Usually this occurs when rabbits give a few licks to a number of objects in the area. Rabbits also use their tongue to groom themselves and others. They are actually very clean animals who spend a lot of time self-grooming to keep their coats nice and shiny. Rabbits in pairs will even help out their fellow bonded friends by licking and grooming them too!
Grooming another rabbit is a way that these animals show affection for one another. Typically there will be a dominant rabbit who is on the receiving end of grooming much more often than the subordinate rabbit. If bonded rabbits get into a small fight or get upset at each other, a lick on the forehead is often a way to signal that the fight is over and all is forgiven and forgotten. Because rabbits are such clean animals, you will notice them cleaning themselves by licking all over.
It is perfectly normal for rabbits to spend a good portion of their days licking themselves this way and is rarely cause for concern. The only times grooming behaviors are anything to worry about is when your rabbit licks so much that they cause bald spots.
They may also end up causing bald spots on their bonded bunny if they groom their partner too much. This overgrooming can happen because of excessive stress, anxiety or boredom. If your rabbit is anxious they can comfort themselves by self-grooming or licking their partner.
Most of the time rabbits lick people for the same reasons that they lick other rabbits, to groom you! Rabbits might also lick your clothing to offer the same kind of affection. Hi Hayley just convince her how easy they are to keep or show her how well you can look after something else.
You hopefully, probably will get one in the end, I did for my 12th birthday. My Mum likes after a bunny and her baby bunny litter for a friend and grew to love them. She later purchased two from the litter, which are now my little sisters bunnies, Harry and Jasper, and noticed how well i looked after them while my Mums friend was on holiday and knew I really missed them.
My birthday was coming up, and she bought me darling Bangel, and fell in love with her, bought herself one, bred them, bought two more for breeding purposes and while she was buying Harry and Jasper of her friend, was told about a adult bunny who she had sold a year ago but had come back to her because the owner was sadly badly allergic.
She bought the rabbit, and we names her Sally. At the end of the year, before we knew it, we had 21 rabbits and counting! My mum wasn't a animal hoarder, but Harry and Jasper had babies with Bangel when they were very young accidentally, and at the same time Sally and Blossom had very very large litters. It was an amazing summer Hope you best Hayley, though you probably did not find this interesting.. Oh, and an update on my last comment I found out that my mum had bred Bangel one final litter before we spayed her.
She had been , they thought, unhappy since her first and the last litter, and thought her being pregnant would make her happy.
Three weeks into pregnancy, she is now a very happy bunny, I guess it's because rabbits can be grumpy and hormonal to begin with. I am trying to convinxe my mom to leting me have a bunny and these facts are hopefully going to let me have a bunny.
My bunny Bangel always nibbles me, but some day ago she was nibbling me, and at the same time ruining my clothes, poor little girl! It hurt and when I told my family, they said I had to get rid of sweet little Bangel. Bangel is an unusual rabbit, she can be quite grumpy with everyone and rips up her hutch but is still friendly with me, yet Im still nervous about picking her up. When I open her hutch and sit on the floor with door open next to it, she hops onto my lap, puts her paws up on me and hops away around the garage.
She litters everywhere and wondering if that is marking her territory or if she feels nervous around me. She will some times lie stretched out in the middle of the garage floor and she started a month or two ago to almost seem to like, or at least, not be bothered with me stroking her head while she eats. She used to do Binkies in the run all the time, but she doesnt now, maybe its the dramatic change in weather, since moving up to the west coast. I hope she loves me and is enjoying life, but I still have doubts.
Any help anyone? I was wondering if it's possible for a bunny to smile? My husband said our pet bunny appeared to smile at him when he saw him come into the room.
Thank you! My daughters bunny will run up to the cage and poke its nose out whenever i walk by, does this mean it likes me or wants something? I'm the adopted mommy of a cottontail rabbit. His name is Waffle. I've never owned rabbits so I thought waffle was nibbling and licking me and bouncing around all crazy like cause he was missing the outside.
He's got about a week of rehab left. My dear Waffle loves me apparently. This excites me because I'm trying to be the best mommy I can since my neighbor's pit ate the rest of his family. I have a bunny named silver his name is silver cause he is silver I tot him trick so when I say play dead he acts liks he is dead it is so funny u shoud really see it.
Hi rabbit girl I was wondering why my 1 month old bunny is always nibbling on my shirt. Does it count with hair? My bunny seems to nibble my hair a lot. Also my bunny lets me hold it like a baby when his tummy is facing me. This helped so much, at first when my bunny kept nibbling me I was worried he was mad at me, know I know he is just being nice.
But I still like the licks the best. I recently adopted a dwarf bunny and he kept "poking" me with his nose and nibbling my fingers. For a while I thought he missed his original home and hated me.
There isn't much more satisfying then having a rabbit that loves you. Thank you for this - we have a lionhead rabbit which is a buck 4 months old and he is doing all these things after three weeks with us. The laying out is really funny because he lies like a dog on his side, feet apart and head on its side!! He nudges us and has started to allow us to stroke his head and nose, but not always but we are getting there.
My rabbit died was so beautiful we thought he were a girl , we got told.. Fine then lying in run on side on Sunday.. I love this site. She's thinks she's a dog, Lol! Thanks for posting this site. Health Problems. Freshwater Pets. Freshwater Aquariums. Saltwater Pets. Saltwater Aquariums. Exotic Pets. Guinea Pigs. Pet Ownership. Animal Welfare. Farm Animals as Pets. Welcome to PetHelpful. Related Articles.
By Brett Winn. By Barbara Fitzgerald. By justmesuzanne. By Darla Sue Dollman. This study was on a large colony of wild rabbits, not domestic pets. That said, there are some hierarchical behaviors that most domestic rabbits will exhibit. Submissive rabbits will lay their heads on the ground before the dominant rabbit.
This behavior is much like how dogs living in groups will lick at the mouth of the dominant member. This act is largely attributed to self-cleaning after eating or drinking. Much like you would lick your lips after a delicious meal, so does your rabbit. It makes sure that no morsel goes to waste and clean up. Excessive lip licking may also indicate a dental or oral issue. Observe your rabbit for any other signs of discomfort or odd behavior.
It can be a bit concerning to see your rabbit licking its cage. This act can damage its teeth and inner mouth. A rabbit may lick its cage much for the same reason it licks objects — to show affection. It may also enjoy the feel or taste of cool metal. Or, it may also be licking up the residue from food or treats. Waste not, want not, right? There is also a third possible reason. If you have more than one rabbit, or the cage once housed another rabbit, its scent may linger.
If your rabbit picks up on this scent, it may be either:. Perhaps a natural cleaning solution could be a better alternative. Rabbits lick your face not only to clean you, but to show you that you are loved.
By grooming your face, the rabbit is also acknowledging that you are the dominant member of its family. A rabbit licking your hands and fingers may also be it letting you know that it wants to be petted.
In this case, it may believe it is the dominant one. Especially if it pushes its head into your palm insistently. Try not to let your rabbit lick your face if you are wearing makeup. Rabbits also lick furniture to show affection, as to a rabbit licking your belongings and home is the same as grooming you. This could be entirely unprompted behavior.
Or, it may begin to lick the wall, floor, or whatever surface you are on or near in response to you grooming it. This could include blankets, pillows, or the couch. Certain surfaces can pose a risk in conjunction with this behavior. Licking is one such means of showing love to their fellow rabbits. It also doubles as a grooming behavior. Domesticated rabbits will still want to show their love. When they see someone they feel strongly about, like you, then their little tongue comes out and they will give you a lick.
Is licking the only way rabbits can show their love? Certainly not! This one is tricky. Nipping can be a good thing, but it can just as easily be a bad one. Another instance in which nipping can be used affectionately is to get your attention. Give them some pets and the nipping should stop. In dogs, they call it the sploot. In rabbits, it may be referred to as happy feet.
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