humping him to show him who was boss.

Now, he acts like an apron-whipped hus-bun about 75% of the time, although he does get lots of kisses from Muffin. If anyone's humping, it's Muffin, and she does it whenever they're in a new place to establish dominance. It could just be that Poppet is becoming more herself, and asserting herself more.

 

[Nicky T]

Thank you-it's nice to know that it might just be behaviour rather than an illness! I worry TOO much about them! My Husband's panicky about having kids because of how I am with the rabbits! It's just weird to see Pudding being dominated-i thoroughly checked them out last night and they seem fine health wise-they're eating, drinking and pooping so seems ok-i'll keep an eye on them. I'm hoping Poppet too will become less nervous-we had her from a rescue about a month ago and she's frightened of EVERYTHING! x

 

[tonyshuman]

Nicky T wrote:

I'm hoping Poppet too will become less nervous-we had her from a rescue about a month ago and she's frightened of EVERYTHING! x

This sounds exactly like Muffin when we first got her. It took several months for her to warm up to us, but she eventually did. :biggrin2: