For the record, this is the new rescue bunny, Pearl, and I just got her yesterday. I know that flopping is usually regarded as a very good sign of trust from the rabbit, but the fact that it happened on the second day of getting her is highly unusual, considering her rough past with surviving a house fire (one may notice her lack of tail, as it had to be amputated.) and losing her two babies in said fire. I recently did also lose a rabbit (which I also posted about here) and a similar thing occurred where my sweet rainbow baby, Angel, also got used to my presence and even layed next to me in around ~1-2 weeks. Still, it’s highly unusual to me.. especially with the fact she’s traumatised. Thoughts?
by AltruisticMagician92
26 Comments
Mine did this as well. Im not a bunny behavior expert but I think they can just really tell when theyre finally in a safe place and can relax. Here’s to many happy years with your new bun!
She’s comfy (:
Happy and secure.
Rescue rabbits often realize that they’re safe now and not in danger anymore and because of this, they feel relaxed and happy 🙂
The same day that I brought my last rabbit home, he groomed himself and loafed near me. I did hold him on my lap on the 1-hour trip home. I still gave him a week to decompress after that, and it didn’t take long for him to flop near me, lick me, and hop onto my lap.
Rabbits are prey animals so flopping is always a sign of contentment. Judging by what you say your rabbit’s previous living conditions were, its not surprising that she is flopping.
She’s adorable!! 🧸
Awww. Why not! They get floppy when they get suddenly transferred to a calmer space. My rescue bun flopped the moment i got her home. Mine was adopted from a lab and had severe hair loss and a bunch of other complications, yet she crawled into my arms the moment i sat in car with her ans she stayed there for the whole ride.
That bunny is a happy little
Poof
Congratulations you have a happy bun bun
Sometimes they flop, when they are stressed, so if something stressful happened before that, it could be the reason for the flop. but if not? Just a happy bun that feels safe and content!
My boys flopped day 1, totally normal, especially if youve given them a good upgrade! My first had to stay outside in a small area bc he was fighting other buns ( and was too young for neuter), then he came home to me and got a bedroom to free roam in and a double bed to sleep on. He was very excited!
Wow what trauma she has been through. She knows she’s safe.
Pearl is beautiful! She seems to be relaxed and feel safe. 💜💜💜
Rabbits are smart enough to recognize when they’ve been rescued from trauma. When you help a rabbit through a difficult time, they trust you more because you could have easily killed them (which is what they expect), but you didn’t. That makes you a friend. Nobody has killed your rabbit so far, even though that’s what is expected, so humans can’t be all bad. Especially since humans didn’t cause the trauma, a fire did. Humans helped her through it.
I’m also guessing that the rescue that you got your rabbit from didn’t have the resources to allow her a large living area all the time. I’m guessing that you do. Now she has that. Things are looking up. Time to enjoy life.
sweet baby angel 💞
I volunteer at a shelter and I’ve seen some rabbits flop in their cages! If they didn’t come from a traumatic situation, I think they naturally have a more comfortable disposition. A rabbit that flopped the most in the shelter was one I had fostered since he was a baby, so I knew for a fact he never experienced trauma 🥹
It’s very normal, she’s just getting comfortable in her cage. They still have to sleep too 😅
Yeah I think she just knows she’s landed somewhere nice. I rescued one of my girls from a lady who took her in when her acquaintance was going to release her into the wild 🤬 (she was their pandemic pet) Said lovely lady had no experience with bunnies but knew that didn’t sound right. When I picked her up she’d had her 3 months and said she’d only started to allow a small amount of petting. Well, within 45 minutes of us getting her home my husband was petting her and she flopped onto her back like a puppy and allowed him to rub her fluffy belly. We were amazed. They know when they’re home!
She chose you. 💚
Some rescue rabbits take longer to warm up, while others love you immediately.
The last bunny tush shot is too cute
I’m going to add my slightly more cynical two cents only because my rescue rabbit Kevin is an asshole who hates everyone and he also flopped on the first day.
When rabbits are bonding with one another or meeting for the first time a common thing you’ll notice is that they will flop on one another, or lay down and splay themselves out, seemingly as though they like the other rabbit and are already getting along.
In reality, it’s pretty uncommon for rabbits to get along this quickly, and that flopping behavior is actually bun’s way of saying “you are so insignificant to me I am even able to calmly flop and lay next to you, that’s how little you phase me”. It’s kind of a dominance thing.
My theory is that Kevin flopped next to me on the first day, basically to communicate “you don’t scare me human, look how calm and relaxed and comfortable I am”.
This is kind of what I think is the case with many rescue rabbits that behave this way early on. I don’t even think it’s a bad thing but honestly I person think it’s more likely than any sort of loving gesture from bunny’s part especially given they are such vulnerable creatures.
[Kevin’s condescending day 1 flop tax](https://postimg.cc/grkrCqW9)
I am here for that side eye <3
You’re a really special person then if she already flops
My rescue was binkying on day two 🥲 they really can tell when they’re safe.
My rescue, Cookie, spent the first day splooting all over the house before she decided to sploot on the couch and watch tv with me all night while I pet her.
I don’t know of her background, but I don’t think it’s as traumatising as Pearl. Your baby is a champ and I’m so glad she’s feeling safe with you!