| “ | I don't want to go back to the hutch... Yes. I'll go with you.
―Haystack escaping the farm with Dandelion
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” |
Haystack is one of the three hutch rabbits, Lucy's pets, that escaped Nuthanger Farm along with Boxwood and Clover. She is Boxwood's mate. While she escaped in the book, the graphic novel, and the miniseries, she did not escape in the film or TV series.
Biography[]
Novel[]
In the book, Haystack (along with Boxwood) are described as black-and-white Himalayans. Along with Laurel, Haystack is one of the more timid hutch rabbits, and temporarily goes tharn during the farm raid. Hazel tries to calm her down, and Dandelion eventually convinces her to continue. After escaping the farm, it is mentioned she settles into life at Watership Down and is excited to have children of her own. She is not mentioned for the rest of the book.
Film[]
In the film, Haystack is never named, yet can be assumed to be one of the hutch rabbits.
TV Series[]
Haystack in the hutch.
In the TV series, Haystack is never named, yet can be assumed to be the blue and white female rabbit in the hutch. Unlike the novel, she and Boxwood do not leave the hutch.
Miniseries[]
Haystack is first seen inside her hutch in the barn, along with Clover, Boxwood, and Laurel. She is confused by the idea of freedom, but comes to like it when Clover explains it. Hazel, Fiver, and Bigwig attempt to free them, but fail. After this, the hutch is moved inside the greenhouse.
Later that night, Hazel goes in alone, and manages to get the hutch open. The four hutch rabbits start to wander around the greenhouse as soon as Hazel lets them out. The cat Tab comes in and corners all five of the rabbits, but Bigwig and Fiver come to their rescue. The cat jumps up onto a shelf, and knocks down a vase, alerting the wife, who quickly recaptures Boxwood.
The remaining rabbits go up the stairs into Lucy's room and jump out the window, ending up on top of the greenhouse. They manage to make it down and past the dog, and make a break for it. However, as they're crossing the road, the farmer drives up in his car. Laurel goes tharn in front of the headlights, resulting in her being recaptured by the wife.
The farmer grabs his gun, and starts shooting at the rabbits, not caring one bit if he shoots Clover or Haystack, calling them a "blooming nuisance." He sees Clover in the bush and attempts to shoot her, but Hazel knocks him in the leg to save her. The farmer shoots Hazel, injuring his leg. After the four remaining rabbits lose the farmer, Bigwig and Haystack go searching for Hazel, but can't find him.
Haystack and Clover are taken back to Watership Down, where they discuss what to do without Hazel. When Clover is captured by an Efrafan Wide Patrol, most of the warren go to rescue her, though Haystack, Holly, and Strawberry stay behind.
Eventually, the rabbits arrive back at the warren, with all the does from Efrafa, along with Clover, and another buck named Blackavar, who teaches Haystack how to smell to survive. She at first smells chestnuts, but then smells very strange rabbits. Holly and Blackavar realize that the Efrafans have tracked them down, and they start closing off their burrows. Although not seen, she is among the rabbits mourning the death of Holly, who was killed by Efrafans while protecting Hyzenthlay.
Haystack survives the war, and can be seen listening to Bluebell telling the story of Hazel-rah to a bunch of kits in the spring. It is unknown if she gains a mate, though it is possible that she settles down with Blackavar.
Gallery[]
