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Bossy rabbit; Rabbit social behavior

22 11:07:58

Question
A few weeks ago I asked you about rabbit sounds.  The following video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOoDDAlh5ao

has the same black rabbit outdoors with 3 others.  The 2 male lops have been together 6 months.  The 2 females I got recently were cage mates.   The black female still makes noises and chases the other female.  She doesn't do that to the males nor chase my cat.  The other 3 all chase the cat.  The males are more interested in humping each other and don't seem to pay much attention to the females.

Will the males get involved with the females or will they just stay buddies with each other?

What breeds are the females?

Answer
Dear Tom,

The noises the black female (she looks like a lop hybrid) are those of a rabbit who feels threatened, and she's defensively chasing the other female (the brown (the actual color is called "agouti"), up-eared female looks like a "Heinz 57" hybrid, but with some dwarf genes, judging from the small size of her ears) away.  It's hard to tell whether she's keeping the brown female away from the food or the male bunnies, but the latter is more likely, since bonded rabbits will often jealously guard their companions from members of the opposite sex.

The two girls might never get along well, but once they are spayed they should both calm down.  It's also best for their long-term health, reducing their very high risk of uterine cancer.

The males look as if they're very mellow with each other and like each other's company.  Unless something changes (puberty), this should continue.  But sometimes environmental factors can cause rabbits to "break up," just as humans do.  I hope this doesn't happen to your little guys.

You don't mention the ages of the rabbits, but unless the males are neutered and the females spayed, you can count on them continuing the mounting behavior with each other and this can not only lead to unwanted pregnancy, but also to fighting between the males.  Mounting isn't necessarily affection--it also can be dominance play.  And if one doesn't give way, there can be bloodshed.  Spay/neuter is best for all of them if you want long-term peace and harmony among the rabbits.  

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana