No, I figure it’s a distraction that keeps them from resting rather than something that keeps them company…but that’s just me because that’s how I feel…I have no idea how they would feel about it. I do know they hate the sounds of people working out side pounding on stuff so maybe they might feel the same way about a sound in their room.

I leave a radio on for the bird, because birds naturally make a lot of noise and quiet makes them nervous. With my buns, a lot of noise makes them nervous and they like things quiet, so I just leave a soft light on for them (in case it gets dark for whatever reason, even if it’s daylight).

Since my bunny can be right by the window, I notice she enjoys listening to all the noises going on outside. Doesn’t seem like there would be much going on, but when I lie in the room with her, I can hear lots of things — birds, the subway/bart off in the distance. A train, a dog a couple doors down, people taking a walk along the sidewalk, the mailman, sprinklers, a bicycle, a skateboard, crows settling into a big tree a few door down at around 7pm each night, a squirrel crawling down our big redwood tree….just goes on and on. . Though I used to have light music going, I realized when I hung out without any noise, how much activity “listening” wise can really go on. I imagine since rabbits have much better hearing than eyesight, they are just as entertained through hearing. In a way it’s like watching everything….but with their ears.

Of course, each place is different and so what might be great solution for one place may be terrible for another…and vice versa.

Also, a bunny goes into their deepest nap time during the day when I am out, so it’s not something she would miss. They don’t respond like dogs to to having sound for company. They have much better hearing than we do, and I wonder if music would mask their ability to hear the natural noises. They are very alert to birds, intruders, the ice cream truck coming…

My bunny, Hodari, is used to hearing music most of the day. My DH has his office in the room next to hers, and he plays classical music all the time to help him relax and concentrate on his work. We don’t generally leave the radio on for Hodari if we’re going somewhere, but if we’re going to have a long day away from home, then we sometimes do. I read that rabbits like to listen to a friendly voice, and enjoy hearing their people talk to each other/ to someone on the phone. So, on the unusual occasions when I do leave the radio on, I tune it to NPR, where someone’s always talking, or to classical music, which Hodari is accustomed to hearing. I leave it turned down lower than I would for myself, and it gives me a little peace of mind that she has some familiar sounds going on in our absence.

Posted By Silly Sungura on 09/03/2011 02:19 PM
… I read that rabbits like to listen to a friendly voice, and enjoy hearing their people talk to each other/ to someone on the phone. So, on the unusual occasions when I do leave the radio on, I tune it to NPR, where someone’s always talking,

My bunny Rucy (RIP), really enjoyed listening to me talking.   When i was on the phone she’d come closer and hang out. She also seemed to just get calm when I would talk to her.  So there is something to that.  

Vivian is always startled at first, but then gets used to voices.  She seems to like it when I talk to her, and like Rucy, it ends up calming her. But she is very senstiive to a raised voice.  So if I am in the bunny room and I raise my voice to answer Steve from another room, it freaks her out, so I am more senstive about that now.  

I have a neighbor who has a tone in her voice that sort of hurts my ears (nice lady, just one of those voices that make your ear drums wiggle). and on top of that she has a tendency to unintentionally talk loudly.  Anyway, everytime she would come over to chat, Jack would thump and thump and thump.   

I leave the radio on for Chessie when I’m not home.
It seems to comfort her
When it’s too quiet – she tends to get nervous/anxious.
I see her ears twitch from time to time … maybe she has a favorite song here and there