Mounting behavior in rabbits, also called humping, occurs between two rabbits. Mounting is not only a male rabbit behavior; female rabbits mount other rabbits too. Rabbit mounting while bonding is normal. However, staying alert is good to ensure the rabbits do not hurt each other. So, why is my female rabbit mounting a male? Why does my female rabbit keep trying to hump my male?
Your female rabbit keeps trying to hump your male rabbit for a number of reasons. Below are some of the reasons why your female rabbit is mounting a male:
1. To Show Dominance
Female rabbits mount their male counterparts to show that they are the dominant partner. However, this is a natural behavior that can occur between neutered pairs. A dominant female rabbit will mount a subordinate male rabbit, indicating that she is the boss.
Rabbits live in a hierarchy where an alpha rabbit can either be a male or a female. Once the female rabbit has earned dominance, mounting will stop.
2. As a Sign of Affection
A female rabbit might mount a male as a sign that she likes him. When a male and a female rabbit are fully bonded, the female rabbit might mount the male as a sign of grooming. Grooming is one way rabbits show affection for each other.
3. When She Wants to Play
A female rabbit can mount a male rabbit for fun or when seeking attention. She does this more if she wants to play with the male rabbit.
4. A Sign That She Wants to Reproduce
When your female rabbit has reached sexual maturity, she may start mounting other rabbits, indicating that she wants to reproduce.
So, can a female rabbit mate with a male? A female rabbit mounts a male as a sign of mating. Mounting is the way rabbits court one another. Even though naturally, male rabbits initiate the mating process, female rabbits are known to mount the male too.
5. During the Bonding Process
Apart from grooming, mounting is another way that rabbits bond with one another. When you already have a female rabbit, and you introduce a male, the female will mount the male.
Female rabbit mounting while bonding is normal.
6. Change in Environment
When you move your female rabbit to a new cage, she may start mounting the male rabbits to mark her territory.
Female rabbits are known to be more territorial. She will see the male rabbit as a personal belonging, thus marking him by mounting. She is trying to scent him as a sign to other rabbits that the rabbit belongs to her.
How to Stop Female Rabbit Mounting
Besides healthy female rabbits behaviors, female rabbits can sometimes engage in negative behaviors too such as mounting, pee spraying, and aggression. It is good to stop these unhealthy habits in your female rabbits.
Below are some of the ways to stop female rabbits from mounting:
1. Spay Your Female Rabbit
Mounting in female rabbits is always due to sex hormones or dominance. A neutered rabbit will still mount others for dominance; however, this will stop once the rabbit becomes dominant.
It would be best to get her spayed when your female rabbit mounts others due to hormones.
2. Separate the Rabbits
Mounting is a natural behavior among rabbits and can be difficult to stop. You can, however, separate the rabbits if the mounting persists.
If a bond has already formed between the rabbits, yet the female is still mounting the male, it could be due to stress, and the rabbits should be placed in different cages for a while before being reintroduced.
3. Give Rabbit Time to Adapt to New Environment
When you bring a female rabbit to a new environment, you should give her enough time to adapt to the new environment, the new owner, and the other rabbits. She will try mounting others if you immediately put her with other rabbits.
Once your rabbit is calmer, you can slowly introduce her to other rabbits
4. Create a Smaller Group Size
Put your female rabbit in a smaller group rather than the big ones. When you keep your female rabbit in a smaller group, the chances of her humping others will be reduced.
Additionally, it is easier to watch a smaller group for any unhealthy behaviors between the rabbits.
5. Talk to Your Vet
Once you have done all the things mentioned above and your female rabbit won’t stop mounting, the best thing is to talk to the vet. There could be some underlying issues that you are unable to see.
Hormones and internal injuries can cause your female rabbit to mount other rabbits excessively.
If you were having questions such as, “Why is my rabbit mounting my other rabbit?” your questions are now answered. You are in a position to determine why your rabbit is mounting others and also check for signs of aggression. If you notice something is off with your rabbits, you should stop rabbit mounting.
When to Stop Rabbits Mounting
To determine when to stop rabbits from mounting, it is necessary to check on the behavior of the rabbit underneath during and after mounting.
Read the rabbit’s body language to determine how they are responding to the whole situation.
Stop rabbits mounting when the following happens:
1. Reverse Mounting
When one rabbit mounts the other in the reverse position (from the front/head).
This can cause injury to the rabbits, especially the male rabbits, whose sensitive parts can get bitten in the process. Stop the mounting if notice any sign of reverse mounting.
2. Irritation Signs
When one rabbit shows signs of irritation, such as biting, kicking, or screaming, it is time to separate the two rabbits and stop the mounting.
This shows that the rabbit is not willing to subordinate to the dominant partner. Therefore, they should be separated to avoid any injuries.
3. Medical Issues
When the rabbit underneath has a medical condition, the pressure on their backs when mounted could lead to a more serious problem. You can check for any signs of pain or abnormal breathing.
4. Frequent Fighting and Aggressiveness
When the mounting often results in serious fights, it is best to stop it before the two rabbits start fighting each other.
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