Crying alot

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My rabbit zero is pretty bipolar, somedays she will binky around and run about while most days shell cry and even a few times death scream if someone gets near. She never plays with toys anymore and if anyone pets her she hyperventilates and breaths heavy/screams. Is something wrong? I know theres an owl thats been killing bunnies in the backyard but that cant bother that much can it?
 
She can probably hear it and is terrified. I'm not sure what to do, but I would do something. If she is screaming she is literally afraid for her life. That's no way for a bunny to live. :(
 
Bunnies can die from heart attacks from fear, so the best thing to do would be to make somewhere VERY secure and safe in a back room of the house where she can't hear any owls or even knows they are close by. I would probably even put things over her cage so it is dark and safe for her, and then when she is out just sit around with her so she knows she can't be hurt. Limiting her to a smaller hutch while she isn't out may also make her feel more secure and safe whilst she is locked up.

I don't have any experience with screaming bunnies, but I do know that is a really bad thing and usually means death or fearing for life. Rabbits have impeccable smell and hearing so she very well could hear the owls outside or smell them close by which would cause her to be nearly scared to death, so closing her off from any contact/smell/hearing distance with that scary back yard where the predators roam would probably be my advice.

Hope that helps!

T
 
I do feel pretty strongly about this so if this comes across as rude, I apologise.

I have personal experience with getting a rabbit from a situation like this. Buttercup, Thumper and Skittles came from a family who left all three of them in their back yard and fed them dog food. Something that was always a highlight for them was when the owls would come and perch on their fence to watch the rabbits in their yard.

I've had Buttercup for a year now and she is STILL extremely timid and gets stiff as a board when you hold her. She'll thump when you enter the room and runs when you attempt to pick her up. She is getting better, to the point where within the last month or two, she has started venturing over to say hello but will dart away if you make any sort of quick movement.

Things like this are extremely traumatising, especially since rabbits are pretty much on the very bottom of the food chain.

If she can hear rabbit screams from other bunnies dying, that's pretty much the natural signal for them to get the heck out of dodge. If you're bunny is inside the house it should help, but the sounds are still going to be easily heard for your bun... Don't know what to suggest for you. Unless your rabbit is outside, to which case, you should bring them in.
 
Perhaps look into a way of keeping the owl away. Maybe there's something you can put in the backyard that would scare the owl away before poor Zero is scared to death :(
p.s. Beautiful bunny, I have a mixed Hotot :)
 
Does your bunny live inside or out? That might sound dumb bout Im just trying to think..Im pretty sure from the way it sounds, your bunny lives outside. If so, is there any way you could bring her inside to live?
 
This type of device should keep owls away at night, although it might be a bit annoying for you. I'd make sure to point it away from the house so bunny doesn't get scared by it.
http://www.niteguard.com/pages/Home/
A plastic owl thing might work too, since apparently owls are territorial. Is the owl only out at night?

I would also make sure you are reading her body language correctly. Rabbits interact with people differently than dogs or cats. One thing I see all the time is people putting their hand out for a rabbit to sniff, a normal thing to do with dogs and cats to be properly introduced to them. For a rabbit, this is offensive because it is asserting dominance and demanding to be groomed. Check this out for help on interacting with your bunny so she doesn't get scared by people.
http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
 
She lives inside, sometimes shes ok but lately if I get near she screams now. But once shes picked up shes fine, I put a hammock that was in her old cage in her new one and she seems like sitting in it. Who knows. Oh well, only time will tell
 
Do you talk to her as you approach, so she knows your not some dangerous thing. You need to cover her enclosure, use music & light, or do whatever it takes to stop her from screaming.
 
Zero_Resilience wrote:
She lives inside, sometimes shes ok but lately if I get near she screams now. But once shes picked up shes fine, I put a hammock that was in her old cage in her new one and she seems like sitting in it. Who knows. Oh well, only time will tell
Maybe talking to her before you go near her so that she knows that you are there. So you are not that big monster that must of scared her in the crate recently.

A bunny that screams is a bunny that is absolutely scared for its own life. To scream every time you go near her is really stressing her out. This is not good for a bunny's system. Hoping you find some way to help this poor girl not scream or finally know she's in a safe place.

K :)
 
I know this is a crazy thought BUT, maybe she is having eye sight problems or is blind???

Maybe the reason she is acting the way she does is because she can hear you coming towards her and she can hear this noise around her and she is so scared because she cant see but once she realizes she is safe in your arms, shes fine (like you said)

I dunno...it was just a thought. What do you think?
 
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