Rabbit Talk: What's a binky?

Have you ever seen your rabbit sprinting around at full speed, twitching her head and body in different directions, kicking her legs out to the side, jumping high in the air, and pretty much looking like she's having a very sudden and acute full-blown seizure? Has your rabbit developed early-onset Tourette's Syndrome? Of course not! She's just "binkying." Rabbits communicate in a multitude of different ways, and the binky is used to express feelings of unadulterated exuberance.
If there's any doubt in your mind, check out pro-binkier Hoppel's YouTube debut:

Courtesy of House Rabbit Network
If you're pressed for time, watch the first 15 seconds and then forward to minute 2:00. That's when he really goes crazy! Please note that Hoppel is available for adoption, so if you live in the New England area, please contact the House Rabbit Network to make a date with this adorable little gymnast.

New areas that a rabbit finds exciting and also safe will frequently elicit a good binky episode. A trip outside to the garden or permission into a new room of the house are popular venues for binkies, though it doesn't take much—this past weekend, I rearranged my living room furniture, and I haven't seen that many binkies from Graysie in a while! Some rabbits binky as part of a daily routine, and some reserve them for special occasions. The phenomenon of the binky is just another reason to house your rabbit indoors, and allow them plenty of out-of-cage time. Outdoor rabbits rarely experience unadulterated exuberance, not to mention the fact that you miss out on quite the show if your rabbit is kept caged up. An indoor rabbit with plenty of roaming time will express their joy and gratitude in the form of a binky, and let me tell you, binkies never get old!