Hello BB Forum!
I adopted two bonded sisters (Cookie for cookie dough and Mo for moose tracks) early last December, they’re about 1.5-2 years old and have been spayed. They spent most of their lives at a shelter, multiple owners. During the 2 week winter break (I’m a college student) they stayed at a friend’s house whose wife is a vet. Other than that, I’ve been making adjustments at the apartment to make things comfortable for them and spoil them. I didn’t realize how much personalities bunnies can have, and it’s been a delightful & huge learning experience for me. I have many questions, but decided to create an account after a strange behavior that I don’t quite understand.
Cookie is usually calm and curious, while Mo can be extremely shy/scared but I found out she’s absolutely crazy and nosy. I have a pen set up against the wall that gives them plenty of space. When I’m home I keep the gate open, and sometimes go up to them to interact. Earlier today, Mo was accepting pettings while Cookie kicked imaginary dirt at me and hid in her cardboard house. Usually Cookie is up for pettings. Mo was being demanding so I stayed to pet her for a while. Cookie would come up and sniff, then when I try to reach her she’d kick more dirt and hop away. She repeated this, thumped once. I gave Mo pellets for treats and went back to school work.
Mo came out to lounge outside & asked for pellets occasionally, and Cookie stayed in the house. She came out once to eat, but then she’d run away when I held out my hand like I offended her somehow. I kept working and when Cookie came out again after some time, I thought I’d give her pellets so I entered the pen. Cookie readily came up to eat a few, then she FROZE. It really scared me because the only other time I’ve seen Mo do that, she charged at me afterwards (she was scared by a sound I was making). Cookie was frozen for literally 30 seconds at least. I tried to feed her and talk to her, but then she backed off and started thunder thumping the whole apartment shook. She continuously thumped and glared at me, so I picked her up and brought her to my bed. I rarely pick my bunnies up, but I can’t have her making that much noise at night, and they both love being on my bed and getting petted, so I thought I should try and relax her. I pet her until my hands got sweaty and she calmed down and tooth purred… But I’m wondering, why did she find my offerings offensive? Was she mad that Mo was getting attention? Or was she just unhappy with me being around? What do you guys do when your buns get upset like this? I’m sorry if this seems like a simple question in so many words, but I’m still new at being a bunny mom and trying to understand.