Bunny seems more apathetic than scared

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by FiyaFly.

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- 07/01/2017 at 10:58 PM
  FiyaFly
  Participant
  3 posts
  I’m taking it really lightheartedly (it’s actually kind of funny to me) because I’ve only had Benny for two days, and he seems really comfortable. He’ll lay down in his pen with his feet sideways, and a lot of the time he doesn’t even seem to mind my presence at all when I’m in the same room. If I sit down next to his pen, though, he’ll stick to the other side of it mostly. Not even really in fear. He’ll eat and sleep just fine with me there, he just keeps his distance.
  
  I’m still in the process of learning about bunny language so I didn’t start noticing the bunny butt until today, and I’m not sure if he was doing it before, but I noticed after my girlfriend and I had to groom him a bit. He didn’t like that one bit so now I’m pretty sure he’s mad at me (I was the one holding him).
  
  What I find perplexing/interesting/cute/entertaining is that he doesn’t really show any fear. BUT I do get bunny butt (there is a small video attached if it is allowed.) He doesn’t run. Doesn’t move quickly. He just explicitly turns right around and looks over his shoulder at me when I reach out to him.
  
  I guess my main question would be just confirming that I’m reading him right. I know he’s still a bit nervous due to new surroundings and such but not scared. And either mad or apathetic. Either way is plenty understandable.
  
  This is my first post and half of it was just wanting to share how torn I am to think how cute he is when I’m being shunned, but I figured I’d get some info along the way.
  
  Thanks!
  
  Edit: the video type isn’t allowed. I’m going to see if I can make a gif out of it or something really quick.
- 07/02/2017 at 5:22 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I get the bunny butt multiple times a day sometimes from Buttercup especially lol. She is a sassy bun and doesn’t mind showing her displeasure.
- 07/02/2017 at 4:26 PM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  If he’s really displeased with you, you won’t just get the butt but he’ll flick his back feet out at you as he hops away
  
  With my pair, the butt seems to be more of a “hey, do you see that I’m ignoring you” thing
- 07/03/2017 at 3:50 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By Azerane on 7/02/2017 4:26 PM
  
  If he’s really displeased with you, you won’t just get the butt but he’ll flick his back feet out at you as he hops away
  
  With my pair, the butt seems to be more of a “hey, do you see that I’m ignoring you” thing
  
  It’s even funnier when they give the butt and turn their head to look at you to make sure you can see that they’re ignoring you
- 07/03/2017 at 11:38 PM
  FiyaFly
  Participant
  3 posts
  Took me a little while but I got in converted to gif and under 500kb
  
  Edit: According to the forum, the gif is attached to this post, but I don’t see any way to see it.
  
  Sorry, still learning my way around here!
- 07/04/2017 at 9:42 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17030 posts
  Flight animals like rabbits and horses want to have “danger” behind them, so they can flee if they need to. They don’t want to face an enemy because they rather flee that fight, plus they don’t see at all well from straight ahead. They even have a blind spot right in front of their noses. Apart from that, their field of vision is very broad.
  
  The foot flick might be effective when someone chases you, you could kick up dust that gets in the pursuer’s eyes.
  
  My Bam stops to get his treat when I put him down after a nail clipping or butt inspection, he eats his treat, then he foot flicks me and runs to his hideybox
- 07/04/2017 at 8:14 PM
  FiyaFly
  Participant
  3 posts
  Speaking of grooming, we just groomed him a few minutes ago, and I hate having to pick him up because I know that he still doesn’t like us touching him, but I feel we should try to keep him clean. He fought me a bit, scratched a lot, but he seemed to get the most content when I held him upside down, with his feet in the air. His paws relaxed, he stopped fighting, and I swear at one point while we were brushing him, he almost fell asleep! This was odd to me because I’ve been reading and hearing that they feel the most secure with their paws on a solid surface. When I flipped him over to brush his back, I just made sure to have a hand on his chest and he didn’t fight at all. When we were done, I just removed my hand and kept petting him. He sat there for about 5 seconds then lopped off, but didn’t run and hide. He just nonchalantly went on to exploring (we let him run around for exercise right afterward) almost like he didn’t care at all!
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