{"id":664,"date":"2020-05-11T16:06:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T16:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/?p=664"},"modified":"2024-01-07T15:34:39","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T15:34:39","slug":"why-do-bunnies-rub-their-chin-on-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/why-do-bunnies-rub-their-chin-on-everything\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Bunnies Rub Their Chin On Everything?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
You may have noticed your bunny rubbing their chin against certain objects, even certain humans or their shoes. We have seen this in our bunny from about 4 months old, she would be walking around rubbing her chin on the stairs, tables, books, bags even in the garden with the plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We thought she was doing this due to her chin itching and wanting to somehow scratch her chin. I even tried rubbing her chin, in the beginning, thinking this would help with the itch. Little did I know, she was actually marking her territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chin rubbing isn’t just about scratching an itch it\u2019s a signal they give to mark their \u201cspace\u201d. \u00a0Rabbits express themselves differently from predators like cats, dogs, and humans<\/strong> that it can be difficult to figure out just what they’re doing and why.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly every action has some sort of meaning to a rabbit, whether it’s fear, joy, establishing dominance or pure curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The scent gland is a gland that is located under a bunnies chin and cannot be seen, nor smelled by a human. You may think because they are rubbing their scent on objects that they will begin to smell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, you don\u2019t have to worry, their chin rubbing does no damage to objects, clothes, or furniture. It is a gentle rub they give and looks like they are scratching the bottom parts of their necks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They leave this scent odor behind to mark their territory and bunnies mark everything they think they own (including you!). Some bunnies will do their chin rubbing as soon as they are in their new environment while others may take a while to warm up to their new area or home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every bunny is different and has their own little personality traits. This is what makes your bunny so unique and special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bunnies have scent glands under their chin which they use to mark their scent on something to claim it as theirs. In doing so, they also let other bunnies know that they have been there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also common when you have put something new in their environment such as new toys. Your bunny will also do this when they are exploring a new territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So for those worrying if chinning is normal, yes it is a very normal behavior and this is done by pet rabbits as well as wild rabbits to make sure other rabbits know they are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bunnies mark their territory to show a sense of dominance. They like to show that they were there and also that whatever they mark is now theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Female bunnies can also use this tactic to locate their own bunnies or the bunnies in their \u201cgroup\u201d. If you are not a part of their group, the female bunny could become aggressive and attack especially if it\u2019s a little bunny that is not part of her pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Territory marking is a normal behavior of a bunny and cannot be stopped, nor should it be. This is just the survival method that helps them know and recognise their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to reduce your bunny marking their environment with pee or poo is spaying or neutering. By doing this, your bunny is easier to litter train.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is The Scent Gland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is Chin Rubbing Normal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Do Bunnies Mark Their Territories?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Should I Be Concerned When My Bunny Rubs Her Chin?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n