If you’re unsure how to pick toys that your rabbit will actually like to play with, then check out my article going over the many types of rabbit … If your bunny is a challenge when handled, get a friend to help you with the tune-up. Tugging on your clothes is a rabbit behaviour that can indicate 2 things: You have one bored bunny on your hands. Cocoa has free roam of the house now, and even sleeps under our bed during the night,she loves her freedom . Should you ever need to pick up your bunny and they simply let you – without becoming aggressive, then they also likely love you. My little Thumper has different personalities with different people. Happy bunnies will do things like dance, lick, hop, chin and run around. In order to know if your rabbit is lonely or not you have to pay attention to your rabbit’s behavior. A rabbit that you can feel but not easily see the ribs on is typically a three. It has taken us months to bond properly with them, and while we couldn't even pet them at first, now they know the house and have their favorite places and are pretty comfortable around us. Bunnies can grunt if they are about to attack and feel threatened, but they can also make grunting noises for other reasons. © 2021 Maven Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. No buns that we saw felt right. To see a rabbit like this is initially quite alarming, but once you begin to acknowledge that this is simply a sign of relaxation and happiness, you’ll begin to worry less. With my husband she will jump on the couch and nap with him, climb his leg when he comes home for treats, and gives nose to nose rubs. That’s called a binky, and it means your rabbit is very happy! Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. What should I do? belleart (author) from Ireland on August 19, 2012: We have the same problem with Cocoa. A happy relaxed rabbit will also perform what looks like various yoga stretches, along with a big yawn. If you see your rabbit do this, it means they are very happy & relaxed. Gave us quite a scare sometimes, but then when he had enough, he would lift his head up and hop away, happy as anything. When he got older, we would stroke him on the floor and he'd perform his dying swan act. Sometimes when the cats mess with him, he chases them. If your bunny exposes your belly to you, they are also effectively letting their guard down around you. If your rabbit has the “snuffles,” don’t make the mistake of writing it off as a … She is an outdoor rabbit and gets lots of attention as well as her living next door to her half sister. So, if your bunny’s ears are in a neutral position, that is, not too far up, then they are also likely relaxed. :) It is nice to hear your bun sleeps under your bed and wakes you up with morning licks, mine did the same too. Sure, they purr and thump and make a little noise, but they just aren’t as vocal as other animals. Many owners aren’t aware of just how much attention and stimulation bunnies require. Rabbit boredom and loneliness are the most common causes of depression in pet bunnies. Thank you so much for the video and the assurance that my Oreo is happy!! I knew she was by all the behaviors, but i just want the best for my little bun! Your rabbit should be displaying natural behaviour on a daily basis in many different ways and you should come to recognise what this behaviour is and that it shows your rabbit is happy. Unhappy bunnies are actually a bit harder to identify, but the following behaviours are a good indication: This does not mean that your bunny is always unhappy; it just means that they feel threatened. We visited to have a look and there it was . She's a quick little pee-pee girl. With all that in mind, let’s get into what makes a happy bunny! I just got a bunny but she barely lets me touch her but she'll pan out and pulls at my clothing which I read was a sign she wants attention, not that I can touch her. belleart (author) from Ireland on March 16, 2015: Cam: The Thumping can be a few things. This behaviour actually extends to rabbit-human interactions, however. Problems associated with obesity run far deeper than just carrying around a little extra weight. We bought Cocoa from somebody who bred rabbits and had all of them in separate cages. My rabbit Ginger relaxes and licks and chins me a lot. Hey, have you ever had trouble with your rabbit using your BED as a litter pan? Instant Tips to Understand Rabbit Body Language. Your rabbit may perform binkies, or happy hops and twists in the air. When trying to figure out if your rabbit is sick, always remember rabbits are at the bottom of the food chain and in the wild the weakest are the first to be preyed upon. I would like to one day let her have free roam of the house just like your bunny had. Rabbits love grooming and will often spend hours grooming and licking each other. Like cats, healthy rabbits will often groom themselves and each other. I have 2 rabbits they live indoors and have a indoor hutch I can't leave them to roam free as we have 2 cats and a dog. I cannot pick her up I know they don't like to but it'd be nice to be able to take her out of the cage without removing the entire top. I hope this helps, and let me know if there's any more stuff your not sure about :) Good luck, Our rabbits chase each other around and one keeps thumping, but there doesn't seem to be any other sign of aggression, they cuddle and groom each other often and are fine most of the time but these encounters are worrying us, any ideas please? How to tell if your rabbit is deaf As a prey animal, rabbits are highly responsive to noise. In general, it is best to buy rabbits together rather than introducing them later on as they will feel they have a rival on their hands. ', 'Chinning' sounds weird, but it's quite normal. Love the video..your bunny is one really happy and contented bunny! My dwarf bunny Nibbles used 2 dance same time every morning for least 30min...now hardly dances at all....why?? Yay!! Look at the rabbit from the top. Because Cocoa’s on her own, she grooms me and the boys instead. Elsie Nelson from Pacific Northwest, USA on August 18, 2012: Cute about Cocoa. Only he wakes me up at 6:30am everyday, petting and cuddling..haha..such a sweet little thing. If anything, it will make them more wary of you. If they appear curious and want to explore, or look at you with waggling ears, then, chances are your bunny is incredibly relaxed. If two rabbits groom each other or lay close to one another they likely are in love. You know, the orange wee wee. The fantastic thing is, she's house-trained, so as long as we leave our bedroom door unlocked, she makes her own way downstairs to her toilet box. They may also pull their neck into their body, or avoid eye contact with you. Poor Cocoa passed away in September, and I recommend for anyone going through a similar experience to find comfort in my article 'Is My Bunny Dying? From standing they flop on to one side quite quickly and lay still for a few seconds or minutes. Just as your rabbit's sounds can tell you a lot about his mood or feelings, so too can your rabbit's posture and body language. If it's very loud and noticeable, then your bun may be in pain. While it felt we could never again have a bunny since none could ever replace her, we did find ourselves looking through rabbit adoption sites. NetBeans IDE Download on September 27, 2018: Canton de Neuchatel - Vide-greniers et brocantes. Your rabbit may also have a swollen face or mouth as the apparent cause of the drooling. By now you may be able to tell when your pet rabbit is happy. I have some 1 year old bunnies, and they always fight. These are all submissive gestures which make them appear “small”. Yes, bunnies purr and it is adorable! Also, if your bunny has their ears up, with the inside of their ears facing forward, they are probably feeling friendly and happy as well. Taking care of a bun (or two) really is about learning their behaviour and personality. belleart (author) from Ireland on July 29, 2015: Liz: House trianing rabbits is actually not too difficult, easier than dogs anyway, as long as you have a corner toilet for them and food and water out all the time you should find it relatively easy. It is important to pay attention if your rabbit is grooming too much, as they could be feeling lonely or sad. Cocoa will thump her feet if a cat comes to the back door. moonlake from America on February 03, 2014: Your bunny is very cute and I bet she has a great home. Rabbits are very territorial, and if toffee is used to being on his own in the hutch then he probably feels threatened with the other bunny there taking his space. :D. Had a rescue bunny 4 nearly 4 months now im her 4th owner..love her to bits but only time she will come out of hiding is when im out of the room.....shes a free roaming house bunny..does she hate me. bunnyhubJune 25, 2018Bunny Behaviour, Bunny Care, Bunny HealthLeave a Comment. The important thing for successful rabbit bonding is to spend plenty of time with your rabbits – even if they live out of doors – so that you learn to recognise the signs of a healthy, happy … Get to Know Your Rabbit: Signs of a Healthy, Happy Pet Bunny With their soft coats, twitchy noses and entertaining personalities, it’s not surprising that rabbits are popular pets. As well as this, rabbits will often grunt and snort as they eat and toss their hay around. He may hop and frisk about. If your bunny is begging for your attention – they are probably very happy! "Purring" - A calm or comfortable rabbit will sometimes click their teeth very quickly. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Bring him inside at least a few times a week and play with him, it will greatly help him and you! When your rabbit can be seen happily playing with their toys, this implies that they are calm. These are all submissive gestures which make them appear “small”. I also gave him nosies, but I never heard him purr. Every single rabbit is different, and behaviour will always vary from rabbit to rabbit. I’m sure we can all agree on how adorable it is to watch a bunny hop and binky! If a rabbit is rubbing its chin on you or something else, it's marking its territory. Bryony Harrison from UK on August 23, 2012: If you bought another male rabbit it is no surprise that they fought. Cocoa does the same but if we stop she'll nudge us until we pet again. If your bunny shows signs of love towards you, they are probably incredibly happy! Letting her out of the cage would be the ideal place to start, leave the cage door open for her to walk out herself, rather than taking her out yourself. When I’m on the couch and she’s on the floor beside me, she will sit staring at me for a minute or two, then thump her foot. It was a very sad, emotional time, and we miss her every day. They can't live together and she sister is extremely territorial. Similarly, a lonely rabbit will overeat and pull at its own fur. This is a rabbit’s equivalent to washing their hands – it is a sign of good hygiene and affection. Some of these arise from physical limitations of overweight animals such as joint issues, reduced activity, and difficulty grooming. But it seems she is quite relaxed with me! It will take time for her to relax and get used to her surrounding, honestly Cocoa took months to relax around us, but now that she has, she's the happiest little thing and gives us a lot of affection. :). This may sound strange, but 'nosies' are a great way to bond with your bunny. She lets me pick her up for grooming, but otherwise will not let me pet her with my hands. Spray the bottom of your furniture with perfume and always have chew toys for them instead. Poor Bobby had been abandoned outside of a supermarket and Bo was born in the adoption home. Elsie Nelson from Pacific Northwest, USA on August 19, 2012: Well, I'm glad I'm not alone! Belle had a pet rabbit named Cocoa who she loved with all her heart. She usually hops up onto the couch as we watch TV and wants us to pet her. In the wild, it would be with other rabbits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They have great personalities, but sometimes it can be hard to tell whether they are really happy. A binky is when a bunny jumps high in the air and kicks its back feet, twisting its body. Usually if she pee's on the couch or bed, I just pick her up and put her in her litter tray. So if you see your rabbit is snug, quiet some face place taking nap then you can tell a bunny is happy. belleart (author) from Ireland on August 12, 2014: Jordana, I hope your new bunny is happy in her new home. If your rabbit follows you or licks you, they absolutely adore you (and may want to mate with you if they aren’t neutered!). Not picking them up, not petting them and not trying to catch them shows them they are safe (most people get rabbits to hug and for their own satisfaction). Bryony Harrison from UK on August 14, 2012: My rabbit, Josh used to do twist jumps too. When your rabbit jumps on your lap is a big sign that your rabbit wants your attention. The change in her behaviour is amazing. I know not everyone wants their little bun roaming free around the house, but even letting them out for a couple hours a day will help make them happier. You may have noticed his appetite is hearty. When she runs around my feet, I know she is very happy to see me; it usually happens in the morning when I’m the first to get up and wake her in the kitchen. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. When you ask yourself in the future – “is my bunny happy?”, try and think of their behaviour. . Life has simply not been the same without her. If your rabbit binkies, it means that he is happy, excited and probably has a lot of energy. if you added a girl, the problem could be the same. However, please note that teeth grinding can be a sign that a rabbit is distressed if it is too loud. Kicking Dirt in Your Face. Rabbits are masters at hiding illness, so giving your rabbit a “tune-up” or wellness check every two to three months is good preventive medicine and will help you know what is normal for your rabbit and what might need medical attention. This is because scent glands are located under a rabbit’s chin. Maven Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Though this looks uncomfortable and may be worrying to you, I assure you this is a position rabbits take on when they are very relaxed! You won't ever be able to hug your buns if you don't first show them that they have nothing to be afraid of. Should I Keep My Bunny Inside Or Outside? Top tip: Avoid giving your rabbit muesli-style foods as they can cause serious teeth and tummy problems, and never give your rabbit grass cuttings. That is to say, if your rabbit was grazing and minding their own business, then in a “wild” scenario, there is an absence of predators, and your bunny is relaxed and happy. If your rabbit… Its different with all bunnies, but with affection and love, you will definitely be on her good side. WHAT IS HAPPENING!!! It should be pear shaped, not shaped like an apple with a head. The worst bunny pee EVER is after she's had too many carrots. It also tells other animals, 'No, this is my family!'. Here are some other blogs about having a pet bunny that you may find useful: https://discover.hubpages.com/animals/DIY-Bunny-To. Though this may initially appear as a sign of aggression, it is often just “rabbit play”. There's nothing you can do other than trying not to lift her except only when necessary, let her know she's there to be safe, and the more you let her do own thing and come to you the more safe she will feel. Josh also liked to have his ears played with, which I was rather surprised about. :). That's why it's important to remember that socialisation and love goes a long way. If your bunny is begging for your attention – they are probably very happy! They do this so that important nutrients can be re-absorbed by their bodies. They were next to a heater during a period of very cold weather. Rabbits are prey animals, so if they are able to let down their guard around you, they are probably very comfortable and happy! Chinning for a rabbit is a sign of marking territory so to speak. This means you just need to spend more time with them on their terms (not picking them up or trying to cuddle, just be there, let them smell you and investigate). She sleeps under our bed (we have food and water out for her), and she wakes us up around eight in the morning and gives lots of kisses and licks. I myself have to chase our two buns back indoors every day because they don't like being picked up and love being outside but I think they get a good kick out of the run around and even do a good few binkies on their way in :) Unfortunately the most I can offer by way of advice is the treat training, where you give your buns a specific treat that they love only when they go back into their hutch. Sometimes Cocoa will kick if she wants attention. The same can be said for when the rabbits follow each other around. Before we begin, it is important to note that the behaviour of a pet (domestic) rabbit is not all that different from the behaviour of a wild rabbit. Can any one explain why he does this? He gets along pretty well with my cats. Couch's and beds! Our kids had bunnies but we haven't owned one in many years. Rabbits have glands under their chins that only they can smell. belleart (author) from Ireland on July 03, 2015: ha ha, yeah Buns will grunt sometimes to tell you not to do something, its another way of them communicating that they feel slightly threatened. My happy bunny, Bobby, relaxes in their “Superman” position when they are feeling happy and unstressed. She purrs when we stroke behind her ears, pet her, hug her, talk to her—anywhere that she feels relaxed and part of the group. If your bunny’s home has abundant space, toys and isn’t destroyed, it means … Just a few days ago, a friend posted a photo of their rabbit flopped over and laying on their side with their eyes closed. I was convinced my bunny hated me! Any ideas? Remember, this article is a generalisation. Getting a female bunny done can be harder though so you will need to find a vet with a good success rate! For one thing, they are pair, so they have less of a need for human companionship, and Bobby, being so small, gets frightened comically fast. Sometimes a female rabbit will be fine on its own. Both were in foster care and waiting for a forever home, which spoke to me personally having been in foster care all of my childhood. The easiest way to tell if the ribs stick out too much (if they are too prominent it means your rabbit is underweight) is to compare feeling your rabbit's ribs Glad to hear you brought her into the house, she sounds like a very happy rabbit. In that moment, we knew these buns were the ones that we were going to love forever! Sparkle swizzle honey bun on May 11, 2019: I love swizzle honey bun rabbit.sighs your bunny loves you.by lLoverabbits How to tell of your bunny loves you. Your rabbits won’t look tense when they are happy. If I ignore that, she’ll do it again and jump onto the couch where I can't ignore her. Your bunny loves you if they are calm around you. What's the Irish site that you found called? They may also pull their neck into their body, or avoid eye contact with you. Ron jumps on my lap all the time. I’m sure you’ve noticed – when something scares your bunny, their ears jerk into a very upright position, as they are listening for any signs of danger. If your rabbit is happy and well, he or she will likely engage in some of the following behaviours periodically: Cocoa will dance when I (or my housemates) run around the house or when there is general excitement in the room.

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