Male keeps hoping female even if operated…

[Arok01]

Hello all,

I have had a male for almost two years now. Last December, we decided that he should have a companion and found a beutiful Rex female who had been just operated at our local SPCA shelter.

After trying a lot over the winter and spring (they had to stay in separate cages) we were not succesful in getting them to get along. My males kept wanting to hop the female who, in turn, would try to bite him after the second or third attempt.

So at the beginning of June, we decided we had enough and got the male operated. Well its been almost six weeks now and he still tries to hop the female.

Anyone know how long the hormones usually stay after the operation ? Any ideas as to what I can do to get him to stop this behaviour ? I know they would be really fond of each other if he could only keep it under control…

Any suggestions accepted!

[Gravehearted]

Hi Arok01, welcome to binky bunny.

It takes about a month or two for the hormones to really calm down.
Mounting is one way rabbits establish dominance, so he likely is humping to show he’s in charge. It’s very common, even among neutered bunnies. Usually once a bunny has established dominance the humping will greatly decrease.

How is she reacting?

If he’s mounting her, but she does not mind or runs away, then this is usually a sign that she’s ok with him being in charge. If she becomes aggressive towards him, then it’s going to take some time and effort to figure out who’s in charge.

[Arok01]

How is she reacting ?

At present time, she starts the first couple of times by running away – with him naturally chasing her – and after a while she snaps at him. Not the last time, but the time before, when I put them together they were able to stay almost a half-hour without him trying to get her. He would approach, lick her on the head (she even went to him one time and licked him).

[MooBunnay]

Hello Arok! Welcome to binky bunny !!

It is great that they are licking each other! Grooming is a definite sign of love – I think that with the humping, its best to stop him after he humps for a little bit because eventually she will get tired of it and start a fight. I’ve done a lot of bondings where the bun is “Sir. Hump” for at least the first three or four times they meet, but eventually it subsides. A good thing to do when he humps is to remove him from her, then lay them side by side and pet both of their heads at the same time, so that they get some quality time together without the humping!

[Author]

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