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Bunny following me around

22 11:11:44

Question
I have 9 bunnies (mum and dad and litter of 7), all spayed and living outside in a huge run (heated housing for winter). The bunnies are allowed to run freely in the garden and inside the house when we are around to keep them safe.

Most of my rabbits love to come inside the house, run and jump around the furniture and hide into lovely little hideouts they find.

However one of the young ones (female, 5 months old) however has gotten into an odd habbit of following me around. She acts really happy when she sees me and is clued to my heals when I run around the household doing the chores. She is mostly relaxed around my kids (3 and 5), allowing them to touch her, but otherwise shows no real interest to them, altough the other bunnies like to by cuddled by the children. She also loves to come and sit on my lap late in the evening when the other bunnies have retired into their house outside and burry itself into my hair. She pokes me with her forehead until I scratch her between her ears which seems to put her into a trance. (she closes her eyes and makes funny sounds)

She does seem to get along fine with the other bunnies, atleast I haven't seen any fighting, but she hasn't really found a "special friend" who she likes to cuddle with. She does get grooming from other bunnies, but doesn't seem to give the others much notice.

I am wondering if this behaviour is normal and if I should do something to make her more confortable around the other bunnies? I love the attention she is showing me, but I'm afraid she is lonely when I'm not around!

Answer
Hi Mira,

it sounds like this little bunny has a special bond with you.  And I think it is fantastic.  Congratulations!  

The 'funny sounds' she makes is probably her teeth grinding lightly.  They do this when they are enjoying a pet or something they find pleasant.  The poking is her saying "I'm here, I'd like a pet!"

This will not necessarily cause her problems with the other rabbits.  She does get groomed by the other ones and after all, she is a rabbit and can interact with them better than we can.  

Bunnies are like people, they each have a unique personality.  This one happens to really like you.  Apparently she can handle less interaction with the other rabbits and more with you.  She is choosing this.  And when you are not there, they get along with her (they are grooming her, which they only do to their friends, so no problems here).

Enjoy it, many people pray for such a relationship with their rabbit and never get it.  You may never have another bunny like this.

I'm happy for both of you.  Write back anytime.  Lee