Mum rabbit

[Beckiie]

Hi does anyone know why my mum rabbit has started humping her baby’s they r all in biggish cage together mum has run around of house for few hours away from baby’s in the day time baby rabbits are 6 weeks on Wednesday

 

[Preitler]

It's a dominance behaviour, showing the kits who is boss. Could be that they pester her, and she gets annoyed when she can't get away and out of sight, they are not weaned yet and at that age get after the doe and stressing her out at will if she doesn't put a stop to it, if and how she does that depends on character.

Humping is not that bad in that scenario, but keep an eye on it. I would give the kits something to hide in or under out of sight where the doe can't get in, she might expect the kits to leave for now when she's agitated and percieve it as affront if the kit doesn't - which it can't in a cage. If given the chance a doe isn't near the kits a lot of the time, mostly just when resting or nursing, but on her shedule.

 

[Strawberrybaby]

It's a dominance behaviour, showing the kits who is boss. Could be that they pester her, and she gets annoyed when she can't get away and out of sight, they are not weaned yet and at that age get after the doe and stressing her out at will if she doesn't put a stop to it, if and how she does that depends on character.

Humping is not that bad in that scenario, but keep an eye on it. I would give the kits something to hide in or under out of sight where the doe can't get in, she might expect the kits to leave for now when she's agitated and percieve it as affront if the kit doesn't - which it can't in a cage. If given the chance a doe isn't near the kits a lot of the time, mostly just when resting or nursing, but on her shedule.

Hello, I'm new to the forum, and today I noticed our mother rabbit humping her kit ( she only has one) but the kit didn't seem to be doing anything to warrant the behaviour, the kit was just walking around eating bits of hay and vegetables and mum just kept going over to it and humping it. We dont know the exact age of the kit as mum kept it so well hidden we hadnt even realised it had been born. Our vet thinks it is probably around 6 weeks old and both mum and kit are blind. I dont know if any humping takes place when they are locked in their hutch at night as they tend to use the compartments which have solid doors so I cant see in, the humping took place while they were out in their run. I've seen the kit eat and forage but I've not yet seen it drink water. They both have access to food, hay and veg and the kit doesnt try feeding off mum when its out in the run with her. It doesnt look like the kit is doing anything wrong but mum doesnt seem to like it when the kit gets too far away from her. I would very much appreciate any advice or insight you could share if you will please?