How Do Rabbits Communicate with Each Other? - Rabbit Care for Your Bunnies

Rabbits have a secret language all their own! From honks to grunts, rabbits talk through unique vocalizations we are only beginning to understand. They also posture, preen, play, and make peace in ways that convey their emotions and needs. Rabbits establish hierarchy and friendship on their own terms. As prey animals, they even signal warnings and alarms to each other. Mother rabbits tenderly bond with their kits through nurturing communication. Humans can also learn this “bunny language” to better care for their rabbits! Join us on an adventure into the mystery of rabbit talk and what their behaviors reveal about our captivating yet cryptic lagomorphs.

Do Rabbits Verbally Communicate with Each Other?

Rabbits have a wide range of vocalizations that they use to communicate with each other. Some of the most common vocalizations include:

Grunting – Rabbits grunt to signal displeasure, anger, or to warn others to back off. Mothers also grunt to their babies to get their attention. Grunts are low-pitched sounds that usually last less than a second.
Honking – Honks are high-pitched squealing sounds that rabbits make when in extreme distress or pain. For example, a rabbit might honk if attacked by a predator or if injured. Honks are loud and get the attention of other rabbits quickly.
Clicking – Clicks are clicking sounds made by a rabbit's teeth that indicate contentment. Rabbits may click their teeth while being petted by a human or groomed by another rabbit. It signals happiness and comfort.
Screaming – Screams are long, loud, high-pitched squeals. Rabbits scream when extremely frightened, stressed or in excruciating pain. A screaming rabbit needs immediate attention.
Growling – Growls are low rumbling sounds rabbits make when angry or threatened. Mother rabbits defending babies may growl at perceived threats. Rabbits also growl during fights with other rabbits.
Tooth purring – Tooth purring occurs when a rabbit grinds its teeth together to signal happiness and contentment, similar to a cat's purr. Rabbits often tooth purr when being petted or when nursing.
Whimpering – Whimpers are soft, weak cries that sound like whimpering. Rabbits whimper when frightened, injured or separated from bonded mates. Newborn rabbits whimper when hungry or cold.

So in summary, yes, rabbits absolutely use vocalizations, ranging from grunts to screams, to communicate different emotions and needs to fellow rabbits. Paying attention to rabbit vocalizations allows owners to better understand their pet's health and mood.

My Rabbits Keep Grunting at Each Other

If your rabbits are grunting at each other, they are communicating some kind of displeasure or trying to establish dominance. Here are some common reasons rabbits grunt and what you can do:

Competing for dominance – Rabbits have a strict hierarchy in social situations. Grunting is often the first sign that one rabbit is trying to establish dominance over the other. Watch to see if one rabbit is being more aggressive and chasing or mounting the other after grunting. The grunt serves as a warning.
Competing for resources – Rabbits may grunt if competing for things like food, water, or prime sleeping or hiding spots. Make sure resources are plentiful to reduce competition.
Dislike or personality clash – Some rabbit pairs simply don't get along well. If your rabbits grunt whenever they are near each other, they may have conflicting personalities. Try bonding techniques or separate them if it continues.
Fear or discomfort – Grunting can signal that a rabbit is afraid or ill at ease. Look for causes like a new environment, loud noise, or threat that is causing one rabbit to grunt at the other. Remove the source of fear if possible.
Unspayed/unneutered rabbits – Grunting and aggression increases in unfixed rabbits due to hormonal changes. Get your rabbits spayed or neutered to decrease grunting episodes.
Maternal aggression – Mother rabbits may grunt while nursing to establish boundaries. She may also grunt at the father or siblings that get too close to the babies. This usually resolves as kits become juveniles.

To reduce grunting, try techniques like proper bonding, spaying/neutering, more resources, and removing environmental stressors. If grunting leads to outright fighting, temporarily separate bickering rabbits. Persistent grunting and aggression requires permanent separation.

My Rabbits Keep Honking at Each Other

Honking in rabbits signals extreme distress or pain. If your rabbits are frequently honking at each other, something is very wrong and they need your attention immediately. Here are some possible causes:

Harmful interaction – One rabbit may be injuring the other by biting, scratching, chasing, or mounting excessively. Carefully inspect both rabbits for wounds and separate immediately. Bonded pairs should not be harming each other.
Predator attack – If rabbits honk while appearing to hide or flee in terror, a predator like a dog may have entered the area and frightened them. Ensure the threat is removed or rabbits are safely secured indoors.
Illness or injury – Honking can indicate a rabbit is hurt or sick. Look for limping, wounds, bloating, or signs of illness like lethargy or loss of appetite. Seek veterinary care for injured or unwell rabbits.
Labor complications – Loud, strained honking may mean a mother rabbit is having difficulty giving birth. She needs an emergency vet visit to ensure her health and the survival of the kits.
Heat stress – Hot temperatures can cause heat stroke in rabbits, marked by honking, panting, and distress. Help the rabbits cool down by moving them to a cooler area, placing ice bottles in their enclosure, and offering water.
Fear – Rabbits honk when extremely frightened by something like loud noises or unfamiliar surroundings. Try to identify and remove the source of fear. Comfort the frightened rabbit by speaking softly and petting it if possible.

Honking between rabbits is not normal social behavior. Always intervene at the first sign of honking by examining your rabbits, assessing for causes, and taking appropriate action to resolve the distress. Left unchecked, the honking rabbit could face serious health consequences.

Rabbit Body Language When Communicating with Other Rabbits

Rabbits use body language as their primary means of communication with each other. Some key rabbit body language signals include:

Circling – Circling another rabbit signals interest in mating or bonding. It can also establish rank and dominance.
Chinning – Chinning is when a rabbit rubs its chin on objects, humans, or other rabbits. This deposits scent and marks territory.
Mounting – Mounting is a normal part of rabbit courtship but is also used to establish dominance. The rabbit on top is claiming higher status.
Nudging – Nudging or lightly nipping another rabbit is an invitation to groom or signal to move. It establishes connection.
Nose touching – When rabbits greet each other by gently touching noses, it signals friendship and bonding.
Standing up – When a rabbit stands fully upright on its hind legs with ears erect, it is either expressing interest and excitement or asserting dominance.
High kicks – High kicks with the hind legs are often a sign of playfulness in rabbits, especially young buns.
Spinning – Spinning and twisting movements while playing or excited often signal a joyful, energetic rabbit.
Tooth grinding – Grinding teeth usually means a rabbit is content, relaxed, or feels safe.
Licking – Licking another rabbit's head signals affection, care, and friendship. It is a common social grooming behavior.
Chasing – When a dominant or unfixed rabbit chases others persistently, it signals inappropriate behavior that requires intervention.

Paying attention to how your rabbits interact through body language allows you to support positive bonding and watch for signs of stress or discord. Understanding rabbit communication is key to keeping multiple rabbits.

How Can I Tell Which of My Rabbits is Dominant?

Rabbits organize themselves into social hierarchies with dominant and subordinate members. Here are some ways you can tell which of your rabbits is the dominant one:

Mounting – The dominant rabbit will mount the subordinate rabbits frequently, especially around the head and neck area. The subordinate allows this without retaliation.
First access to resources – The dominant rabbit gets first dibs on food, treats, litter boxes, and choice sleeping spots. Subordinates wait their turn.
Chinning behaviors – The dominant rabbit will chin you, their enclosure, and accessories most frequently to spread their scent and mark territory.
Aggressive behaviors – Dominant rabbits show more aggressive behaviors like grunting, lunging, nipping, and chasing subordinates away from preferred areas.
Grooming – Subordinates groom dominants more than vice versa. You'll see subordinates licking the dominants head extensively.
Body language – The dominant rabbit holds its body taller and ears up confidently. It initiates social interactions while subordinates react.
Personality – Dominant rabbits often have more territorial, bold, curious, and outgoing personalities compared to more timid and docile subordinates.
Breed – Larger rabbit breeds tend to be more dominant while smaller breeds are often subordinate.
Hierarchy squabbles – Watch closely when rabbits squabble over resources, mates, or areas. The winner is likely the dominant rabbit.

In fixed, compatible pairs dominance rarely causes issues. But if bullying, constant fighting, or stress in subordinates is observed, steps may need to be taken to ease dominance struggles.

How Do Rabbits Establish Dominance?

Rabbits have several behaviors they use to establish and reinforce dominance hierarchies:

Mounting – Rabbits mount each other's heads/necks to show social status, with the mounted rabbit acknowledging the other's higher rank.
Chinning – The dominant rabbit chins territory and other rabbits extensively to spread its scent and claim ownership.
Shoulder/hip bumping – Bumping subordinate rabbits with shoulders or hips knocks them off balance and reinforces who's in charge.
Circling – Dominant rabbits circle subordinates frequently as an intimidation tactic to keep them moving and backed into a corner.
Lunging – Dominant rabbits lunge or make quick movements towards subordinates to startle them and prompt movement.
Blocking access – Dominants block access to food, water, shelter sites, litter boxes, or mates to maintain their priority of access.
Nipping – Nipping and light biting of the ears, head, neck or body keeps subordinates in check.
More scent glands – Dominant rabbits often have more active scent glands to produce pheromones that signal their status.
Chase/ambush – Chasing and ambushing subordinate rabbits reinforces the dominant rabbit's higher speed and power.
Displaying confidence – Dominant rabbits puff up, extend upright on hind legs, and hold ears erect to display confidence and intimidate.
Guarding mate – A dominant rabbit guards and chins its mate while blocking access from subordinates as a show of status.

Rabbit owners should discourage excessive dominance behaviors to prevent stress or injuries in subordinate rabbits. Proper bonding, desexing, and ample resources can ease the need to constantly maintain hierarchy.

How Can I Tell if Two Rabbits Get Along?

It can take some observation to determine if a pair or group of rabbits truly get along well. Signs that rabbits have bonded happily include:

Mutual grooming – Rabbits that lick and nibble each other's fur are bonding and developing affection. Watch that grooming is mutual, not just one rabbit grooming the other.
Lying close together – Rabbits that choose to relax and sleep snuggled up likely feel safe and calm with each other.
Playing together – Social play like chasing, binkying, and jumping together are great bonding behaviors for young, active rabbits.
No excessive dominance displays – Mounting, nipping, and chasing should lessen over time between bonded pairs. Lingering dominance behaviors can signal a poor match.
Sharing resources – Rabbits that eat, sleep, and use the litter box harmoniously without squabbling are compatible housemates.
Minimal grunting or honking – These negative vocalizations signal displeasure and friction between rabbits. Bonded rabbits should not be routinely grunting or honking at each other.
Grooming humans together – Rabbits that lick or rub against their owner in each other's presence are both comfortable with the human.
Nose touching – When rabbits gently touch noses when interacting, it signals friendship and harmony.
Relaxed body language – Floppy ears, relaxed posture, and half-closed eyes indicate rabbits are calm and happy together.

Take time to observe rabbit relationships both when they interact directly and when they are simply coexisting in shared space. Happy bonds should be evident in both situations with minimal signs of discord.

When to Separate Two Rabbits

Most bonded rabbit pairs can work through minor squabbles, but severe or sustained fighting requires separation. Separate rabbits if you see:

Repeated aggressive chasing, biting, scratching, and mounting
Prolonged, loud screaming or honking indicating a rabbit is distressed
Tufts of fur being pulled out from violent nipping or scratching
Any wounds from bites or scratches that draw blood
One rabbit repeatedly cornering and terrorizing another
One rabbit excessively mounting the other's head/neck without mutual grooming behaviors
One rabbit preventing the other from accessing food, water, or the litter box
Signs of illness or injury worsening due to antagonism between the rabbits
Subordinate rabbit seems chronically stressed with no respite from bullying
Fighting that is escalating in frequency or intensity with no sign of improvement

Separate fighting rabbits into side-by-side pens so they are still aware of each other's presence and scent without direct contact. Re-introduce them after a break once hormones, tensions, and dominance issues have had a chance to settle down. Rabbits with irreconcilable differences may need permanent separation.

How Do Rabbits Say Sorry?

Rabbits communicate apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation through subtle behaviors:

Nosing and licking – After a squabble, rabbits may gently nose and lick each other as if to say “no hard feelings.” A return lick signals apology accepted.
Head lowering – The subordinate rabbit may lower its head submissively after an argument to acknowledge wrongdoing and submission.
Mounting – If the dominant rabbit allows the subordinate rabbit to mount it, it's an equalizing gesture re-establishing harmony.
Sharing food or grooming – Eating side-by-side or reciprocally grooming fur shows rabbits are at peace again.
Moving away – If the victim of lunging or nipping simply moves away after instead of retaliating, it defuses conflict.
Approaching slowly – Cautious, low approaches rather than charging communicates a non-threatening intention to reconcile.
Ignoring – When rabbits resume ignoring rather than bothering each other, it's a sign they have returned to normal relations.
Body relaxing – Less rigid posture with floppy ears signals to the other rabbit that the anger has diminished.
Play resuming – If rabbits go back to playing chase games together, happiness has replaced negativity.

While we can't know what rabbits are thinking, these behaviors suggest they have an appreciation for making amends through body language as social animals.

How Do Rabbits Communicate with Their Babies?

Mother rabbits use a combination of vocalizations and body language to communicate with their kits:

Purring – Rabbit moms purr and click their teeth to soothe anxious or nursing young. The soft sound provides comfort.
Nudging – Nudging kits with their nose or paw directs them to nurse or guides wandering young back to the nest.
Pushing – Pushing kits away with paws or nose weans older young as they begin eating solid foods.
Nipping – A nip on a kit's backside can startle them into motion if they are straying from the nest at a young age.
Circling – Mother rabbits circle kits while checking up on them to count babies and see if all is well.
Licking – Licking kits distributes scent and stimulates urination/defecation to keep nest clean.
Fluffing nest – Digging and fluffing litter or grass to refresh nest helps keep kits warm and comfy.
Chinning – Rubbing chin on nest and kits marks territory and helps babies identify their mother by scent.
Stomping – Stomping back feet against the ground warns kits to take cover in nest if mother senses danger.
Grunting – Low grunts discipline kits that misbehave and help establish boundaries as they mature.
Guarding – Mothers stay close to the nest and may growl or chase off intruders to protect helpless young.

These nurturing rabbit mom behaviors ensure kits remain safe, fed, and cared for while growing up independent and strong.

How Do Rabbits Communicate with Humans?

While rabbits have a complex language for communicating with each other, they also use certain behaviors to send messages to their human caretakers:

Verbal Rabbit Cues to Humans

Purring – Grinding teeth together signals contentment and affection for a human petting or feeding them.
Honking/screaming – Pain and distress honks alert owners that something is wrong and the rabbit needs help.
Growling – Rabbits may growl if angry or threatened by humans encroaching in their space.
Clicking teeth – Usually expresses happiness at being petted or given a treat.
Grunting – Grunts signal irritation, disapproval, or dominance if humans are trying to handle them.
Thumping feet – Loud thumps rapidly warn of danger or signal anxiety, fear, or frustration.

Rabbit Body Language Cues to Humans

Circling feet – Circling or nudging human ankles or legs is an affectionate courtship gesture.
Licking – Licking hands or feet shows bonding and salt-seeking.
Chinning – Rubbing chin on owners claims them as property and shows affection.
Nipping – Light nips communicate displeasure and mark boundaries for unwanted handling.
Pushing – Pushing their head into human hands or legs insists on more petting and affection.
Digging – Frantic digging at cage floor means rabbits wants out for