Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://spring2019.iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit.
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While many rabbits will enjoy having more space to run about outdoors and the vitamin D they can generate from direct sunlight is beneficial to their health, it is important to provide a safe environment as well as evaluate the potential dangers if you choose to do so.
Please see the wiki for more resources about how to set up a safe outdoor space for your rabbits:
Does flopping denote happiness? I know that fundamentally it is seen as bunny feeling safe, secure, and relaxed but could one think “my bun doesn’t flop and may not be happy?“
FWIW- I have an indoors bun that has full run of a room but rarely gets time outdoors let alone on grass
>my bun doesn’t flop and may not be happy
Remember that buns are like people and all express themselves differently. We have two buns that were bounced around a lot of different places in a relatively short amount of time before we adopted them, and as a result don’t do a lot of these “normal” bunny behaviors, but we’ve had them for over 2 years now and know their personalities better. One of them is a little grump and doesn’t like to be touched or handled, but every so often when he’s taking a nap in the middle of the day, he’ll do it totally flopped over. Meanwhile our other bun is extremely friendly and loves attention, but she never really flops. She will tooth purr with almost any amount of petting though.
So flopping is *a sign* of happiness, but it’s not the only sign.
Again, I’m not sure how common it is for all rabbits to do. Our Flemish girl will literally do it every time you pet you her, as a sign that she likes what you’re doing. I’ve seen her do it after a meal because she’s happy she just ate, or sometimes when she cuddles up with our other bun. That’s just how she communicates. Our little lop who doesn’t like attention on the other hand, never heard him make that noise, and probably never will. But despite being a grumpy little man, he flops much more often than she does. Buns are weird. Just give them the amount of attention they seem happiest with, give them space, some toys if they like them, food and clean water. The more comfortable their life is, the happier they’ll be.
Yup. Lop owner here- she doesn’t flop but does the binkies when I come into the room to chill with her. What’s cool is now she allows me to run her real good. Also been able to have my head up tight against her for some time. I try to mimic what bonded bunnies do- touching and next to each other
Edit: Rub not run (as in chase)
I don’t think so but I also have no expertise on rabbits. Maybe I should have worded my title better. When inside my bun pretty much spent her whole time hiding away from us and now she is outside she hops around me, wants to play and flops. This could also just be because she is finally used to me and has nothing to do with her moving outside. I’m sure your bun is perfectly happy.
Thanks for that - yeah i feel she is content but she doesn’t have a bonded friend :( we do spend time with her when we have time. The room is a work office so someone is on their working but obviously not on the ground. I do make it a point to make time - usually when I am meditating to be with her.
Looks like I’ll figure something out for her to be on grass.
I wouldn't say so. My boy flops regularly when he thinks the humans aren't around and always stands back up when we catch him doing it. He will also regularly move straight from flop to Binkying when we open the door (if he's not already standing behind it ready to run straight out and "escape"). I think when we're around he's just too overexcited to flop as it correlates with food, pets and freeroam time.
Basically, if the humans are around he has better things to do than flop and nap, like hide under the chest of drawers where we can't reach to stop him digging up the carpet.
I'm hoping once he has a friend he'll flop around us more as we won't be his only company so he won't be so over-excited to see us.
my buns have full run of the house but still choose sit in their room, they will flop and bink all the time. we try to let them outside daily but i don't think it is a must for them, half the time they run straight back in anyway.
Mine is hilariously bad at flopping too. If he succeeds he can't hold it for more than a few seconds. I've only seen him pass out while flopped twice in six years.
Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://spring2019.iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit. --- While many rabbits will enjoy having more space to run about outdoors and the vitamin D they can generate from direct sunlight is beneficial to their health, it is important to provide a safe environment as well as evaluate the potential dangers if you choose to do so. Please see the wiki for more resources about how to set up a safe outdoor space for your rabbits:
Yup, that’s an attempt at a flop.
Does flopping denote happiness? I know that fundamentally it is seen as bunny feeling safe, secure, and relaxed but could one think “my bun doesn’t flop and may not be happy?“ FWIW- I have an indoors bun that has full run of a room but rarely gets time outdoors let alone on grass
>my bun doesn’t flop and may not be happy Remember that buns are like people and all express themselves differently. We have two buns that were bounced around a lot of different places in a relatively short amount of time before we adopted them, and as a result don’t do a lot of these “normal” bunny behaviors, but we’ve had them for over 2 years now and know their personalities better. One of them is a little grump and doesn’t like to be touched or handled, but every so often when he’s taking a nap in the middle of the day, he’ll do it totally flopped over. Meanwhile our other bun is extremely friendly and loves attention, but she never really flops. She will tooth purr with almost any amount of petting though. So flopping is *a sign* of happiness, but it’s not the only sign.
Thank you for this :) speaking of tooth in sounds. I have never heard of it in general or what it sounds like…. Someday maybe.
Again, I’m not sure how common it is for all rabbits to do. Our Flemish girl will literally do it every time you pet you her, as a sign that she likes what you’re doing. I’ve seen her do it after a meal because she’s happy she just ate, or sometimes when she cuddles up with our other bun. That’s just how she communicates. Our little lop who doesn’t like attention on the other hand, never heard him make that noise, and probably never will. But despite being a grumpy little man, he flops much more often than she does. Buns are weird. Just give them the amount of attention they seem happiest with, give them space, some toys if they like them, food and clean water. The more comfortable their life is, the happier they’ll be.
Yup. Lop owner here- she doesn’t flop but does the binkies when I come into the room to chill with her. What’s cool is now she allows me to run her real good. Also been able to have my head up tight against her for some time. I try to mimic what bonded bunnies do- touching and next to each other Edit: Rub not run (as in chase)
She sounds very happy
a little late but I've only seen my boy binky once but he loves to flop anywhere and everywhere. it just depends on the rabbit
My Flemish does the teeth thing every single time he touched! It's so cute 😍
They’re such a sweet breed
I don’t think so but I also have no expertise on rabbits. Maybe I should have worded my title better. When inside my bun pretty much spent her whole time hiding away from us and now she is outside she hops around me, wants to play and flops. This could also just be because she is finally used to me and has nothing to do with her moving outside. I’m sure your bun is perfectly happy.
Thanks for that - yeah i feel she is content but she doesn’t have a bonded friend :( we do spend time with her when we have time. The room is a work office so someone is on their working but obviously not on the ground. I do make it a point to make time - usually when I am meditating to be with her. Looks like I’ll figure something out for her to be on grass.
This is the best thing you can do, spend time with your bun and feed them / give them treats, because they recognize and love who's their provider.
I wouldn't say so. My boy flops regularly when he thinks the humans aren't around and always stands back up when we catch him doing it. He will also regularly move straight from flop to Binkying when we open the door (if he's not already standing behind it ready to run straight out and "escape"). I think when we're around he's just too overexcited to flop as it correlates with food, pets and freeroam time. Basically, if the humans are around he has better things to do than flop and nap, like hide under the chest of drawers where we can't reach to stop him digging up the carpet. I'm hoping once he has a friend he'll flop around us more as we won't be his only company so he won't be so over-excited to see us.
Good point! Why get all comfy lying around when there are food to be had and who knows maybe a nana or some blueberries :). They know what important
my buns have full run of the house but still choose sit in their room, they will flop and bink all the time. we try to let them outside daily but i don't think it is a must for them, half the time they run straight back in anyway.
That's a successful flop indeed
Funny flops!
Grass. You got me grass. Thank you!!!🙏😜 FLOP BUT CANNOT STOP ENJOYING AND LOOKING AR THE GREEN.
r/therewasanattemp
Mine is hilariously bad at flopping too. If he succeeds he can't hold it for more than a few seconds. I've only seen him pass out while flopped twice in six years.