Hello, everybun! As you probably know, I am living with Kayla again and loving it. We did live together before, but last year we got into a little quarrel and had to be separated; now all has been forgotten. It is so nice to have somebunn to cuddle up to. Life has really changed for me and her. How so? Well, for one reason she likes to keep me clean with all her licks! (I never got a lick before from her, I guess she missed me!) Second, we’re not so lonely anymore- I’ll explain why in a moment. If you’re considering getting a second bun, I’ve come up with a few reasons why it’s such a good idea:
1.) Pairs are much easier to care for, their happier, get into far less trouble, and don’t get nearly as bored.
2.) Speaking of boredom, did you know that boredom and depression are common symptoms of loneliness in rabbits? These are accompanied by destructiveness and hyperactivity in some rabbits. Humans can fill some of the companionship, but since you can’t be fluent in all rabbit talk, we need “somebunn” to talk to and play with. The way we talk is not so much with sound as it is with our movements like grooming or the way we breathe. Having Kayla around when we’re out and about is fun; we binky over each other and chase each other around!
3.) If you’re thinking “won’t it be more expensive to have a second bun?” think again. Hay, pellets, fruits and veggies, and litter won’t break the budget. The only exception is medical care. The reason I say this is both rabbits must be spayed/neutered, and even if you start with a spayed/neutered pair, one or both rabbits may become ill and require veterinary care.
So, if you’re considering getting a second bunny, do it! I’m really happy to have two sisters to play with.
-Nilla

Tags: behavior , pairs , health , rabbit care

Hi everyone. I can’t believe that I am 5 years old! I don’t feel like I am 5 though. I still hop and run like I am 1. Hey that rhymes..ha ha! OK, let’s get down to my blog. I thought I’d share with you our language of communication. Understanding what we are saying is important. It’s how you will know if we are happy, sad or in pain. We use our body to do most of the communication, but sometimes we can be vocal. So to help you understand what we are saying, I made a list of our more common ways of communicating.
Binky: This is when we jump in the air often twisting and flicking our heads and feet. Some say it’s dancing. It means that we are very happy. Check out Blitzen’s video to see some great binkies!
Standing on hind legs: We are checking things out. Sometimes we use it for begging; I do. I get up on my legs and say: “Please, please may I have this?” Works like a charm, ha ha.
Chinning: We have scent glands on our chin. So when we rub our chin on something, like furniture, we are indicating that it is ours. Did I mention that we like to dust? I like the TV stand.
Thumping: We’re scared or in danger. It also means that we could be mad at you for arranging our stuff. See, we are creatures of habitat and when we get things the way we want them we’d like it to stay that way and may thump at you in anger. After all, how would you like it if we arranged your stuff?
Grunts: Watch out when we do! We are angry and could bite.
Spraying: Bucks that are not neutered will mark does in this manner as well as their territory. Does will also spray.
Lying flat on the ground with our legs spread out: We are very relaxed.
Tooth Grinding: This indicates contentment.
Tooth Chattering: If it’s loud it can indicate pain.
Territorial Droppings: When we leave one here and one there. It says, “This is my territory!”. Usually happens if there is another rabbit in the house.
Feet Circulating: We are in love.
Pulling out fur and collecting hay: This is a sign of pregnancy or false pregnancy. I used to do this before I was spayed. We build a nest of hay and pull out our fur. It’s a lot of work! But it is oh so soft to sleep in.
Well, there you have it. Rabbit communication 101. Interesting, huh? We love to express ourselves. That’s all for now, chat later. -Kayla

Tags: communication , behavior

Hello, my friends. It’s been a while since my last chat because I have been one busy bunny. Kayla and I have put together a video of us. Have you seen it? It’s a bunderful video!
I have been interacting with my new sister Blitzen. It’s a slow process, but overall it’s going well. See, she is much younger than me so we have to be introduced in a neutral territory. By nature, we are very territorial. If we were introduced in a territorial place like her home or my home then we would both be thinking that the other is stepping onto our turf and that wouldn’t be good. So yesterday, while she was in her playpen and I was out hopping around, I went up to the playpen and gave her a little love nip. I think she liked it. From what I’ve seen and heard (she makes a lot of noise at night) she is a very playful bunny.
I have also been taking dance lessons, yes that’s right dance lessons. Rabbits can dance- betcha didn’t know that! Every morning and night I do what mom calls, “The Nilla Dance.” When I get pellets, Mom holds the measuring cup up high and then I spin 2 times around the cup and then she puts the food in my dish. It’s fun! Maybe someday I can try gymnastics! Well, time for me to hop back home. Chat with you soon! -Nilla

Tags: bonding , fun