FLOPS, BINKIES, and TAIL FLICKS: these are all signs of happy, joyful rabbits. Tail flicks can be the hardest to see but they are the equivalent of the human female hair toss – a little happy flirty move that charms.
Courtship in bunnies is quite brief. The female generally secretes an airborne hormone scent, referred to as a pheromone. Once the male detects this scent, courtship behavior may begin. The male and female sniff each other, possibly to make sure of each other's sex and mating receptivity.
Licking is a way bunnies groom each other. If your bunny licks you, it's a sign of affection as you'll often see pairs of bunnies grooming each other this way. A bunny lick is a sign of a bond.
When a rabbit nibbles or bites you softly it is often accompanied with licking, which is a sign of love. He is trying to groom you and is simulating the grooming process (however, you have no fur to build up knots in so it results in just a little nibble of the skin).
Mounting each other: This is really common when you first introduce two rabbits. Mounting – or 'humping' – is one way that rabbits sort out who's the boss in a pair or group. They might nip or pull each other's fur. This is normal, so don't separate them unless they start fighting in earnest.
Mounting is a form of communication and a way of establishing dominance. It will likely stop or lessen over time as the rabbits' relationship solidifies. Less common, but possible, is love at first sight. The bunnies may groom each other or cuddle with each other.
A Special Bond
Many of these pairs do almost everything together. Whether it is eating, sleeping, grooming or simply exploring their surroundings, bonded pairs make everything a group activity. Physically, these bonded bunnies spend hours cuddling and sleeping together, ensuring the other is safe and comfortable.
As a general rule, rabbits are bonded once they can spend 48 hours together without any chasing or aggressive behaviors. You also want to see positive signs such as grooming, sharing food, and sleeping next to each other to confirm that your rabbits feel safe around each other.
A position used for mating, It's also a form of communication. It might mean, “I want to play with you,” or “I'm in charge here!” or “I love you” —and probably has meanings we'll never know. The comments in this article refer to either same-sex rabbits or neutered or spayed rabbits.
A bunny who is angry with their owner or another rabbit may let them know by giving them a cold shoulder, or Bunny Butt. They will turn their back on you and refuse to look at you. Bunnies hold grudges.
Rabbits might nudge, push, or toss things around as a form of play, to solicit attention from you, or as a territorial behavior meaning “mine!” or “get out of the way!” Rabbits can be very territorial and particular.
One rabbit will put their head down, a request for grooming, and the other will lick and snuffle, getting that fur in order. This is a sign of trust and affection. FLOPS, BINKIES, and TAIL FLICKS: these are all signs of happy, joyful rabbits.
Many bunnies enjoy cuddles and affection
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory.
Be aware that rabbits do not kiss in the same way as humans. She will rub noses or lick you. These are signs of affection in rabbits. Licking, in particular, is a huge compliment.
Rabbits in this population mate randomly; thus, the probability of mating two white rabbits is the same as the probability of mating between two brown rabbits.
While female – male bonding tends to be easier, you can certainly bond two females or two males together. Next, each rabbit will require its own space with their own personal things.
When you keep rabbits together, they form a 'pecking order', with some animals becoming more dominant than others. Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if you leave them on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so you should keep your rabbit with at least one other friendly rabbit.
Why does my rabbit put her head down when I pet her? When your rabbit lays their head down flat on the ground, they are enjoying being pet and are laying still so that you continue. They might even close their eyes or nudge your hand if you stop petting them.
A good place to start is to look at your rabbit's ears. If they're close together, facing upwards and pointing outwards, your rabbit is likely to be relaxed and happy. If they're worried, their ears will be flattened against their back.
The rabbit may also be very aggressive and lunge at people who enter their territory to try to get any intruders to go away. Often times with rabbits, lunging is a warning. They don't want to hurt you, but they are letting you know they could if you don't back off. This behavior is almost always accompanied by a growl.
Bonded rabbits can also break their bond. This can happen if they've been separated, for example if one bunny needs to spend a few days at the vet. It can also happen if you move house, move or change your rabbit enclosure, or upset the hierarchy by introducing new rabbits.
Rabbit pairings
Rabbits can live happily in male/female, female/female, male/male pairings and larger mixed groups. However, the most natural and therefore easiest pairing is male/female. In the wild, rabbits tend to live in male/female pairs and will sometimes remain partnered for life.
It is very common for dogs, rabbits, to try humping people. This typically happens when you keep single animals in captivity, whether at home as pets or in the zoo. They do this when they are sexually frustrated because of a lack of sexual partner.