Sleeping bunny

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 16sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 6 months ago by Cocoa.

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- 05/16/2018 at 10:04 PM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  So the other day I was sitting in Cocoa’s x pen with her and she was flopped in her favorite spot. She then laid her head on its side and closed her eyes. I think she was sleeping but I wanted to make sure this is normal? There was a light breeze blowing her fur so I couldn’t tell if she was breathing and as soon as I started petting her she got up and hopped over to her pile of hay. This is normal right? These are my first bunnies so I’m still learning.
- 05/16/2018 at 10:58 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Sounds like she was sleeping peacfully and trusts you a lot.
  
  Bun Jovi does this, and it still gives me a heart attack half the time.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/17/2018 at 12:31 AM
  kurottabun
  Participant
  908 posts
  From what I’ve seen, bunnies usually close their eyes completely and lay their heads to the side when flopped. So it’s normal
- 05/17/2018 at 8:20 AM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Okay. She looked kind of mad at me for waking her up. Do they only do this when they really trust you?
- 05/17/2018 at 11:10 AM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  Haha, my bunny enthusiastically flopped for the first time (that I saw) the other day and I was convinced she had keeled over dead. I panicked, thinking she had had a heart attack or something. Then I went to nudge her and she jumped up and looked indignant that I had messed with her and I realized she had just been really relaxed. Usually she just stretches out when she sleeps, but she went from standing to just falling on her side with her eyes closed so it was really startling for a moment.
- 05/17/2018 at 1:34 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  I think of it as like when I’m almost asleep, and someone says, “hey are you asleep?!”…. which can be pretty annoying!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 05/17/2018 at 2:13 PM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Ha yeah. She has stopped jumping up from her flop every time I walk into her pen. She used to jump up every time and now she stays where she is unless I’m holding something. If I’m holding something she tries to climb up my leg to see what I have.
- 05/17/2018 at 2:32 PM
  Daisy
  Participant
  199 posts
  Monster does this all the time and the first 10 times I freaked out. They may also do this and then stay on their sides with their eyes open, sometimes wiggeling/making movements with their mouth and paws. It doesn’t mean they’re having a seizure, it means they’re dreaming. :’)
- 05/17/2018 at 7:47 PM
  kurottabun
  Participant
  908 posts
  I managed to catch it on camera when my bun did it. I just stared at him until he woke up (looking really dazed).
  
  It’s too cute! https://www.instagram.com/p/BhiuCGNAzW6/?taken-by=kurottabun
- 05/17/2018 at 8:29 PM
  Bladesmith
  Participant
  849 posts
  Clover does this all the time. She does the DBF, then twitches in her sleep, dreaming, then she poops in her dream state. Usually laying beside me with my hand on her head.
- 05/18/2018 at 10:17 AM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Aww I didn’t know they did that. That’s adorable!
- 05/18/2018 at 12:44 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Ah the struggle every bunny owner goes through – wanting to check they’re not dead but not wanting to disturb what looks like a wonderful sleep.
- 05/19/2018 at 11:04 AM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Yeah she scared me the first time. I have never seen lily sleeping. Do they only sleep when you are nearby if they really trust you?
- 05/19/2018 at 11:28 AM
  Ellie from The Netherlands
  Participant
  2512 posts
  Yes, this is a big sign of trust. Rabbits are prey animals and will never sleep out in the open without a trusted buddy to “stand guard” over them Breintje always used to sleep only underneath the coffee table or hidden in his box, but lately he frequently naps somewhere on the carpet near me. It’s such a massive compliment!
  Rabbits can look odd while sleeping: when they go into REM sleep they may twitch a bit and roll their eyes. This is normal but looks super weird.
- 05/19/2018 at 11:34 AM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Okay thank you for telling me that so I don’t panic when that happens
- 05/19/2018 at 11:47 AM
  Ellie from The Netherlands
  Participant
  2512 posts
  Hehe, you’re welcome ^_^ I was just like you when my BF brought his bunny over. Constantly on the phone: “Bas! He’s doing…! Should I worry? Is he sick?”
  Bunnies can look pretty odd at times. When Breintje flopped for the first time I thought he was dead, raced over and started to cry. Then he got really annoyed, thumped and fled into his hidey box. Silly hooman!
- 05/19/2018 at 2:30 PM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Ha I would have probably done the same but I had read that bunnies do this before so I wasn’t as panicked
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