Bunnies often sleep in a “loaf” position with eyes open. And yes, it really is sleep

Yeah, I agree with MB. Nava never sleeps with her eyes closed, I used to think she never slept. Haha.

Yeeeep. My Chacha bun likes to sleep with her eyes open, all loafed up, ears pinned back. Or flopped out. It depends on her mood.

I’ve never caught Stormy in a deep, eyes-closed sleep in 7 years. He’s always in a quick-to-alert loaf position. Bindi and Olivia sometimes flop and totally pass out though. Maybe Stormy feels that, as the elderbunny, it’s his job to keep an eye on the rabbit room.

Bunnies are crepuscular, which means they are the most awake during dawn and dusk. So the best time to catch them sleeping is mid to late afternoon or in the middle of the night. When you’re most likely to see them is during the day, and they do what the others have described. But I have seen my bunnies flop out, close eyes and start dreaming – wiggling their mouths as if chewing in their sleep, rippling their tummies. It usually happens when I am hanging out in the same room, and Samantha gets so relaxed that she just takes her nap. With no sudden moves (like I’m reading a book) and quiet outside she goes to sleep, then I see it. But often something will wake them easily. (like if you try to catch a peek and appear in the door.)

Yep, bunnies often sleep with their eyes open. I find that they’re more likely to sleep with eyes full closed when they’re in a safe hidey place, rather than out in the open. I think it also has to do with how comfortable they are – I didn’t see Hannah sleep with her eyes fully closed for over a year, but now I see it more often as she’s more relaxed. Otto is so laid back that he’ll be completely conked out, eyes closed, head nodding, right in the middle of the living room.

A good way to tell your bun is asleep even if his eyes are still open…his nose will stop twitching

My Holland Lop Peter sleeps on his side so soundly that sometimes I have to walk over and check he is breathing; I might have been emptying the dishwasher…he doesn’t move. He comes when I call so I know he hears. His girlfriend Patty is more like your bunny, always on the alert. She is new to us, just about 5 months worth, and a lot younger. And, oh, Peter snores.

   For Daisy my bunny- her nose will stop wiggling, her body will twitch, and she snores.

It took one of my rabbits, Missespants, about a year (maybe a little more) before I saw her sleeping with her eyes closed and on the side. Her ears perk up every once in a while still if there’s a sudden loud noise (if I accidentally drop something). She has the cutest dream-paw-licks.

On the other end of the spectrum, my Bighead has been sleeping on his side, flopped-out, eyes closed since day one when I bought him home from the shelter. Nothing bothers him if it’s nappy-time.

I just got my rabbit Senpai and I’ve recently seen him sleep. He got in the loaf position and I actually saw his eyes slowly start to close. It was really cute. I haven’t seen him flop yet but he does sleep a lot

OMG I had to google this when I first had my bunny. The trick is to see if your bunny’s nose is moving or not. When it goes still you know he’s asleep. Hazel didn’t sleep with her eyes closed for the first 6 months and now (2 yrs later) she falls into such a deep sleep I have to nudge her awake or stick a treat under her nose!

This post is from 2012 – we ask that members do not respond to old posts – it confuses people. I am going to lock this post.