Female Rabbits Humping

[CocoLoco]

Hi all,

Is it normal for female rabbits to hump another female rabbit?? We were told that our rabbits were both females by our most recent vet visit. However, we were told they were both males at first when they were first seen by the vet and when we purchased them from our friend. The first vet said they were 90% sure they were males but to come back at a later date to confirm. However, when we took them to the vets again when they were 4 months old they said they were both females as they couldn’t see any testicles.

The problem is, now that they are 6 months old, one of them have started showing behaviour issues such as humping. I’m just wondering if this is normal for female rabbits or is there a chance that one of them is actually male? We are planning to get them fixed next month. They are separated at the moment but we do let them out together at the same time sometimes but most times they have alternate times of free roaming. But sometimes they are able to get to each other as they sometimes chew the part of the pen that separates their areas.

What should we do?

 

[joey&boo]

Heres a useful guide on sexing rabbits

rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabb

Its a shame the vet didn't check their genitals & just checked for testicles - assuming they are developing normally their testicles would have descended by now if they were boys. Because the consequences of getting their sex wrong can be so huge - I'd want to check using the guide above too

Yeah girl bunnies hump too - especially when they are feeling hormonal as yours will because of their age. My girl bun humped a stuffed toy in the middle of bonding Things should get better when they are spayed . It looks like your humper is wanting to be dominant in the pair

 

[CocoLoco]

Heres a useful guide on sexing rabbits

rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabb

Its a shame the vet didn't check their genitals & just checked for testicles - assuming they are developing normally their testicles would have descended by now if they were boys. Because the consequences of getting their sex wrong can be so huge - I'd want to check using the guide above too

Yeah girl bunnies hump too - especially when they are feeling hormonal as yours will because of their age. My girl bun humped a stuffed toy in the middle of bonding Things should get better when they are spayed . It looks like your humper is wanting to be dominant in the pair

Thank you for your response

They did check their genitals but they were so unsure. I guess that vet hasn’t had a lot of experience with rabbits she had to call us back in few minutes after the appointment ended to check again.

My bf has them and is the primary carer. I do not live with him at the moment. It might be hard to check their genitals with just one person? Our buns can be a little fussy when we attempt to carry them

Just really worried that they were sexed wrong and one of them becomes pregnant. Its giving me major anxiety as we definitely do not have enough space for the kits if that happens

 

[Babsie]

Thank you for your response

They did check their genitals but they were so unsure. I guess that vet hasn’t had a lot of experience with rabbits she had to call us back in few minutes after the appointment ended to check again.

My bf has them and is the primary carer. I do not live with him at the moment. It might be hard to check their genitals with just one person? Our buns can be a little fussy when we attempt to carry them

Just really worried that they were sexed wrong and one of them becomes pregnant. Its giving me major anxiety as we definitely do not have enough space for the kits if that happens

I know it isn't what you are asking about and I don't want to appear rude ... but have you been shown the correct, safest and least stressful way of handling/carrying them?

 

[CocoLoco]

I know it isn't what you are asking about and I don't want to appear rude ... but have you been shown the correct, safest and least stressful way of handling/carrying them?

Unfortunately no. We just mostly rely on online research when doing this. When we go to the vet they usually have us hold their upper body while they check their genitals on a table. It’s most times a 2 person job whenever they check.

 

[Babsie]

Unfortunately no. We just mostly rely on online research when doing this. When we go to the vet they usually have us hold their upper body while they check their genitals on a table. It’s most times a 2 person job whenever they check.

How to tell the sex of a rabbit

Find out how to tell the sex of a rabbit today with Rabbit Welfare's step-by-step guide.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

This has photographs which should help.

Handling Rabbits

Click here to read our expert guide to handling rabbits. Find out why it's important, what to do, and what not to do today.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

This gives guidance and photographs of handling/holding.

 

[Omi]

Girls can hump other bunnies, whether they are male or female. Indeed the same goes for males. They can hump males or females. And especially if the bunnies are hormonal, as yours are, because they are both going through puberty.

Personally, I think the sexing of both bunnies has been a bit iffy and so I can completely understand the concern re pregnancy. If it were me, I would separate them (making sure they cannot access each other through any cage wire) until both bunnies have their sex properly confirmed and they are both neutered. I reckon it's the only safe way in this situation.

 

[Preitler]

Although does do hump, it is for very different reasons than why males do it.
I would still make it a priority to be sure what their actual genders are, at 6 months the risk ending up wading knee deep in baby bunnies is imminent. If you manage to make pictures post them here.
Sexing can be difficult, I get a second opinion when I'm not sure.

 

[redmal]

My boy was checked by his breeder when his first owners got him, as was his sister, and they were "confirmed" as girls. He was checked again at about 4 months by a vet who also said "girls". He is nearly four now and I took him for his vaccs in October. The (rabbit savvy) vet said he's a boy, sat him up on his rear and showed me!!

 

[those2fluffs]

I have 2 male and female buns (both 11 months) who aren't spayed or neutered. I did not want to spay or neuter them as I wanted baby buns. When I got them they were about 5 months well until now they were all completely fine . They would sleep together and eat and drink together. A few days ago I saw them fight and I ran out ti stop them . No blood or any swelling on any of them I saw. I had a accidentally litter of baby buns ( 4 buns ) who are 13 days old . And then the problem is the female rabbit keeps on humping the male one and with out a doubt they kept on breaking out in a fight . The male would run away from the female who would be confused and try again.

Any advice?

 

[Shimmer]

Separate them.....mum is probably pregnant again and under a lot of stress. They will continue to fight when they are not neutered and ruled by hormones. I also don't see how you can call it an 'accidental' litter from what you have said about wanting to breed them.

I would suggest getting dad neutered now, and give him time to recover and for hormone levels to settle (so you are looking at a couple of months or more). Do not put him back with mum until she has raised both sets of kits and been neutered as they will likely continue to fight - which will result in injury or even death. Any injury from a fight would need to be assessed by a vet as abscesses are a common outcome from bites. Rabbit abscesses can be difficult to treat.

Back to back litters won't do mum any good, either, and the kits will ultimately suffer. Do you have homes lined up for them all?
Dad will still be fertile for 6 weeks after neutering.
An entire female has a very high chance of getting various cancers (about 80% by age 4? as far as I recall) - so it is in her interests to be neutered as well.

They also need vaccinating, or you are risking losing them all to one of the rabbit viruses.

Accidental Litters

Click here for our expert advice on Accidental Litters. Explore Prevention, Birth, Feeding, Handling, Sanitation and more.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

 

[those2fluffs]

Separate them.....mum is probably pregnant again and under a lot of stress. They will continue to fight when they are not neutered and ruled by hormones. I also don't see how you can call it an 'accidental' litter from what you have said about wanting to breed them.

I would suggest getting dad neutered now, and give him time to recover and for hormone levels to settle (so you are looking at a couple of months or more). Do not put him back with mum until she has raised both sets of kits and been neutered as they will likely continue to fight - which will result in injury or even death. Any injury from a fight would need to be assessed by a vet as abscesses are a common outcome from bites. Rabbit abscesses can be difficult to treat.

Back to back litters won't do mum any good, either, and the kits will ultimately suffer. Do you have homes lined up for them all?
Dad will still be fertile for 6 weeks after neutering.
An entire female has a very high chance of getting various cancers (about 80% by age 4? as far as I recall) - so it is in her interests to be neutered as well.

They also need vaccinating, or you are risking losing them all to one of the rabbit viruses.

Accidental Litters

Click here for our expert advice on Accidental Litters. Explore Prevention, Birth, Feeding, Handling, Sanitation and more.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Thank you