frisky bunny.

Question
i bought two rabbits, last summer for my three children. And so far things are fine except that one of the rabbits keeps trying to mate with the other one.We were told that both rabbits were female,but now I am confused to there behavior.The rabbit that doesnt want to mate is making a funny noise every time the other comes near. I dont know whether its just spring in the air or they are different sexes. hope to hear from you soon, johanne.

Answer
Hi Johanne,

I am going on the assumption that you have not had either of your rabbits fixed (ie spayed or neutered).

In the spring, rabbits do get more active.  It seems the spring season is part of their normal breeding cycle, so their hormones may be affecting their behavior.  Even in fixed rabbits owners see a change in behavior (not usually near as intense as in unaltered rabbits, though).

A male rabbit will have testicles that you may be able to see from behind, or upside down.  They can bring them up into the body at will, but if they are running around playing you probably will see them.  Females will never have this.

As far as mounting, there is a dominance issue behind it when it is two females or two males.  One of your females is asserting her dominance over the other female.  The other female is probably making whimpering sounds.

Often a female thatis pregnant will whimper when her mate comes around her again looking to mount.  Pregnant females don't want to mate after this.  Or she could be going through a false pregnancy (but still not want to mate because she thinks she is pregnant).

I would definitely take them in to a good rabbit vet and ask them to sex them for you during their yearly checkup.  Rabbits need an annual exam just like a dog and cat does.  It should be less expensive overall as they do not need any shots or to be on regular de-wormers and such.  Just take them to a good rabbit vet.  If you don't know which vets are good rabbit vets, call around to various rabbit rescue groups and animal shelters and ask them what vet they would go to if they had to do surgery on a rabbit.  You'll want to go to this kind of vet, because down the road you should get your rabbits spayed (it will double their lifespan, and they won't most likely wind up dying from uterine cancer by age 5 or 6).  Unspayed females have an 80-85% chance of getting uterine cancer by 5 or 6 and dying a painful death.  Spayed female house rabbits can live 10-12 years.

Lee