Rabbits are intelligent, active, social and inquisitive. So giving them the freedom to explore, exercise and forage, as well as to socialise, is vital to your pets' health and wellbeing. Although enclosure size is very important, what it contains is also important.
Good quality hay and/or grass, always available, should constitute the majority of rabbits' diets. - Rabbits graze, naturally eating grass/other plants for long periods, mainly at dawn and dusk. - Rabbits' digestive systems need grass and/or hay to function properly.
Nudging, head butting or rubbing against you is rabbit body language for loving attention. 'Give them a stroke or cuddle, or what you know they enjoy', says Rosie.
The best way to gain your rabbits' trust is by simply spending lots of time being near them, while allowing your bunnies to approach you in their own time.
Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet. Grass hay is high in fiber, which is critical to maintaining a rabbit's healthy digestive tract.
My rabbits like being stroked on their forehead and cheeks. They put their head on the ground and close their eyes in contentment. They also love getting a good back scratch around the shoulders. That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail.
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.
If your rabbits look tucked up and quiet with their chins tucked in and noses not twitching this can be a sure sign of them feeling unhappy or stressed, as this is not a normal position for a rabbit. Moving or running away. Your rabbits may turn and move away from you (or each other) if they're unhappy.
Typically this isn't something you should worry about especially since it often doesn't hurt. Many times this is how your pet rabbit will show its love for you. When a rabbit nibbles or bites you softly it is often accompanied with licking, which is a sign of love.
Ask any bunny owner who interacts regularly with his pet and he'll tell you that, just like dogs or cats, rabbits get to know their owners well. They recognize them by voice and sight and will even come on command. Bunnies may even follow their owners from room to room and jump up on their laps when called.
Domestic rabbits will bite as hard as they need to. Sometimes your rabbit will just give you a little gentle nip. This can sometimes be your rabbit showing affectionate or trying to groom you. A nip may also be a gentle, first warning when your rabbit is trying to tell you something.
The best places to pet a rabbit are their forehead and behind their ears. The cheeks and strokes down their backs are also good spots. But rabbits dislike being pet on their bottom, feet, chin, and underside.
Rabbits enjoy playing games with people that appeal to their mischievous side and give them a chance to get treats. Games such as reverse fetch and tug-o-war, among others, give you ways to interact with your rabbit while also giving your rabbit a chance to have a lot of fun.
3 - 5 years old: Middle Age
They may also become more and more affectionate, particularly house rabbits who live closely with their owners. Their level of trust in us has built up to the extent that they feel completely safe and secure in their home and able to truly relax and take it easy.
Rabbits are social animals, and the best social companion for them is another rabbit. However, they don't always realize this at first. They need to establish territory and dominance and it's up to them to decide this. It can take hours, days, maybe weeks - but I've never had a bonding take that long.