Okay, why do rabbits flops, binkies, and nose bonks? Well, rabbits exhibit different habits and traits as they grow older into adulthood. Some of these traits would be typical of any animal which has attained a certain level of maturity. But some get your attention and leave you wondering what such habits mean.
Well, this is the case for most, if not all rabbits. Rabbits are one of those animals that exhibit a wide range of gestures and body displays, with all bearing different meanings. You may have noticed your rabbit flops around, binkies, or make nose bonks at some point. All of these have their respective interpretations and as a pet rabbit owner, you need to learn these gestures so you can understand and connect with your pet bunnies better.
In this article, we are going to be covering the following topics relating to why a rabbit flops, binkies, and nose bonks, such as:
- Why do rabbits do binkies?
- When do rabbits binky?
- Why does my rabbit keep flopping?
- Why does my bunny nudge me with her nose?
- Why is my rabbit spazzing out?
Read along to learn a few of these rabbit behaviors and what they mean.
Why Do Rabbits Do Binkies?
Firstly, let us talk about what a binky looks like. There are typically two kinds of binky that a rabbit does. The first is the half binky and the other is called a full binky. A full binky is when a rabbit makes a spontaneous jump into the air whilst twisting its body in different directions. Rabbits either run before making this leap or they do it while on one spot. Most times, rabbits can do binky 2 to 3 times—sometimes more—before settling down.
Half binkies are a little bit different. A half-binky is when a rabbit flicks its head swiftly to make its ear wiggle. Though both kinds of binkies may indicate the same emotions for a rabbit, they also can differ in magnitude and meaning.
There are different reasons why a rabbit does a full or half binky.
1. For a full binky
A full binky generally indicates excitement. When a rabbit makes a twisted leap in the air several times, it is simply in a state of overexcitement. Rabbits can be thrilled by any number of things to include seeing a person they like or setting their eyes on a treat. A typical day in the open after a few plays and exercise can make a bunny do a binky before it eventually settles down.
2. For a half binky
A half-binky can also indicate excitement. Some people think a half-binky is not a sign of happiness but it is equally is an expression of elation or contentment. Nonetheless, a half-binky could also mean a symptom of an ailment. Examples of such ailments include ear infections, tumors, or early stroke which can cause a rabbit to tilt its head in one direction.
When Do Rabbits Binky?
Many factors come together to determine when and why a pet bunny binkies. Some of these factors depend on the age, personality, and general wellbeing of the rabbit. When a rabbit is in good shape, eating well, and generally has a balanced play life, they tend to be binky often.
Below are a few of these factors that contribute to when and why a rabbit binks.
1. Personality
All rabbits are unique in their various way and some rabbits will certainly be more active than others. Most times, a very active or agile rabbit would binky more often than one that is calm and reserved.
2. Health Status
The health status of a pet bunny is also a determinant factor in the way it binks. A once-happy rabbit that binkies often may suddenly stop binkying altogether. This may be a sign that such a rabbit is weak or could be a symptom of an ailment.
3. Age of the Rabbit
The age of the rabbit matters too when it comes to the way it binks. Older adult rabbits would binkY less than younger ones. This does not necessarily mean that older rabbits don’t get happy or excited. It is simply an indication of maturity and reduced energy that comes with age.
4. Energy Levels
This is another strong determinant factor in the way a rabbit binkies. Rabbits generally have different energy levels at different times in a day. It has been studied that rabbits are more active in the mornings and early evenings, so expect them to be binky more at these times.
5. Surroundings
The type of surrounding a rabbit lives in influencing the way it binkies. A pet rabbit living in a smaller and constricted environment is less likely to be binky than one that lives in a bigger space.
6. Psychological Status
A rabbit that is generally bored and unhappy for the most part would likely not be binky frequently. This is why it is always important to give your pet bunny the right attention and to keep them happy and well stimulated.
Why Does My Bunny Keep Flopping?
First off, what does bunny flopping mean?
A bunny flop is used to describe a situation where a rabbit makes a quick fall to its side, almost like letting go of itself like a mock-death scenario. The action is also referred to as “lamb chop” due to the shape the rabbit takes when it drops to this position.
Bunnies flop for several reasons. It could just be that they are generally happy or excited about their environment. Bunny flops are also a way rabbits communicate their emotions. Rabbits don’t show emotions through facial expressions the way some other animals and humans do. They express theirs’ via swift movements or full-body actions like thumping their feet, kicking dirt, growling, grunting, gnashing of teeth, or screaming.
Each of these actions has its respective interpretations to mean happiness, pain, frustration, and anger.
You can tell a rabbit’s emotions just by watching the way it flops. Bunny flops come in different ways, for instance, a rabbit may jerk its head from side to side before dropping to the ground. There are other things it could do before and after this which can tell you what it is feeling or trying to communicate at the point in time.
We will explore some of these body movements to understand what each means.
Binkying
When a bunny binkies before it does a flop, it could be a sign that your bunny is extremely happy and is having the most fun.
Purring, buzzing, or honking
When a rabbit does one or some of the following after doing a flop, it tells that the rabbit is content and feels relaxed. It could follow this up with a long stretch and close its eyes.
Bunny 500
When a bunny flops after doing a bunny 500, it is an indication of weariness but isn’t expressing discontentment.
Why Does My Bunny Nudge Me With Its Nose?
There are many reasons why your pet bunny nudges you with its nose. But the common denominator for all of these reasons is that nose bonks are an endearing way a rabbit communicates with its owner.
Let us explore the meanings of these nose bonks:
- When your pet bunny nose bonks you, it could just mean that it wants you to pet him.
- It is also just a way of getting your attention. When ignored, it could follow up a nose bonk with a nip.
- A nose bonk is also an indication that your pet bunny wants a treat from you.
- A pet rabbit will nose bonk you as a way of greeting, especially when it has gotten used to you.
- Asides from a greeting gesture, nose bonks are a way of investigating its environment with you included.
- Another reason a rabbit nose bonks you is to get you out of the way. You may just be in its path and it is simply trying to get through. This happens rarely anyway.
- Lastly, a nose bonk is a subtle way a rabbit shows authority and is trying to mark its territory.
Why Is My Rabbit Spazzing Out?
Vet doctors get a lot of complaints like this from pet bunny owners. A common episode can go thus: you are sitting in the parlor, and suddenly your pet rabbit goes out of control and starts jumping around sporadically. It could start tearing the whole place down before it settles down in a quiet, secluded place and does nothing else.
Sometimes it can follow this up with falling on its side while breathing heavily, and may just be generally irresponsive.
This comes as a shock to some rabbit owners especially since this type of behavior does not happen very often. It could be very bizarre and scary to watch; nonetheless, it is nothing new to the rabbit world.
When your pet bunny displays this kind of erratic behavior, it should not necessarily be a source of serious concern.
There are two main things associated with a rabbit spazzing out:
- It could just be an indication of restlessness following a wry neck which can cause imbalance.
- Your rabbit may have an inner ear infection that may be very worrisome.
For either one of these cases, this may be a good time to pay a visit to a vet doctor to rectify the problem.
Now that you know why your pet rabbit flops, binkies, and nose bonks, it’s time to give them the adequate care they need. The fact that you know the meanings attached to these gestures means you know what they want when they do so. There’s nothing better than knowing what your rabbit wants per time.