Bunny Behaviour Translation

[jcl_24]

Feel free to add more

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Licking their human
A rabbit who does this trusts the receipient. Grooming means "I like you very much, you're my friend".

Pushing their nose under your palm
"Groom me now please"

A certain flick of the back legs as they hop away
Bunny disaproval

A snorting/grunting sound
Annoyance. Higher volume = more annoyance.

A honking sound
"I love you"

Sitting down, seeming to "melt" into the floor.
Relaxed rabbit*.

*For my rabbit Ebony, it's also her way to say "I'm prepared to let you fuss me, bunny-slave"

Lunging with front paws
"GTH outta my way/territory" or "Stop trying to catch me!"

Thumping the back legs
A danger alert for other rabbits or a way to say "Pay attention to me now!" to humans

Humping
Aside from the obvious, it can also be about showing dominance over another rabbit.

Running figures of 8 at top speed.
Having some fun

Gentle nudge of your habd with their nose
"Hello"

Running round in circles around your feet or in the cage (Bunny Dance)
Courting ritual.

Turning away from you or ignoring you
Likely to be preceded by a human action the rabbit disaproved of. The bunny sulk (and believe me, they can keep it up for a long time).

Rolling before laying down
Very happy, relaxed rabbit.

Gentle teeth chattering and/or jaw movement without food
Contented rabbit

Loud teeth chattering/grinding.
A rabbit likely to be in pain.

 

[AquaticRex]

and everyone's favorite, the bunny binky ^_^.
happy and enjoying him/herself

 

[Amy27]

I have a big grunter. Kind of sounds like a pig oink.
That means she is unhappy.

 

[jcl_24]

My rabbit Guy is a soft oinker when excited.There'salso a quiet buzzing sound he makes when he is excited and happy.

Some rabbits also honk like aGoose to show they love theirbunny slave.

Jo xx


EDIT: Oh yes, my first bun Fluffy made a variety of grunting noises to show disaproval.

 

[golfdiva]

Hershey makes little "puppy sounds" when he snuggles on my shoulder. I'm not sure if it's pleasure or discomfort. He usually does it right after I picked him up.

I lean toward contentment/pleasure.

 

[popple]

aawww :') ichabod licks all the time and makes the chattering noise like hes eating food. Nice to know he's happy and content

 

[butsy]

butsy will lick a whole in my hand , but ive never heard her honk :O is that bad ?

 

[Rabbit Hero]

No that's not bad, My rabbit has never honked either. They just show their pleasure/displeasure in other ways. I just heard Shino stomp his foot for the first time the other day.

 

[butsy]

oh ive heard her stomp whenever i take to long to get her food in the mornings she is so spoiled!

 

[Rabbit Hero]

Aren't they all?

 

[jcl_24]

Ah the bunny foot stamping: Can bea sign of alarm or a way to say "Pay attention to me NOW!"

:energizerbunny:

 

[maxysmummy]

my maxxy hasnt licked me in a long time. i think it annoys him how much affection i give him, or he's just hormonal. humph.

 

[golfdiva]

Do rabbits have a way of just saying "hi, nice to see you"?