Boxing

If your rabbit 'boxes' you with its front paws when you try to get near it, it is telling you to keep away. This behaviour either comes from a female rabbit when they have kittens or from a male when they think that you're a threat.

Chin-Rubbing

If you see your rabbit rubbing its chin on things it is simply marking out its territory. It has scent glands on its chin and although the smell it secretes lets other rabbits know who's property is who's, people luckily can't smell it!

Rabbits have some - to us - strange behavioural quirks



Circling

When a buck is on the look out for a mate he might well go round in circles making strange droning noise.

Crepuscular

Rabbits are crepuscular which means that they are most active in the morning and evening. So this means that they will be especially pleased to see you in the mornings and evening!

Flattened

In a last vain attempt at hiding from a predator a rabbit will flatten itself against the ground pretending that it isn't there! You may find that a new rabbit will do this if you loom over the top of it because it thinks that you're dangerous.

'Play Dead'

This is actually the sign of a contented rabbit. It can look convincingly dead lying on its back with its legs stretched out.

'Ready For Anything'

Sitting up with bright eyes, nose twitching and ears up and swiveling round.

Screaming

A very frightened rabbit.

Spraying

Rabbits or bucks don't just rub things with their chins to mark territory, they will spray urine as well.. onto their hutch, a chair and even onto you!

Thumping

If a rabbit that thinks it is in danger it will thump the ground with its back leg. This is an instinct from its days living in underground warrens. The thumps alert other rabbits to the danger.