Two things:
Do you leave a light on at night? I know a few buns who thump repeatedly throughout the night and stopped when a nightlight or light down a corridor was left on for them at night time. Might be worth a try.
Second thing... yes learnt behaviour probably with a REAL trigger. So something spooks him or upsets him and he thumps, you come to see what is the matter - and he learns it gets your attention. However, if a bun is thumping repeatedly it is wise to see what is going on, crying wolf can sometimes be the real thing..... however, I would cease rewarding the behaviour with lovely yummy treats - he will very quckly learn that thump = treat!
I would just check from the doorway that all is ok and then leave again.
Thats a strong possibility. Because they are in my office all the time at the moment from bonding, i've been leaving a touch lamp on all evening, as we arent with them every minute as the bonding is effectively complete, but i do turn that off when we go to bed. I will certainly try leaving that on tonight and see what happens, as they are going to be in here until Sunday, when i will be moving them downstairs.
With regards to the learnt behaviour, yeah, i know it was a mistake to have treated them both when i came in, but he was so stressed, his eyes were a little bulgy and i felt really upset for him and after his last stampy bout a week or so again and i was told to distract him with food, i just wanted to try. Can't do right for doing wrong with them can i? :lol:
I came and checked the first night, there was nothing obvious, he kept stamping, then hopping to another corner, ears forward, on 'guard' pose, i could tell by his body language, but there honestly was nothing there, so i can only assume it must of been something that spooked him.
There is only one thing i can honestly think that could cause it;
When they are downstairs, they are in a corner of the room, away from the back door, with no 'openable' windows.
Upstairs, in my office they are within 2 feet of the windows, which are closed, but i have a vent open at the top of the frame to stop condensation etc. I've seen foxes out down the street before, so i wonder if one got into our garden, and Biccy was able to sense/smell its scent through the vent? Do you think thats a possibility?
Ginger doesn't stamp or react in any form, but we know she does not contain the regular rabbit fear gene and is totally fearless.