Two sister rabbits humping eachother??

[Chichi & Chloe]

I have two adorable american chinchilla rabbits. They are sisters and were together since birth. They are currently about 4 months old. We brought them home, both were not spayed, but not until recently have i noticed some weird behaviors occurring in their “daily routines”. One of the rabbits -Chloe, started to attack her sister. She would lunge forwards and bite her. We use to keep them in the same cage at night and we were wondering if it was territorial behavior. We separated them for a week and then tried to re-bond them and instantly they connected again and we didn’t see any fights for a couple days. We still kept them separate at night time because we wouldn’t be able to watch and stop any fights that could happen, but during the day, they were together in an open area of of our yard where we could see them easily. They were very calm and affectionate towards each other, but out of no where they started fighting again and Chloe’s sister had many small wounds from Chloe’s bites. We separated them for another couple days and then we re-bonded them. About 2 weeks past and there were no fights, but I started observing them a little closer. Chloe was humping her sister from behind and also from the side. Her sister would just run away from her and then Chloe would run after her and try to hump her again. I am completely positive that they are both female, but why is this happening? Would they stop in the future? I’ve read that humping or mounting another rabbit can be a sign of dominance over the other, but is it normal for two sister rabbits?

[Whiskers]

From what I understand, females will fight when reaching maturity and the only way to help is by spaying both rabbits. I also read somewhere that often times they have to be rebonded. More experienced owners will give you better advice I am sure. Just may be the time or close to it to get them spayed. A vet would know more. I would keep them in separate cages but close together so they can sniff each other without hurt one another.

I am curious as what others say.

[tobyluv]

You need to keep your rabbits separated at all times now, until they have been spayed. After their surgeries and a few weeks have passed for them to recuperate and for the hormones to abate, you can start the bonding process. It doesn’t matter if the rabbits are siblings or if they have been together since birth, or if they are both females. Once puberty hits, everything changes. You are risking serious fights and injuries if they are together, even for a short while. They can also come to hold a grudge if there is fighting or excessive humping. Then you may never be able to bond them. They have only had a temporary baby bond, not a true bond. You can keep them in the same room, just don’t let them have any physical contact until after their spays, when you start the bonding process.

[Chichi & Chloe]

Thank you for the advice! But I think i may need to keep them separated until they reach 6 months old because of a possibility of a risky surgery for getting them both spayed.

[jerseygirl]

Gosh, how beautiful!

I had 2 lop sisters I fostered for a while and they began humping each other when puberty arrived. It’s not unusal. Even desexed and bonded rabbits will from time to time.

You may find this has started with your girls due to their age but also the warmer months if you are in the northern hemisphere.

If separating them, you could set them up side by side so they still have each other for company.

[Chichi & Chloe]

I had 2 lop sisters I fostered for a while and they began humping each other when puberty arrived. It’s not unusal. Even desexed and bonded rabbits will from time to time.

Did you get them both spayed? I’m just wondering if it is completely necessary for all bunnies to get spayed or neutered. All my past rabbits have been spayed/neutered, but what would the affects be if rabbits weren’t spayed/neutered? I understand that they wouldn’t be able to have their own lovely little bunnies after they get spayed, but would behavior in rabbits be different if they aren’t spayed or neutered?

[Chichi & Chloe]

I had 2 lop sisters I fostered for a while and they began humping each other when puberty arrived. It’s not unusal. Even desexed and bonded rabbits will from time to time.

I love lop rabbits! 

[Sirius&Luna]

It’s important to get female rabbits spayed because there’s a high risk of uterine cancer if you don’t.

It’s also important to get rabbits spayed and neutered if you want them to form a happy bond, as you’ve discovered

Generally, spayed and neutered rabbits are easier to litter train and are better behaved, as they don’t generally exhibit hormonal behaviours (although, occassionally they still might!)

[Author]

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