Bunnies/Rabbits
A Happy Bunny Will:
Groom
A healthy, happy rabbit will groom itself, other bonded rabbits and even you. It is a sign of affection. However, watch out for over-grooming, especially with a rabbit on their own, it could be a sign of boredom and depression.
Rolling on Side
Rolling over and lying on their side or back with their eyes closed is a sign your rabbit is very relaxed and happy. They flop down really quickly sometimes but a floppy bunny in this case is a contented one!
Mounting
Apart from the obvious, when a male rabbit mounts another rabbit or even your foot, it is either trying to mate or is displaying rules. A female rabbit may mount a male rabbit to display rules.
Head Down:
Lying with their head down flat is a sign of a request for continued grooming or stroking from another rabbit or yourself.
A Stressed Bunny:
If a rabbit changes their normal behavior or routine in any way it could be because they are distressed, bored, ill or injured. Rabbits that are frightened or in pain may change their behavior or develop unwanted habits such as aggression or hiding.
A stressed bunny will:
An unhappy bunny will:
An unhappy rabbit will usually lay its ears back with the openings down, and turn itself either to the side or toward you nervously. The farther back the ears fall, the more unhappiness is indicated. This differs from other ear-back signals, which require that the rabbit firmly face toward you (anger), crouch or turn sideways with ear openings turned sideways (fear), or pointedly turn its back (insult).
A Happy Bunny Will:
Groom
A healthy, happy rabbit will groom itself, other bonded rabbits and even you. It is a sign of affection. However, watch out for over-grooming, especially with a rabbit on their own, it could be a sign of boredom and depression.
Rolling on Side
Rolling over and lying on their side or back with their eyes closed is a sign your rabbit is very relaxed and happy. They flop down really quickly sometimes but a floppy bunny in this case is a contented one!
Mounting
Apart from the obvious, when a male rabbit mounts another rabbit or even your foot, it is either trying to mate or is displaying rules. A female rabbit may mount a male rabbit to display rules.
Head Down:
Lying with their head down flat is a sign of a request for continued grooming or stroking from another rabbit or yourself.
A Stressed Bunny:
If a rabbit changes their normal behavior or routine in any way it could be because they are distressed, bored, ill or injured. Rabbits that are frightened or in pain may change their behavior or develop unwanted habits such as aggression or hiding.
A stressed bunny will:
- Hide: The bunny might hide in it's cage in certain places.
- Chew on cage bars: It might chew on the cage bars to escape.
- Over-groom: It will over groom itself.
- Change in feeding habits: The bunny might not be interested in the food and won't eat that often.
- Different going to the bathroom habits: The bunny might go to the bathroom not that often as it should.
- Over-drinking: The bunny might over drink the water.
- Sitting hunched: The bunny might sit hunched over it's legs in like a squat position.
- Hesitating to move: The bunny might hesitate to move somewhere.
- Repeated circling: The bunny might turn in circles over and over again.
An unhappy bunny will:
An unhappy rabbit will usually lay its ears back with the openings down, and turn itself either to the side or toward you nervously. The farther back the ears fall, the more unhappiness is indicated. This differs from other ear-back signals, which require that the rabbit firmly face toward you (anger), crouch or turn sideways with ear openings turned sideways (fear), or pointedly turn its back (insult).