Humping

[Sandy]

Good morning all. I’ve put my two rabbits back together after bonding and I’ve noticed one of them wants to hump the other one. I know this is normal and means she wants to be dominant. My question is, how long does this normally last because Milkshake, the one receiving the humping, does not like it and runs. There has been no fighting but when Pizza gets on her she’s not gental.
Thanks

[Mikey]

Are they both spayed/neutered? What bonding techniques are you using? Theyre not bonded if theyre still trying to figure out their hierarchy, so you shouldnt be leaving them together.

[Sandy]

Yes they are both spayed and i started their bonding in the bathtub, then moved them to a larger space. I did this for over a week and no one fought or even tried to hump. These are sisters and I had them together for the first 2 months i had them, then separated until after spayed. The humping has not been as bad today, i don’t think i seen her do it since this morning. Someone told me as long as they don’t hurt each other to let them do it, do you disagree?

[JackRabbit]

Kindof….they do have to work things out on their own and you should definitely redirect them if they start to show signs of an impending fight, but sometimes you also need to redirect them if one of the buns appears overly stressed.

[Deleted User]

Bonding isn’t just letting them play in the tub together and then in a larger space. They need to be gradually worked up to spending 48 hours+ together without any incidences before you can even think about having them live together. It starts with a 10 minute sessions and working your way up to that 48 hour mark, and they need to be under constant supervision the entire time. They aren’t bonded yet, and still need to be completely separate.

[tobyluv]

How long has it been since their spays? It can take a month or more for the hormones to dissipate, and it’s best not to start bonding while they may still be dealing with their hormones. In any case, it sounds like you need to slow down and you may need to separate them and start over with short bonding sessions, increasing the time period each day. Some humping is normal, but continued humping can be overwhelming and upsetting to the one on the receiving end. You don’t want Milkshake to get depressed, and you don’t want any fighting either.

[Sandy]

They have been spayed over a month now. I’ve had them together for 3 nights now. The humping has decreased but now Milkshake is humping Pizza. They lay together, eat together and I’ve seen them groom each other. I’m in the pen with them right now and Pizza is grooming Milkshakes ear. They are both laying together in their IKEA bed. Do you really think i need to separate them again?

[Deleted User]

It can take up to 6 months for females to drain their hormones. It sounds like the bonding was very rushed and they didnt establish a heirarchy. Keep them separate and go back to the beginning with short 10 minute sessions a few times a day, gradually increasing up to an hour, then 6 hours, then 12 hours, and all the way up to 48 hours. The problem with humping is that it can turn into chasing and fur pulling, which is bad. Bonding requires lots of patience and it takes time.

[Sandy]

Ok thanks.

[Sandy]

When bonding is complete should the humping stop completely and if not how much is normal?

[Deleted User]

they’ll hump every now and then to re-establish dominance, but it won’t be an every day or week occurrence.

[Deleted User]

What are they like in sessions aside from the humping? I know they’re sisters, but bunnies don’t recognize family units. They are just another bunny in each others’ space.

[Sandy]

They act fine together, there hasn’t been any fights. When they are separated they really tear up their houses, they are boxes, try to scratch out of the cage to get to the other one and even chewed holes in the puzzle mat under the sheet. While i had them together, which was a week, none of that happened. Their room has french doors and I’d go out on the deck and look in so they would not know it, and i never saw anything going on. It seems to me the humping happened mostly when i came in the room. They both would run to the gate hoping for food and sometimes one would want to.hump. i just thought since they’ve always been together, even separated by 6 inches, that it would make a difference in knowing each other but I’m learning as i go along. Really appreciate all the help. Hope you don’t mind another question. I’m reading a book on House Rabbits and in one place it says green beans are ok then in other chapter it says no beans. Is green beans ok?

[Deleted User]

Its good that they don’t fight, but do they groom each other when they’re together and sort of mirror each other and generally want to be near each other? Or do they more just do their own thing and sort of ignore each other? Just with the humping, its still better to just play it safe and keep them apart until you’re not really seeing it ever.

They’re unsafe due to causing gas and being a bit harder for a bunny to digest. I guess some people feed, but it just isn’t worth the risk of potential Stasis.

[Sandy]

They were near each other most of the time. I’ve seen them groom each others ears and Pizza liked to put her head under Milkshakes neck and just hold it there. I’ve seen them many times in the Ikea bed together. Too bad you can’t post pictures from your phone or I’d do it.

[Daisy]

Even my 5 months+ bonded couple still humps and chases every now and then, thus I don’t agree that you should wait until you never see it again because you will probably keep seeing it. It’s just a way for the dominant to go “listen here you little $*&!, you’re still mine capiche?”

How often do they hump? If it’s 25% of the time or less I would keep them together permanently, they need to figure it out themselves and you mentioned them getting frustrated when not toghether. Frustration build up can lead to fights and they seem to enjoy each others company from what you wrote. Note that my opinion differs from the rest here, I prefer the once together leave together method whenever possible, which is also a very popular method to use!

[Author]

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