What spooked Buttercup?

[sarahthegemini]

Buttercup was standing on the ramp about to go into her hutch, to use the litter tray or to eat I think. I noticed a poop on the floor  (not 100% litter trained yet) so I picked it up and said “Buttercup, why is there a poop on the floor missy? ” Yeah I talk to my rabbits like children  Anyway, I wasn’t loud or anything and she knew I was there so I don’t think I scared her. She leapt into her hutch near her hidey home, and stomped! I have never heard or seen her stomp before. In fact as far I know, she has only stomped once and that was at the vet nurse prior to her spay. She then hid in her hidey home, frozen in fear.

At this point I look over at Peanut and see that he is now in his hutch, frozen too. I’m guessing due to the stomp. 

I tried talking softly to reassure them both and placed a couple of pieces of dried chicory root, outside Buttercup’s hidey home and on Peanut’s play mat. Buttercup came out immediately, ate the chicory root, then proceeded to pee on her sea grass mat and leg it out behind her hutch and under the sideboard. Peanut stayed frozen for another few minutes and then went back to normal. 

I feel quite saddened tbh, I don’t know what frightened Buttercup. I feel sad that she felt the need to stomp. We’ve had such a fun day today as well, she has been very affectionate and even more demanding of attention  She’s been following me around and running around excitedly whenever I get up. 

Thoughts? 

[Yilina]

Hi @sarahthegemini! Maybe she got scared when you picked her up right after pooping? I must say I feel very vulnerable myself when I poop .

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Yilina on 12/19/2016 10:07 AM

Hi @sarahthegemini! Maybe she got scared when you picked her up right after pooping? I must say I feel very vulnerable myself when I poop .

I didn’t pick her up, just the poop lol. 

[Bam]

Bunnies can stomp for many reasons, not just fear. Sometimes they stomp from annoyance, or for attention. There are actually also happy stompers that will stomp and binky, binky and stomp. “Missy?! Who you callin “Missy”?? I don’t like your tone of voice, hoomin!”

Honestly, it’s often very hard to tell what makes a bunny suddenly stomp. The other night, at 4 am, Bam stomped under my bed. He stomped, I spoke to him, he stomped again. Finally I went up and fetched him a treat that he happily ate. I don’t know if he’d heard something from outside that scared him or if he just wanted a treat. Since he munched up his treat and didn’t stomp again, I didn’t worry much about it. Since Buttercup immediately came out and took her chicory root, I’d say it was nothing really bad that made her stomp. Peanut’s reaction most likely was a result of the stomp, it’s a powerful warning to other buns + he is the more timid of the two.

[Yilina]

Hi @bam! I have the same trouble with Tambor, he will start trembling and shaking for no apparent reason. Maybe Buttercup just heard something that wasn’t audible for human ears? I

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By bam on 12/19/2016 10:22 AM

Bunnies can stomp for many reasons, not just fear. Sometimes they stomp from annoyance, or for attention. There are actually also happy stompers that will stomp and binky, binky and stomp. “Missy?! Who you callin “Missy”?? I don’t like your tone of voice, hoomin!”

Honestly, it’s often very hard to tell what makes a bunny suddenly stomp. The other night, at 4 am, Bam stomped under my bed. He stomped, I spoke to him, he stomped again. Finally I went up and fetched him a treat that he happily ate. I don’t know if he’d heard something from outside that scared him or if he just wanted a treat. Since he munched up his treat and didn’t stomp again, I didn’t worry much about it. Since Buttercup immediately came out and took her chicory root, I’d say it was nothing really bad that made her stomp. Peanut’s reaction most likely was a result of the stomp, it’s a powerful warning to other buns + he is the more timid of the two.

I’ll just put this down as one of those experiences that I’ll never fully understand!  Tbh I’m surprised Peanut came round as quickly as he did, as he is the timid one I thought for sure it’d take a long while for him to feel like exploring again.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Yilina on 12/19/2016 10:31 AM

Hi @bam! I have the same trouble with Tambor, he will start trembling and shaking for no apparent reason. Maybe Buttercup just heard something that wasn’t audible for human ears? 

That’s very possible! 

[Yilina]

Hi @sarahthegemini! It is very upsetting when they do these kind of things and you don’t know why. Sometimes, Tambor will lay in his favourite corner, “sleeping”, and, as soon as I enter the room, he will start trembling. It breaks my heart because I have done nothing to scare him, as far as I know. He is very affectionate and he has never “rejected” us or shown anger; we have had him only for a month and he comes to us every time we sit on the floor to ask for petting! Fortunately, he is doing it less and less, but I feel like such a bad bunny mum.

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