So you are a new rabbit owner and wondering when on earth does your rabbit sleep? They never seem to close their eyes and go to sleep. Could this be the case? This article explores the intriguing world of a sleeping rabbit. The truth is that sometimes rabbits do not close their eyes when they are asleep, and sometimes they do. Read on to find out more.
How do you know when a rabbit is sleeping?
As rabbit owners it is important to know and understand your animals. Rabbits are prey animals. Wild rabbits need to be able to sleep AND be able to sense danger at the same time. This means that they have developed a defense mechanism which is to sleep with their eyes open. Then if there is a shadow, or change of light they can wake up very quickly and escape.
Rabbits have a third eyelid, which has something called a nictitating membrane which allows them to continue to blink and keep their eye moist when they are asleep. But it is confusing because it still looks like they are awake because their eyes are open.
So if you can’t look at their eyes – what signs can you look for?
Rabbit’s nose
When a rabbit is sleeping their nose stops twitching. Look closely at your bunny the next time you think it might be asleep. When the facial muscles stop working so hard, this is a stage of sleep for your pet bunny.
Body Language
The body position of a rabbit can tell you more about their sleep habits. Our rabbits have three main sleeping positions that they adopt when they are having short naps throughout the day.
1. Loaf
This is the position where they look like a loaf of bread. Their back feet and front paws are tucked underneath them and they look like a loaf of bread. Sometimes I used to think this position was one where they are just looking around. Now that I understand their sleep I can see that they are sleeping. Our rabbits often adopt this position when they are in an elevated place – we have a higher up platform within the colony where they like to loaf.
2. Sprawl
This is the position where the back and front paws are extended and the rabbits body is elongated. Our rabbits love to adopt this position side by side in the dust bath together!
3. Side lying
When a rabbit is all floppy and laying on its side is a third sleeping position.
Rabbit’s ears
Rabbit’s ears are not the best indicator for sleep. Sometimes they can look relaxed, but this is usually when they are in a deep sleep with their eyes closed, so you know for sure that your bunny is sleeping. This is because like with keeping their eyes open, their ears also help to detect predators, so they need to remain switched on during sleep. So their ears can stay upright whilst they are sleeping or they can be flat.
Deep sleep
Having said that rabbit’s eyes stay open when they are sleeping, this is not the case all of the time. If a rabbit feels totally safe and secure then they do not need to use their defense mechanism for sleep. They can let their upper eyelids close and go into a much deeper sleep. In this case they will close their eyes, a clear sign that they are sleeping!
Time of Day
Another indicator is what time of the day it is. If you observe your rabbit’s behaviour regularly you will start to see patterns emerge. When the rabbit is in a quiet environment during daylight hours, you may notice that it stops moving for long periods, with only short bursts of activity. It’s these periods of quiet when it lays with open eyes that it is in fact sleeping. For our rabbits they have a series of mini naps in the morning and a longer sleep in the middle of the day.
Are my rabbits getting enough sleep?
Pet rabbits whose home environment is busy and full of loud noises may struggle to find a safe place to sleep. Remember that rabbits are nocturnal and they need to have space and time to sleep during the day. A busy household may leave a rabbit on high alert all the time, making it difficult for your bunny to get enough sleep. The best way to help is to ensure that there is a safe and quiet place for your rabbit to sleep away from the hustle and bustle.
A good indicator that your rabbit is getting enough sleep is to watch them and see if they spend periods of time in the main sleeping positions.
And remember that a healthy rabbit will be alert and active when it is awake. Ensure that your rabbit has a great diet, including lots of fresh veggies and a comfortable place to sleep. Rabbits also need friends so never keep them alone. Plenty of space to stretch their legs is key to a healthy rabbit. If you get your basic rabbit care right, then the chances are that they will sleep well. Just keep using your own observations and understanding of your own bunnies to know if they are healthy and getting enough sleep.
What do rabbits do at night?
Rabbits are nocturnal animals, which means that they sleep more during the day and tend to be awake at night. Our rabbits get up to all sorts of antics at night. We can hear them, and when we come out in the morning they have tipped over their shelters and been digging in their earth mound.
Always remember as rabbit owners to look out for strange behavior. Get to know your rabbit and how they behave. If their sleeping habits change, there may be an underlying cause that should be investigated further with a vet.
This article has explored what to look out for when rabbits are sleeping. I would love to know in the comments below more about how your rabbits sleep. Have you noticed them in any of the thrtee sleeping positions? Have you observed whether or not their nose is twitching?