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This morning Buttercup has been acting strange – She was fine when I first came downstairs, she didn’t rush to greet me but other than that she was okay. She devoured her fresh grass as normal. When I got back from taking partner to work, I started feeding her breakfast pellets (I hand feed them) She was happily munching away and suddenly became very alert? She kept nibbling then looking up suddenly as though she’d heard something. Then she’d run under the sideboard. Then she’d come back for a nibble, then run off again. I think she stomped a few times too though not loud enough for Peanut to take notice. I’m confused as to what’s going on. I don’t think she feels safe and I’ve no idea why as nothing has changed. Help?
She just started nibbling again then got startled and jumped on her ramp. I spoke softly to her and she ran off scared and stomped again
All I can think of is there is an alarm going off somewhere, it’s very quiet (to my ears, I didn’t notice it at first) I wonder if it’s that?
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Posted By bam on 12/23/2016 3:58 AM
It sounds like the spooky-phase. Adolescent dogs get it too, and ravens (probably other corvus birds as well, but it’s been studied rather extensively in ravens). They’re suddenly spooked by perfectly everyday things or sounds that they’ve never reacted to before. It’s a developmental stage. It has an evolutionary “aim” – the animal is no longer under strict supervision of the parents/family, so it must become very aware of its environment.
Here’s an article I found about the spooky phase in dogs. All of it doesn’t apply to rabbits, of course, but I think it explains the general principle very well:
That’s really interesting, I’ve never heard of that before. How bizarre!
Strangely, as soon as the alarm stopped, Buttercup returned to normal Buttercup behaviour – I was filling up her hay and put the hay bag on the floor and she jumped right in the bag
That’s typical behaviour of hers! When I’d filled her hay up shortly before, she only sniffed at the bag which was very unlike her) Anyway, part way through her munching, the alarm started again and she started the nibbling then looking up very suddenly again. She’s now laying down with the noise still going 
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Well I found out where the alarm sound was coming from – it wasn’t outside, it was from my partners computer
Still can’t work out what is making Buttercup act strange because she seemed fine after a while (alarm still going) and then freaked out again. The alarm is off now so we’ll see how she is for the rest of the day. -
Thank you Bam. As it happens, Buttercup was back to normal yesterday abd today she was very alert when eating her breakfast but didn’t run and hide. She laid down in the middle of the floor when she was finished munching
Peanut decided to stomp a bit yesterday for the first time – I think he was feeling irritable lol. He didn’t appear scared or anything, I think he was annoyed cos me and my boyfriend kept walking by him lol.
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