Bunny sounds

[Mehidk]

Just curious does anyone's rabbit make interesting noises? Being that I'm a first time rabbit-mom, every little thing makes me paranoid, making me think that something is wrong with her. Trixie has now started making these interesting grunting-ish type sound when it's time to be fed. Both morning and evening feedings. She gets VERY excited when she hears her bag of veggies, stands on her two feet and makes this grunting-ish sound. It almost sounds like in rabbit lingo"hurry up mom, you're not giving me greens fast enough". I feel like I have to rush because there's been a few times where I had not been fast enough, and she managed to hop over a 30" pen onto my bed to try and get the greens herself LOL.

Another sound I've noticed is her occasional rapid breathing. Sure, I know when we humans run out of breath, we pant. Is it the same way for rabbits; especially when it's noticeably loud when you are sitting next to them? I'm trying not to panic over every little thing, because the last thing I need is to go to the vet 4x in one month but then there's the part of me that's scared that it could be something serious and I'm unaware of it. I keep reading how rabbits are good at hiding their pain/illness and the last thing I want to do is go to work and end up coming home to my floof baby passing because of my ignorance.

Picture is for mere attention and to show off how adorable she's being right now.

 

[Hermelin]

My girl often do a grunting sound when she’s happy, grumpy, excited and dissatisfied. I can’t skip her stomping, one stop and grunting towards me while running she’s happy and want petting. Stomping a lot, grunting and nipping —> watch out or you will soon be bitten.

She always vocalize her temper and how she feels

 

[Mehidk]

My girl often do a grunting sound when she’s happy, grumpy, excited and dissatisfied. I can’t skip her stomping, one stop and grunting towards me while running she’s happy and want petting. Stomping a lot, grunting and nipping —> watch out or you will soon be bitten.

She always vocalize her temper and how she feels

Thank you for this! So far, she's only made the grunting noise when it comes to feeding so for now, I'll just take it as her being overly excited. She has not stomped but she has also grunting at me when I picked her up when she did not want to be. Then I tried to look it up on Google and Google was saying how grunting was a negative thing...so my mind started wandering if it was associated to something bad when it came to feedings. I looked up the panting/wheezing-ish noise and Google said it was respiratory issues. But the vet said she sounded fine, her heart rate was fine, and she still eats and poops normal.

Surely by now, you can see how my brain think and I tend to overanalyze things lol.

 

[Hermelin]

Thank you for this! So far, she's only made the grunting noise when it comes to feeding so for now, I'll just take it as her being overly excited. She has not stomped but she has also grunting at me when I picked her up when she did not want to be. Then I tried to look it up on Google and Google was saying how grunting was a negative thing...so my mind started wandering if it was associated to something bad when it came to feedings. I looked up the panting/wheezing-ish noise and Google said it was respiratory issues. But the vet said she sounded fine, her heart rate was fine, and she still eats and poops normal.

Surely by now, you can see how my brain think and I tend to overanalyze things lol.

Myself was also surprised how much sounds she did compared with my other bunnies. My buck Toste will only grunt when he’s scared and feel cornered but not my girl. So some bunnies just want to vocalize more than others [emoji5]

 

[john.thorpe1952]

Don't get too anxious although it's understandable that you are watching out for every little abnormality,and in fact that isn't a bad thiung-it shows you care.Just chill a little and observe.My male robbie mutters and grunts all the time when he's relaxed or happy and having a stroke and a cuddle.get used to the animal's individual little quirks and body language.I was a zoo keeper many years ago,and we were taught,in case we didn't already know, to observe,observe and observe again.you'll learn to trust your instincts given time but it's best to err on the side of caution.the other thing to remember is to always look for the simplest solution first before the complex.

 

[Orrin]

We have a neutered buck that honks (grunts) while chasing his sister. It's a dead give-away that he's being naughty.

We have an intact Flemish Giant buck that we got last week. He makes a contented squeaking sound while eating hay. None of our other buns have ever done that.

I'm told that rabbits do not have any vocal apparatus. Even so, they make noises.

 

[StellaBunny]

My girl is not fixed as is way out of my parent's budget, so she is territorial and makes noise. She grunts, oinks, an purrs, and they really help me understand what she wants.

 

[Mehidk]

Myself was also surprised how much sounds she did compared with my other bunnies. My buck Toste will only grunt when he’s scared and feel cornered but not my girl. So some bunnies just want to vocalize more than others [emoji5]

I'm learning that now! They are such characters, I love it!

 

[Mehidk]

Don't get too anxious although it's understandable that you are watching out for every little abnormality,and in fact that isn't a bad thiung-it shows you care.Just chill a little and observe.My male robbie mutters and grunts all the time when he's relaxed or happy and having a stroke and a cuddle.get used to the animal's individual little quirks and body language.I was a zoo keeper many years ago,and we were taught,in case we didn't already know, to observe,observe and observe again.you'll learn to trust your instincts given time but it's best to err on the side of caution.the other thing to remember is to always look for the simplest solution first before the complex.

I agree, I gotta calm down. I'm such a worry wart with Trixie because I'm a first time rabbit-mom and I just want to make sure I'm doing everything the right way. I'm definitely slowly learning her little quirks (I've only really had her for a little under 2 months so far). That's very cool that you were a zookeeper! You must have gotten to spend time with so many different species of animals!

 

[Morgan Mayon]

Rabbits are common garden pests that often have litters in shallow depressions in residential lawns. While in yards, they dig up plants, eat vegetation, and burrow into the ground.
Most commonly, rabbits make muttering sounds amongst themselves or squeal when they're in pain. Sometimes they cluck or chug in their sleep, much like humans snore. People may be able to hear them darting through vegetation or digging if they're close enough. Finally, if rabbits get inside, residents might hear soft bounding sounds or clicking as their nails scratch against wood.

 

[Binky4eva]

One of my boys makes squeaky noise when he is not happy. Like when my two dogs walk in his territory. Which can turn into a growl. And he is neutered and thus less territorial.

 

[Binky4eva]

I think panting can be stress and pain, BUT it can also be anticipation or excitement, as in "give me those vegies". My boy does this when he wants his plate of veggies too, and tends to throw his plate around.

 

[Anna R.]

My girl Sophie is an 8 year old un-spayed mini-rex and "talks" all the time. She is the most vocal rabbit I have ever had. Our last visit to the vet she even made a comment about it. She (the vet) didn't know rabbits could be so vocal.
When she doesn't like something she will give a kind of squeal. The higher and longer the squeal equals her level of dislike. If her mate steals her treat she runs back to me and gives a squeal to let me know she is angry and needs another treat. When I pet her and she likes it she will squeak like a mouse. The more she likes it the louder the squeak. She also grunts and an occasional growl. If she wants attention she will come over and "poke" me with her nose. If I am sitting by her and petting her with one hand she will poke the other hand to remind me that I have two hands and that they are both for petting. She is so funny. Quite the spoiled sassy little girl, at 8 years old still going strong.
My other girls are not quite as vocal but they do grunt and growl sometimes. None like Sophie though, she is one of a kind.