Humping and Spraying

[Addy]

Hi again!

Okay, soo umm, great news, I adopted a new bunny!!! 

Now, my question is, since I already got Addy neutered (in February)…unless my vet totally ruined the operation somehow…I mean, I don’t know how, but somehow…  when should he be done with the humping/spraying phase.  Or is there an age when his excited behavior might lessen and he’ll be a calmer bunny?

On a happy note Hershey Bella is amazing.  Neither rabbit has shown any aggression and they get along (minus Addy humping which makes Bella hop away a little).  I’m just wondering how long he might feel the need to express dominance or whatever until he’s satisfied.  He seems to like her very much, even flopped quite a bit at the bunny date when she was put in the pen.  They eat together too…which is soo adorable!

/Sigh, I’m so happy and excited.    Now then, I had best get back to them and clean up the messes Addy made, haha.

[Beka27]

some rabbits will always spray. if they got into the habit of it pre-neuter, it might lessen but never fully go away. was he already into full-fledged puberty when he was neutered or was he neutered right at 4 months when the testicles descended? it sounds like that just might be what he does. humping is a show of dominance like you said, as long as she’s not getting angry when he does it, or becoming aggressive towards him, it’s okay and there’s no way you’re going to be able to stop it every time. other than that, it sounds like they’re both quite happy so it’s a successful bunny bond!

[MooBunnay]

In my previous bonding experience there was always quite a bit of humping from the male. It is great that when he mounts her she doesn’t turn around and bite him or get angry. Its also a great sign that they can eat together so well.

Is he still spraying a lot? The fact that there is a new bunny in the house may have triggered his need to mark all of his territory since they aren’t fully bonded yet.

[Addy]

Oh poopy, once a sprayer, always a sprayer, haha.

Well, humpf. We’ll see what happens in a few weeks or so. I mean, he was already spraying me too, so I guess having a new bunny with him gives him a more available target, haha.

I’m just glad they seem so comfortable with each other, some of Addy’s more annoying behaviors aside. I’d been reading other bonding posts and preparing for the worst, and then boom, he was already grooming her on the bunny date, if I remember correctly.

[BinkyBunny]

He may lessen his spraying once they become fully bonded and he’s confident with it all. He may also spray her and around her to let everyone know that “this gal is a keeper” and he’s claiming her and everything in it…as well as he is letting her know, he’s the kingbun!

Jack, who has been neutered for years will STILL spray “new” things, or if I move things around, he will reclaim with a spray. And lucky Rucy will get sprayed if he seems full of admiration for her. The good thing is that because he is neutered, his urine does’t smell so pungent. I can definitely tell when he’s sprayed, and I’ll clean it up or clean poor Rucy up, but it’s not a “WOW” hit ya hard scent.

I’m so happy to hear that bonding is going so well. It makes all the difference in the world! So much less stress. I’m glad you prepared for the worst, but happy the best so far has happened.

YEAH!

[Addy]

I feel strangely better that I’m not the only one with a sprayer. =P Thank you!

I’ll put up some pictures once my sister’s camera has batteries again. Bella’s a little less comfortable than Addy is when they’re together. I mean, he’ll flop next to her when he’s not interested in chasing her for the humpin’s, but she hasn’t flopped by him yet. Then again, I haven’t had her for very long (got her Nov. 28th), so I can’t wait to get to know her more.

That’s something I need to realize for myself though. I had a routine and way of treating Addy, and I’ve forgotten what a new bunny is like, so I just expect her to be like Addy. Bad me! Hehe.

Yikes, off to work!

[Beka27]

oh wow! so she’s still brand new! i was thinking you’ve had her for a little while! it sounds like it’ll be a pretty quick bond…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I know its yuck, but I’m always flattered when they spray me LOL

[BinkyBunny]

HAHHA! KK – you’re funny! But it’s true – it can be the ultimate bunny compliment.

[luna]

I have a sprayer too. Henry sprayed me every day for a full month before he got neutered. Then it completely subsided after the operation. He never did it to me again…phew! Got my new girl almost two weeks ago … they had 3 dates and on each one he sprayed her half a dozen times. I decided to postpone bonding until she is spayed. I really hope he doesnt continue spraying. its hard to see where it goes on the carpet and he also ends up getting the walls. I dont know where it all comes from… do they have special “reserves” for this. He seems to have a never ending supply of the stuff…eeeew!

[Addy]

Hehe, I was just down with them an hour or so ago, got another “compliment.” Haha =P

Sometimes I just either say “Addy!” or “Nooooo!” or “Dangy!” I suppose it’s just part of Addy run time. It’s when I’m sitting down that it’s the worst, because then the spray gets on my arms…and face sometimes. My family makes fun of me–especially my best friend for the face thing. Mommy was saying now that I have a bunny that doesn’t spray me, I should get rid of Addy. Pssssh, YEAH RIGHT! Jeez, woman. She’s weird and obviously doesn’t understand true love, heheheh.

I have the main cage divided into two parts now; one bun on top, one on bottom. I figure it’s the best way to keep them close and apart at the same time in roomy cages, methinks–should’ve taken out the carpet before they were in there together though…Arrg. Also, being on two levels, Addy can’t get a good spray angle–and he isn’t constantly attached to her behind. Will this arrangment be okay while they’re bonding? They can still see each other sorta.

Bella almost did a flop in front of me today…She did the head twist part, but then stopped and chose to jump up on the top level of the cage instead. She also did a tiny binky too. So much cuteness. I’m not worthy!

[Addy]

And I know whatcha mean about the never ending supply! Jeebus! Especially back in the non-neutered days when he’d spray me like five or six times in 10 seconds. It’s like. “Addy! Hey! Wha…wai…sto….Arrg!” Oh what fond memories…which are being resurrected for poor Bella.

[luna]

Hee hee…you have the funniest way of describing your “bunny relationships”…. im in stitches here! Your buns sound like real characters..hope the spraying dies down… It aint too pleasant even if it is the biggest compliment a bunny could give. I would prefer the odd lick from my Henry but, eh no he NEVER licks me…just my clothes, my phone, the couch, the bed, the kitchen floor, the fireplace…you get the point Bunnies have such quirky ways!!! ( Or maybe thats just mine?)

[Addy]

Addy was very tongue-happy like…for a week or so before I took him bunny dating. He would sit by/lean on me and lick the chair, the chair’s cupholder, and my sweater a lot, and poop while doing it. And one time I think he licked the corner of my eye…which was beyond any sort of adorable.

The thing that got me a little grossed out was sometimes when he’d lick me, go eat a poo, then come back to lick me more. Like, umm…eww.

I think he just really wants Bella to groom him. I did the peanut butter thing on his head and she went to town. He enjoyed it a ton. Sometimes he pulls at her feet with his mouth–anyone know why he does that? Other than that, he’s always bulldozing her asking for the groomin’s…

[Author]

Messages