Its when they jump up in the air, seemingly for no reason at all, and do a little twist before they land.  They can either be standing still and binky, or running and do a flying binky.  It is a very humerous thing to watch.  Sometimes they land looking dazed, other times, they just go about their business as if nothing has happened!

Theresa is right and when a bunny binkies it means that they are very very very happy and enjoying themselves.  ” A binky bunny is the happiest bunny on earth!”

Binkies are so wonderful to watch! Pure joy! I love the race around the house and binky mix the best. 

Bailey does her binkies after she has received a long massage.

Jack also binkies away from me when I catch them on being naughty.  For example, if I see Jack chewing on the carpet, I approach with my squirt water bottle.(all I have to do now is shake it and he’s off)   At first I was like, what is he binkying for?  He must love being naughty!  

So it made me want to research the “binky” behavior.  And this is what I came up with:

In the wild, bunnies also do binkies for a couple of other reasons too. Sometimes females may do it as a technique to thwart off the unwanted male advances. They also do it to thwart off aggression from each other,as well as a technique to escape predators, So when Jack is binkying away, I bet it’s to thwart off a possible “squirt” of water.  

I’ve also heard the do it as a courtship dance. But I need to read up more about that.

So what may have been meant as a survival technique is now mainly used as an expression of pleasure.  Sort of like how dogs get pleasure out of playing catch and wrestling around.  And cats love to stalk & chase.  (also part of a predator survival tools) and so bunnies love to run, dodge, and jump – (again, survival tools, but for a prey animal)

i’m interested in the idea of binkying being a courtship thing. The past week Lollo has been doing running binkies round and round my legs, sometimes weaves in and out like a figure of eight doing binkies on the way. he does it mostly when i’m sitting in the yard but has also done it if i am just standing still for a few seconds- he tripped me up the first time he did it! It tends to be followed by him trying to get friendly with my leg (or trying to chew it, i tend to move before i find out either way!)
Could this be a sort of courtship dance? It certainly doesn’t put him off that i shoo him from my leg, he just starts the whole mad process again, running round me, binkying then going to my leg (he seems to prefer the right one strangely). its hilarious to watch!

And now that I think about it, when Jack’s girlfriend Rucy ventures out on her own for a while or they’ve been resting away or exploring on their own for a while, when he meets up with her, many times he will circle around her and do binkies and then he’ll try to make “the move” on her. (He is neutered and she is spayed so no real hanky panky ever goes on).  And he’s never persistent about it because he’s altered.

I know that circling and nipping is actually part of the courtship dance (though nipping is usually by novices that haven’t figured out that that will turn off many female rabbits,) but they may do it because usually when a male does mount a female, he nips at her – I guess trying to hold on. 

But then if binkies are mixed in, then it really does seem like it could be part of the courtship dance. Now I really want to research that more to find out the facts.

So it looks like he may be flirting with your leg.  Typical unaltered bunny behavior.  Is he neutered? (sorry, I can’t remember off the top of my head)  Becareful, your leg may soon be the victim of bunny love.

Courtship does sound a likely cause in that case! Lollo isnt yet neutered but i have a ‘check-up’ booked at the vets for next week so she can check he has all the right bits before they chop them off (i cant get close enough to inspect this myself and with him having plenty of black fur down there its difficult to see even when hes relatively close!)

It got really crazy last night, i tried to get away from him but he was literally chasing me around the yard and i was scared i was going to stand on him- he started off with the running/binkying then gave that up and just kept going straight for the leg. it took me quarter of an hour of moving around then putting a plank of wood between us to get away. i don’t want to encourage the behaviour by standing still, if for no other reason than that he is nipping my trousers and it hurts if he gets my leg (and i dont want holes in my clothes!) but i think he thought it was a game once i started running away from him!

i did discover just now that if i take my shoes off and roll my trouser legs right up he isnt interested in my bare legs strangely- anyway hopefully having him neutered may calm him down!

Oh, right, the running may make him even more excited, because that what the females do at first.   Bunnies!!

If he doesn’t find interest in the stuffed sock or toy, then you’ll need to get your scent on it.  So you may need to sleep with it or wear it first.

He will always choose a real live being over even a scented  toy, but at least he can be tricked into if you offer that instead. 

It’s a good idea to keep it in his pen/cage too when he’s in there, so he can seduce it whenever he wants.

Good Luck!!

fab idea about the stunt double- will def give it a go. i nearly bought a soft toy (made for dogs) the other week but the shop owner who is bunny-crazy too said she would worry Lollo would chew it and choke on the stuffing, so the socks/shirt thing is a great idea. i’m actually about to send some jeans to the charity so i think i’ll stuff one of the legs, that should be a good substitute! i’ll let you know how it goes….

Oh Boy, a goofy person after my own heart, I admit I do that too!

I’ve even got my husband doing it.   But it works!  When we binky, it does encourage the bunnies to binky too.

FUN!!!

So I wanted to update you on the research I’ve been doing.  Not that it will be a surprise to us, but it does look like dancing is way that some male rabbits try to swoon their potential female mate.

The term “Mad as a March Hare” was even derived from the leaping and dancing, (and boxing and fighting) that happens during mating season.  And even though rabbits and hares are not the same thing, it seems that they can share many of the same courtship habits.

i hope Lollo still binkys after he gets neutered next thursday…..

After his check up the vet said he was very healthy and had all the right bits in the right places. Am somewhat relieved, i needed sedation myself on the way there, i was so worried! and by the way, Lollo loves the vet. He let her pick him up, look at his teeth and behind and have a good feel everywhere. He was a very good boy and even went straight into his carry-bag when she asked him. HOW silly did i feel after telling her how he might be an awkward customer….! She said i need to be more assertive with him and i’m too wimpy when handling him. so i’m going to try it, can’t do any harm (he WILL like me!)

Posted By loopy-lop on 08/10/2006 3:00 PM
i hope Lollo still binkys after he gets neutered next thursday…..

After his check up the vet said he was very healthy and had all the right bits in the right places. Am somewhat relieved, i needed sedation myself on the way there, i was so worried! and by the way, Lollo loves the vet. He let her pick him up, look at his teeth and behind and have a good feel everywhere. He was a very good boy and even went straight into his carry-bag when she asked him. HOW silly did i feel after telling her how he might be an awkward customer….!

It sure is nice that Lollo has taken to the vet.  That sure makes
things easier!  My bunnies freak out at the vet, and Jack, well, he can
get really whacky – let’s just say he won’t take any prisoners.

But don’t worry, well okay…that’s impossible, but try not to.  I’m sure it will be fine.