Damn Rodents...

Last night when I went to check on my 3 potted plants, I saw that some fuckin animal bit off 2 branches close to the stem from 2 of my plants. Thats almost a 3rd from each one.
Does anyone know how flowering will be delayed since I'm assuming that the plants have to regain from the shock? Will at this point new branches emerge?
If it happens again and I have anything left I will have to relocate them to my balcony where they get less sun but at least some rodent doesnt get to them. I started with six sprouts in June and now I hope I can harvest half of that if I'm lucky.

this is very strange behaviour for a rodent, sure it wasnt a deer?

I live in a townhouse with a patio where I have them hidden among other plants. We do have small rabbits running around and that is what I think may have gotten to them. Nothing bigger than that can get through our fence. The branches were cleanly snapped off.