Why does she do this?

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Well on Wednesday i went down to the barn withmy sister to do the chores. I had gone to the back of the barn to get abrush and when i came back between the aisles, my Rex doe, Lillyflipped out. She almost knocked her cage off it's stand. She was justbalisstic. I finally got her calmed down enough to take her out of thecage and clean it as she'd split everything! Does anyone have anysuggestions or ideas that might help her calm down? She has never donethis before and usually when i come from the back of the barn she justthumps her foot a few times. I came quietly and she even saw me go backthere. After she'd been put back into her cage, i had my sister standnext to her and i tested to see what she did...nothing happened shejust sat in her cage. So, I'm wondering...does someone/something comeout at night/daytime and scare her??? We have our back door locked butthe front door unlocked. Please help me! She's one of my 4-H rabbitsand we're planning to breed her this coming summer. :bunnydance:

 

[jordiwes]

Who knows what goes on in the mind of a bunny .

It could be a sight, sound or smell. Could there be any birds in yourbarn? I know things hovering overhead will freak out a bun.

My Wesley has been freaking out every time he sees me for the pastcouple of days. I have been handling the guinea pig, so I wonder if hesmells that... who knows!

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Know we don't have any birds in our barn...;

She just started to freak out. She's been handled alot and she's a really sweet girl. We just aren't sure why she freaked out.

 

[tiabia0]

Rabbits do that a lot of times when they'refreaked out and caught off guard. Your rabbit may have been scared. Ivolunteer at the humane society and rabbits do that sometimes. The ladywho takes care of them told me they flip out when they're frightened orhear a loud noise. One day a rabbit did that when a lady slammed thedoor and he ripped his claw out!

 

[slayant]

They can go from calm & quiet tooutright insane in a blink of an eye. My holland lop doeflips out from time to time, especially when we first gother. The only u can do is calm her down and take her mind offwhatever spooked her.

 

[Johncdn]

I read once that rabbits don't "see" the same way we do and in fact see us as more shapes than things or people they recognize.

Did you have the brush with you when she freaked out? Thatcould have done it. One time I came into the living with anold guitar that my bun had never seen. It changedthe shape of my body and freaked her out severely.:shock: Shedid not mind the sound of it because there was another guitar in theroom that she was used to, but she had never seen me holding this otherone

This has also happened to a smaller degree when I have entered with a different coat on.


Edit: here is the article

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/vision.html