Fur everywhere.. fighting/humping?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 15sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by radiatorbunny12.

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- 02/06/2017 at 3:01 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Sorry, I feel like I’m always making posts now! I think I have my rabbits sussed and then… Wasn’t sure if this should be in bonding or behaviour so popped it here.
  
  So my bunnies have been bonded for almost three weeks, the male is almost 6 months and was neutered almost two months ago, and my female is about 3 and was spayed over a year ago.
  
  So he stills humps her a bit, not often at all, I’ve noticed it once every 4 days or something along those lines? He does it when he’s a bit excited, I’m guessing. She turns her butt away from him, doesn’t like it at all but is never aggressive and still loves him after. Sometimes when he gets on he pulls a tiny patch of fur out from his grip, no blood, doesn’t seem to hurt her and she is very fluffy so there is no evidence of it on her, just on the ground.
  
  Well today I woke up to fur everywhere, about 9/10 little patches of fur around the pen. They are cuddling together now but I really don’t know what to do. I did give them their breakfast an hour late but they had hay and toys.
  
  Please please please someone give me a hand with this, would hate to split them up but why is he still humping and does this fur mean a fight? The girl seems to be dominant but they both groom each other quite a lot.
  
  …
  
  Ok he just tried it there whilst I was with them and was honking and then I picked him up after he’d done it for about 10 seconds and he had an erection I did not know this could happen after neutering. He definitely has no balls.
- 02/06/2017 at 3:31 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I’m no expert so take what I say with a pinch of salt but I would think if they had actually had a full on fight, there would be blood and they probably wouldn’t be laying with one another!
  
  That said, it’s possible they had a bit of a scrap, maybe he tried humping her and she told him to back off. It’s normal for them to have a little disagreement now and then, I mean they live together 24/7! It does sound like quite a lot of fur though. I would keep an eye on them all day if you can, possibly sleep with them tonight and if nothing happens, I think it’s safe to assume that it was just a scuffle and they’ve sorted it out themselves
- 02/06/2017 at 3:52 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Thanks
- 02/06/2017 at 3:59 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Now he keeps trying to hump her :/
- 02/06/2017 at 3:59 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Now he keeps trying to hump her :/
- 02/06/2017 at 4:20 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Hmm, has anything changed in their environment? A new hidey house or toy perhaps?
  
  (Just realised toy autocorrected to Roy )
- 02/06/2017 at 5:27 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 2/06/2017 4:20 AM
  
  Hmm, has anything changed in their environment? A new hidey house or Roy perhaps?
  
  Nothing at all :/ And I’m not sure whether it’s even a dominance thing because he grooms her a lot. Very confused!
- 02/06/2017 at 5:52 AM
  narkut
  Participant
  48 posts
  Hi, they say it takes a few weeks for a males hormones to settle after being neutered but that definitely wasn’t the case with my Duke. His hormones were all over the place for a few months. As soon as that seemed to settle he’s now fighting with Lady (female) over dominance by doing what your male bunny is doing. Lady is the dominant one so I’ve been told that Duke is acting like this because he has not yet accepted his position in the hierarchy. The advice I was given was to wait for them to sort it out themselves, do nothing and only intervene if they hurt each other. I haven’t seen any blood or scratches so I’ve left them to it to work out their dominance issues. I’s been over 3 months now and they still randomly chase each other and have the odd humping session, but it’s all in between snuggling and grooming. (Strange)
  
  The advice I was given seems to be fitting for you too. Your male could either be hormonal or fighting for dominance (or both), either way don’t separate unless it gets dangerous for them both or if one because petrified of the other. Keep an eye on them and it should hopefully settle down naturally. Good luck!
- 02/06/2017 at 6:01 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By forgotmylastone on 2/06/2017 5:27 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 2/06/2017 4:20 AM
  
  Hmm, has anything changed in their environment? A new hidey house or Roy perhaps?
  
  Nothing at all :/ And I’m not sure whether it’s even a dominance thing because he grooms her a lot. Very confused!
  
  Hmm, saying that; my little Peanut sometimes tries to hump Buttercup but they both groom each other A LOT. I think he’s just trying his luck sometimes lol.
  
  Does your girl groom him back?
- 02/06/2017 at 7:47 AM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  It sounds like theyre not cemented in their bond yet and are still working it out. Usually in a cemented bond, both rabbits groom one another. If he humps her a lot and she doesnt like it, you might have to start finding way to get him to cut it out before the fight escalates and you are not there
  
  All fur pulling should be treated as dangerous as rabbits have thin skin that can easily dry out or rip. Its good there is no blood, but that doesnt stop the possibility their skin will start to flake and dry. Keep checking them over every few days to be sure. Fur everywhere usually singals circling which is usually done prefight
- 02/06/2017 at 8:22 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Ah yes, I hadn’t even thought of that ^ ^ Definitely check your bunnies over to make sure their skin is okay!
- 02/06/2017 at 9:31 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Posted By narkut on 2/06/2017 5:52 AM
  
  Hi, they say it takes a few weeks for a males hormones to settle after being neutered but that definitely wasn’t the case with my Duke. His hormones were all over the place for a few months. As soon as that seemed to settle he’s now fighting with Lady (female) over dominance by doing what your male bunny is doing. Lady is the dominant one so I’ve been told that Duke is acting like this because he has not yet accepted his position in the hierarchy. The advice I was given was to wait for them to sort it out themselves, do nothing and only intervene if they hurt each other. I haven’t seen any blood or scratches so I’ve left them to it to work out their dominance issues. I’s been over 3 months now and they still randomly chase each other and have the odd humping session, but it’s all in between snuggling and grooming. (Strange)
  
  The advice I was given seems to be fitting for you too. Your male could either be hormonal or fighting for dominance (or both), either way don’t separate unless it gets dangerous for them both or if one because petrified of the other. Keep an eye on them and it should hopefully settle down naturally. Good luck!
  
  Yes that seems exactly like my situation! Thanks for the advice.
- 02/06/2017 at 9:34 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 2/06/2017 6:01 AM
  
  Posted By forgotmylastone on 2/06/2017 5:27 AM
  
  Posted By sarahthegemini on 2/06/2017 4:20 AM
  
  Hmm, has anything changed in their environment? A new hidey house or Roy perhaps?
  
  Nothing at all :/ And I’m not sure whether it’s even a dominance thing because he grooms her a lot. Very confused!
  
  Hmm, saying that; my little Peanut sometimes tries to hump Buttercup but they both groom each other A LOT. I think he’s just trying his luck sometimes lol.
  
  Does your girl groom him back?
  
  She does! Way more than with her last partner as well
- 02/06/2017 at 9:37 AM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Posted By Mikey on 2/06/2017 7:47 AM
  
  It sounds like theyre not cemented in their bond yet and are still working it out. Usually in a cemented bond, both rabbits groom one another. If he humps her a lot and she doesnt like it, you might have to start finding way to get him to cut it out before the fight escalates and you are not there
  
  All fur pulling should be treated as dangerous as rabbits have thin skin that can easily dry out or rip. Its good there is no blood, but that doesnt stop the possibility their skin will start to flake and dry. Keep checking them over every few days to be sure. Fur everywhere usually singals circling which is usually done prefight
  
  I will keep checking them ) Yes I have seen some circling and chasing but normally my female finds a place to hide her butt (he never humps her head) and he gives up before I have to intervene. I can’t see her fighting, but of course this has never happened before, she more runs away and occasionally thumps at him.
  
  They do both groom each other! Which is why I’m so confused by this.
- 02/06/2017 at 1:20 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Circling usually involves biting the tail, genitals, and back feet so if they have circled before then youll want to check their backsides too to make sure nothing has been bitten. They are not bonded until all chasing and circling has stopped
- 02/06/2017 at 1:43 PM
  radiatorbunny12
  Participant
  56 posts
  Posted By Mikey on 2/06/2017 1:20 PM
  
  Circling usually involves biting the tail, genitals, and back feet so if they have circled before then youll want to check their backsides too to make sure nothing has been bitten. They are not bonded until all chasing and circling has stopped
  
  Yup I’ve been checking but there’s been no biting.
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