Female rabbit mounting other female?

[UnlabeledMama]

We moved our doe to a new hutch yesterday and decided to add her sister in there today. When we put her sister in she immediately tried to mount her. I grabbed her and double checked, but she definitely looks like a female. What's going on?

 

[Bunnylady]

Mounting behavior is often a sign of dominance. Does often mount other does. Shoot, a lot of does will mount bucks, too.

This is one of the reasons that keeping does together can be a problem. The more common reason is fights, of course, but this has to do with the crazy rabbit reproductive system. Just being mounted by another rabbit can cause a doe's body to think it is pregnant. During a false pregnancy, the doe may go through all of the motions and even make a nest and pull fur, but of course no babies are produced. If you want to get a doe bred, having her currently in the middle of a false pregnancy would be a bit of a nuisance, wouldn't it?

 

[UnlabeledMama]

Thank you! What's funny is they were in the same cage until yesterday and have only been apart for maybe 24 hours! I separated them again. I thought since they were sisters and were used to each other I could have them share for a little while ....

 

[Bunnylady]

I forgot to mention - mounting another doe can be a sign that the doe doing the mounting is at the peak of her hormonal cycle, too. While trying to breed the "mounted" doe may become problematic (due to a false pregnancy), the one doing the mounting may have just told you that it's time to breed her . . . .

 

[UnlabeledMama]

That makes sense! When I checked she was very red down there, but she is only 3 months old so I am waiting to breed her.

 

[Bunnylady]

Good thing you've gotten her away from the bucks, then!

 

[UnlabeledMama]

It sounds like she will be a good breeder though! Hopefully a good mama as well.