Why do male rabbits rub their chins

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This is a weird one, but…they’re marking you.

Once your bunny has rubbed you with their chin, you belong to them.

Sorry, I don’t make the rules.

Personally, I’d be very flattered if one of my bunnies chinned me. It’s never actually happened.

They have, however, marked stuff that was mine and then when I’ve gone to pick it up, gotten all mad about it. I can only assume that ‘i’ve chinned it so it’s mine’ is legally binding within rabbit communities.

Why do rabbits chin their own stuff?

I think they’re just reaffirming that it’s theirs.

When Daisy was really poorly with head tilt we had to keep her separate from Holly. Holly was just too boisterous and it was pretty exhausting for Daisy to be around her all the time (especially since Holly was VERY disrespectful and kept, for example, standing on her head.

So whenever we let Holly free roam (and therefore have access to Daisy) she’d head straight for Daisy’s stuff (toys, dolls, etc) and chin it all.

A lot of rabbits do it in an almost aggressive way, running around chinning everything, but Holly acted more like an old lady at a garage sale. She’d wander around looking at everything curiously, stopping every now and again to give this or that a quick chin.

From what I’ve observed, other rabbits aren’t mad about stuff being chinned. Daisy didn’t rush to reclaim everything by chinning it herself.

EXCEPT ACTUALLY

I swear that bun has been reading this website. So I was cleaning out the litter box the other day and i sat on the floor to add some fresh hay. We’d had to get some stuff from Pets at Home which is fine, but really compacted, so it takes a while to get it out and it makes a mess.

Because I knew it’d take a few minutes and I didn’t want to spread hay all over my freshly vacuumed carpet I sat down next to the litter tray with the hay on my knee. Holly had retreated under her table at this point (the vacuum is definitely out to get her), but Daisy was only a couple of feet away. She RAN over and started furiously chinning the hay bag. Weird.

Since they’ve been free roaming, Daisy is a LOT more confident. If we give Holly a treat she has to zoom away with it, otherwise Daisy (yes, tiny, disabled Daisy) will nick it from INSIDE OF HER MOUTH. Even though she has her own treat. She also likes to run in circles with the treat in her mouth. No idea why.

Why specifically chinning stuff?

If you think about it, chinning is kind of similar to a cat or dog rubbing themselves against you. Cats will often rub their head on you. We think they’re being affectionate, but actually, they’re going ‘this bitch is MINE’.

Rabbits have scent glands on their chins, so they can smell where they’ve been. Like a much nicer version of dogs peeing on stuff.

Of course, if you have an unfixed male (or occasionally a female) they will also pee on stuff to mark their territory. But that’s more about who’s land is whose. Chinning is more like claiming individual items.

Although when it comes to anything soft that you can dig in, peeing on it seems to be the standard way to claim it. Be aware of this when it comes to things like cosy bunny beds, cosy human beds, and rugs.

Why does my rabbit NOT chin things?

How much your rabbit chins varies a lot depending on…who they are.

Usually, if you have a pair, they’ll be fairly similar in their chinning habits, because if they weren’t that’s like one of them admitting they don’t have any stuff.

For every rabbit that has never chinned a thing in his life, there’s another that insists on chinning every treat that comes their way.

It may be something to do with the way they were brought up (I’ve always had rescues so I’m not sure how old rabbits are when they start chinning stuff) – for example, a rabbit that had a lot of other rabbits around may chin a lot more than a single bun.

Ooooor some rabbits like to chin. Who knows?

Pet bunnies are full of personality. They can be hopping around like an energetic toddler or lounging on the couch like a retiree with not a care in the world. Deciphering patterns in behavior, certain noises, or bunny body language can help you understand what your bunny is feeling or trying to communicate.

Get to know your pet bunny by learning their behavior with these tips.

BEHAVIORS

“Binkying” or “Boinking”:

As a way of expressing joy, bunnies typically dance by leaping into the air. As many bunny owners call it, a boink, is a sign of excitement. Also called a binky, the rabbit sometimes gets a running start into their sudden burst.

Chinning:

Rabbits have a unique way of showing many emotions, and chinning is one of them. Their chin has special scent glands on it, so they mark their territory with their chins. Similar to pet cats rubbing against your leg, if your pet rabbit places their chin on your shoulder or arm, they are claiming you as theirs.

Digging:

Rabbits will dig with their feet onto their owner’s legs or feet as a way to get attention. They are typically looking for a treat or to be petted.

Flopping:

A flop is when your bunny rolls over onto their side. This indicates contentment when bunnies roll over and flop down to relax.

Kicking Up Feet:

Not to be confused with a boink or a bink, when bunnies kick their feet up while hopping away, this is a sign of being displeased. It appears that they are kicking dirt in their opponent’s face as a way of expressing their displeasure.

Licking:

Licking is a way bunnies groom each other. If your bunny licks you, it’s a sign of affection as you’ll often see pairs of bunnies grooming each other this way. A bunny lick is a sign of a bond.

Nudging:

Nudging can either mean one of two things: Your rabbit is trying to get past you or smell something and you’re in their way. Or they are trying to get your attention because they want a treat or to be petted. Whether an act of bossiness or attention seeking, your rabbit is trying to get your attention.

Nipping:

Sometimes an ignored nudge is followed up with a nip as a way to get attention. They typically don’t mean to harm the person with this small bite. In other cases, you might get a nip when you’re in your rabbit’s space and they feel territorial or threatened.

Running Around:

Sometimes bunnies run around at high speeds to show their excitement. As mentioned, the speedy movement is sometimes followed by a boink. You might experience this behavior when your bunny is about to get a treat.

NOISES

Grunting:

A grunt or a growl from your bunny signifies anger or stress. This is their warning that they need space.

Honking:

Excited rabbits will sometimes emit a honking or buzzing noise. This means they are happy or feeling excitement about whatever they are doing.

Screaming:

The only time you’ll hear your bunny scream is if they are in tremendous pain. They should be attended to and brought to the vet immediately if you hear a scream.

Teeth Grinding:

When a bunny grinds their teeth, they are communicating enjoyment. It’s typical to hear a purr or teeth grinding when a rabbit is getting petted. On the contrary, loud and often teeth grinding mixed with a hunched or tense posture means they are feeling pain.

Thumping:

This is a bunny’s way of warning others they sense danger. A thump noise is made when the bunny hits their hind leg against the ground to communicate to others that they should “watch out.”

Keep an eye on your bunny’s behavior and an ear out for any noises they make. This will help you decode what your pet is feeling and how to assist them in case they need your attention. To learn more facts about your pet bunny, visit our blog post. And remember to keep the right supplies for your pet with this complete checklist for your pet bunny.

Sources:

http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-behavior/binkies-nose-bonks-and-flops-bunny-behavior-explained/

https://www.petcha.com/12-common-rabbit-behaviors-that-might-puzzle-you/

http://www.bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/rabbit-behaviour/common-behaviour.html

Pet rabbits participate in many behaviors you may find peculiar. One of these is rubbing their chin against objects or people around your home. You do not know whether this is an attempt to be affectionate, or something you should be concerned about. So, why is your rabbit rubbing their chin on everything?

Rabbits may rub their chin places because they have scent glands located there. This is their way of marking their territory on an object, or person. Rubbing their chin on an area is also known as “chinning.”

I will be discussing why rabbits rub their chin on objects in further detail, as well as some other rabbit behaviors that may confuse you. I will also cover when territory marking becomes an issue.

Why is Your Rabbit Rubbing Their Chin on Everything? Also Known as “Chinning,” Rabbits Rub Their Chin on People and Objects to Mark it as Their Territory. This is to Let Everybody Know Something is Theirs, or They Have Been to a Certain Area.

This action is known as “chinning.”

Rabbits have a scent gland under their chin which they are using while they are rubbing their chin on an area. When they rub their chin, a small amount of their unique scent comes out of the gland and is released onto the area they are rubbing.

Humans are unable to smell this unique scent given off by a rabbit, and it does not leave any visible marks. The scent gland in a rabbit also does not damage fabric, furniture, walls, or anything else a rabbit may choose to rub their chin on.

Other rabbits are able to smell the scent, even though humans cannot. This is why it is used as a tactic for marking territory in rabbits. A rabbit may mark everything they consider themselves the owners of.

Their food bowl, sleeping area, edges of the cage, and owner are not uncommon things for a rabbit to rub their chin on.

What are Some Other Behaviors Besides Chinning Rabbits Do That May be Puzzling? Chinning Can be a Very Confusing Action for Some Pet Owners at First. The Rabbit is Rubbing Their Chin Against Their Owner, So the Owner May Assume it is a Sign of Affectionate. In Reality, it is a Sign of Marking Territory. There are Many Other Actions Rabbits Partake in That Prove to be Puzzling for Pet Owners.

Here are some common puzzling behaviors rabbits partake in…

• Chinning
• Running all around- Rabbits may do this if you changed the layout of the room, or space they are normally in. Rabbits like routine since they are timid and easy to scare, so changing the layout may make them nervous and cause them to run around the room retracing their steps.
• Eating Poop– Rabbits eat a small bit of their poop known as “cecotropes.” This is different from a rabbit’s normal pellet poop. A cecotrope contains vital vitamins and nutrients they may have missed the first time they ate.
• Licking their owner-Often when two rabbits are bonded, they will groom each other. A rabbit may show you their fondness of you by licking you as they would a bonded rabbit. They may also lick you to let you know they want to be pet.
• Nudging-Another tactic to gain attention from owners that rabbits may use is nudging. Rabbits may take their nose and nudge your hand or arm in hopes you will pet them. They may also nudge at you if you are eating something they want.
• Grinding teeth-When a rabbit is happy and relaxed, they may grind their teeth together gently, and almost in a rhythm. You may be able to hear this if you are close enough or are petting your rabbit.
  • This should not be confused with loud teeth grinding! Loud teeth grinding can be a sign of pain and will most likely be paired with tense body language.
• Thumping: If a rabbit is not happy with something you or someone else did, they may respond with a stamp from their hind foot. They may do this if another rabbit is agitating them, or if you put them back in their cage as they were enjoying themselves in their environment. This action may be followed by hopping away and a back turned to you.
• Jumping:If a rabbit is feeling playful or happy, they may take off running and hop into the air. This jump may be accompanied by a heel click. This is often referred to as a “boink” or binky.
• Tossing things: Rabbits may toss items around their cage as a way to get your attention, for example, an empty food bowl. They may also throw their toys around the cage or play area just as a sign that they want you to play with them.
• Growling or Lunging:A rabbit will usually growl when they feel threatened. If your pet is backed into a corner and feels they have no way to escape, you will likely hear the growl. This may follow with a lunge. Try to avoid putting your rabbit in situations where they feel the need to lunge or growl, as this is stressful for them.

There are plenty of behaviors rabbits partake in that owners are puzzled by. Knowing the meaning of each one is very important to understanding the health and feelings of your pet. Some feelings are positive, and some are not, that is why it is vital to know the meanings and how to handle them.

Chinning is usually harmless, however, there may be times when it can be accompanied by a negative response and understanding these signs are important as well.

Can a Rabbit Marking Territory by Rubbing Their Chin on Everything Cause Problems? As Long as the Space is Being Respected, this is Not Something that Should Cause Problems. If You Own Two Rabbits You Must be Vigilant with Making Sure Each of Their Space is Respected. Failure to do so May Result in Aggression or Fighting.

This type of territory marking is generally harmless, as it leaves no smell or mark behind that is noticeable to humans.

However, if you have more than one rabbit this may become a little bit more complicated. With more than one rabbit present in the home, you must make sure each rabbit has their space to mark. They must have their own food bowl, litter pan, water, and unless closely bonded, their own cage. If they feel they do not have their own space, they may get into fights over territory.

If rabbits are going around your house rubbing their chins on everything, but rubbing their chins on the same items, they are marking the same items as their own. This may cause a dispute which could end up in hostility or a fight, possibly injuring one or both pets.

With each rabbit having their own designated space, they should be more focused on that than other areas of the home.

All of the people and other pets must be respectful of your rabbit’s space as well. Trying to reach in and grab the rabbit out of their cage, or grab items out of their cage while they are in it could be disastrous. You should only clean or take items out of the cage when they are out and preoccupied.

With other pets such as cats and dogs, it is important to keep them out of the rabbit’s space. This is not only important for the safety of the rabbit because the pet might hurt them, or the rabbit may get anxious, but that animal would be invading the rabbit’s territory. This may result in the rabbit lunging or biting the other pet in an attempt to defend their territory.

For the most part, chinning does not become a problem unless the correct environment is not set up and respected. There are other ways in which marking territory can be a major inconvenience, as well as upsetting for pet owners.

Rabbits may choose to mark their territory in other ways which involves spraying urine or leaving behind large amounts of droppings. Both male and female rabbits have been known to perform this action when it comes to marking territory.

Again, this can be combated by ensuring the rabbit has their own space.

When a Rabbit is Rubbing their Chin on Everything in Their Home, it Means They Are Marking Their Territory. This Behavior is Generally Not Something to be Concerned Over, However, if it is Happening Too Excessively in All Areas of Your Home, You May Want to Evaluate the Space You Have Set Up for Them, and How it is Being Respected.

Chinning is a normal activity done by rabbits. It does not usually effect humans unless territory marking turns to spraying urine or leaving droppings all around.

Overall, a rabbit rubbing their chin on things is just a cute activity that should not have any negative effects on you, sit back and enjoy the rubs!