Humping between bonding rabbits??

[hattie&bear]

I have very recently got a new addition and for the first few days they were completely in love (both neutered obviously!). 

My first rabbit, Little Bear is a 1yr old buck and I just rescued a 1yr old girl, who I haven’t gotten to know enough to name yet… It is probably worth mentioning that the rescue socialised her with other rabbits, whereas he as never been with other rabbits since being a baby so is acting very strangely. 

I was told at the rescue when they first met that they were a very natural and easy match, and they have been – no fighting, she grooms him and he grooms her back, they flop around on the floor together, eat together and generally seem very comfortable around each other. 

But yesterday I noticed him rubbing his chin all over her face, which I thought fine, he is claiming her, he wants to be dominant. Then he *humped* her (horrible word!) several times sort of on her head and side and backquarters. She didn’t move for a while but then scampered off. Was told this was normal and not to worry, it’s just to establish dominance? 

He has been chasing her for the last hour or so trying to hump her again and honks at her, clearly very excited? Not sure. He tries at least every two minutes. She doesn’t get cross she just scurries off and goes and flops straight down on her side in another area away from him. But it is starting to irritate her I think. She does groom him but doesn’t pay as much attention to him as he does to her. He is clearly really interested and while happy and comfortable, she does not seem interested. She is happy to eat with him, lie with him, groom his ears, but as soon as he gets frisky she runs away …annoyed I think. 

Should I let this resolve itself? Will he get used to the excitement of another rabbit and stop? If not what would you suggest? 

[LittlePuffyTail]

Humping is very normal. Bunnies do it to establish dominance. If there is no fighting or aggression, let them work it out. The only time you must intervene is if bunny is face humping. A bunny bite in the genital area can be a horrible situation.

 

[hattie&bear]

Thank you! 

I always shoo him off her and will do so if it’s on her face but she is much bigger so normally she’s away before she’s even mounted but thanks for the tip! 

So I really shouldn’t worry? I don’t need to clap or say NO when they do it? 

I obviously expect them to establish a dominance structure but she seems very resistant to him and is, to be honest, having to escape his clutches every few minutes. Many in a few more days he’ll be bored with the newness of it all…. 

[LittlePuffyTail]

It will most likely calm down once he feels he’s made his point. Some bonded couples will do a little humping here and there later on, but for the most part, it’s a new couple thing.

I would just leave them alone if she’s not getting overly stressed or angry about it. It’s just normal bonding behavior and he will stop being so insistent once they are more settled.

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