Sometimes when dad gives us a piece of carrot with dinner, I like to pick it up in my mouth and carry it over to some corner of our area where I can enjoy it in peace and quiet (without Gus trying to steal it from me – and does anyone else have this problem?).
But dad also mentions to me sometimes that it seems really weird for bunnies to be carrying food around like that.
Do any other bunnies pick up food and carry it somewhere else before eating it?
I’m just curious.
-Betsy
Comments
21 responses to “Carrying Food”
Hi Betsy,
I have been a long time reader of your bunny blog. My hoomin found it by chance one day and ever since, whenever I get computer privileges, I make a point of catching up on all your posts.
I must say that I almost ALWAYS carry food away from where I find it. In fact, the tastier the treat, the further I travel. Not only does it prevent anyone from stealing my delicious delicacy away from me but it also an effective manner in managing calories. You should see me at dinner time! I must scamper at least 1 km between each bite at my food dish and the process of devouring that tasty morsel on the highest perch in my cage.
Please rest assured that you are not the only person to “travel” with food. I think it’s a very logical action, indeed.
Sincerely,
Hoyle
If I give my rabbit, Sampras a piece of apple in the kitchen, she will grab it from my hands (like I might change my mind) and run with it through the living room, into the bunny room and her cage before stopping to eat it 🙂
LOL. Both of mine do that too! One will run with a mouthful of cilantro from teh dinner bowl to the other side of the room, with pieces of cilantro trailing behind him. He does the same things with treats. My other one only does that with hay cubes, for whatever reason. Because for treats she says on top of you hoping you have more to give.
We ALWAYS carry the food we covert.
Scamp does that with tasty things. He also picks up his treat ball and runs off with that! He prefers to roll it around on his mat so he’ll often pick it up and put it back on if it rolls off too far.
My little Peejay always carries his food too! I thought he was just a weirdo, but apparently it’s normal! He’s the only bunny in the house (and always has been), but he likes to take his food just a few steps away. No special place, just NOT where Mom puts it!
My Miel does this too. I believe it has to do with being an animal of prey and needing to be safe before indulging in food.
My Dirk does this with whatever the most valuable treat on the plate is, whether it’s an apple or a carrot. He doesn’t bother with the lettuce. I think it’s because he’s afraid his ladybunn Greta will steal it. And it’s a valid fear, I’ve seen her steal food FROM HIS MOUTH many times. She just eats faster and more voraciously. She rarely bothers to carry her food because she usually gets the lion’s share.
Dirk feels for ya, Betsy.
Both my buns Hoppie and Jumong do the same. Each morning they each get a pinky size piece of carrot for breakfast. The buns will snatch the carrot out of my hand and run to their respective comfy spot(hay box, towel, or the next room) to eat it in private. The fear of the other bun eating faster and then stealing the prized food item from their mouth is real.
My Binky does the same, but only with her treats!
Betsy,
Rest assured that you are not alone. My dad sometimes gives me baby carrots with my evening greens, and from the first time he did, I’ve made a habit of grabbing them and running away to eat them. Usually I run to the furthest corner available, but in a pinch, the nearest doorway will do.
It’s not a sharing issue with me, as I’m an only bun – I just like to have my escape route in mind. Dad always puts the food in the middle of the room, and there’s nowhere to HIDE there.
Dad sometimes gets bananas for Mom to eat for lunch, and she always lets me have slices of them. I try to run away with those, but that usually doesn’t go so well. I also try to do it with regular greens sometimes, but it’s hard to run with something in your mouth when it’s almost as long as you are.
– Jessica, 4 year old New Zealand White
Yep. Both of our bunnies do that with carrots. But they don’t do it with fruits or any other vegetables.
WELL! HUH! NONE of us do that. It is “eat it where it lies”. Everybunn for himself. That is how it works in a large family.
Aww, Betsy that’s very smart and cute of you. Frank has never done this, but once he did run with some parsley in his mouth from the kitchen (where I was preparing his meal and giving his nibbles as I did) to the bedroom (where I place his meal). It was pretty cute. Normally he finishes his mouthful then runs to catch up with me.
I do that too, Betsy! Especially with carrots and broccoli. I don’t want to be disturbed while I eat nummy food. And I certainly don’t want anyone to take it – even though I’m an only bunny. You never know with my mommy.
Freckles always takes her food away. Never once have we taken it back after giving it to her, but she always acts like we’re thieves!
With Scout it entirely depended on what it was and where I was eating it when she was trying to steal it. Soups, she generally just dunked her mane in and skittered a bit away to groom it off herself. (Little sneak.) Popcorn she’d just eat off the side of the bowl. Actual bunny approved food, she’d snag and run. Most of the time to share with Sage!
Sage, however, when given a treat would immediately look around to where was farthest from Scout and try to nom in peace. Not that Scout would try and steal it from her. Once Scout hopped off to the bridge, Sage would generally just eat it a few feet from me. If I put down and back up, she wouldn’t run away. I think she just wanted to make sure she stayed out of the dreaded “petting range.”
I have 6 rabbits. Only 1, Clint, will take his apple elsewhere.
Biffy will run away with ANYTHING, even Hay. Sogna only runs with her special things, a carrot for instance, or a special treat. If it’s a particularly exciting treat, they will circle the apartment full speed with it in their mouths, at least two laps before they each settle down and find a safe, secure spot to eat it.
I noticed that most of mine will do the same thing. Sometimes Goobie and Woody will run into each other. Willie is like a dog with a new bone trying to find a new place to bury it.
Wednesday likes to grab bits of hay from her Hay box & trot off with it. The proceeds to eat it in the middle of the kitchen. Its very very cute!