It’s so odd that on Saturday, when I adopted these two, Hailey was the affectionate one that showed bonding potential and Bailey was the nervous skittish one.  Since then, it’s been the opposite.  Bailey has become extremely affectionate and comfortable.  And Hailey seems to have taken some steps backwards.  Well, not some steps, but several backwards.

I’m so thankful for all the internet sources there are!  And I have to say that this website: http://language.rabbitspeak.com/ actually helped me understand rabbits and communicate back with them.

Getting them out of the cage, I can now pick up Bailey and pull her out of the door of the cage with no struggle on her part.  Its almost like she’s putty in my arms.  I can sit her in my lap or hold her against my chest, and she has started to do some teeth grinding.  So exciting!

Hailey has been tough.  I still can’t reach in the cage to get her, so I’ll set her cage on the floor and leave the door open for her to get out on her own – usually in the play area (baby gated area).  It takes her quite a while to hop out.  And once she does, she sometimes immediate hops back in.  Or any movement by me will cause her to bunch up in a corner in fear or her to jump in the cage.

But tonight seemed to be quite the improvement!  There were some new positive bonding moments.  I sat the cage down in the play area when I got home from work and I opened the cage.  I pulled out their toys that they have yet to play with…in fact, I haven’t really witnessed them playing at all yet. Going by what I read about rabbit languages, I laid down on the floor with my head laying down.  I patiently laid there and waited.  

Bailey hopped out first, which was no surprise.  She got out, sniffed around and ate some hay.  Hailey FINALLY came out and did the same.  I held my finger out as she came towards me, and I nuzzled the end of her nose.  That’s all she wanted and walked away.  I stayed there and waited till she came back round again.  I did the same thing, and she stayed, so I opened my hand for the invitation to groom her.  She declined and hopped off.  I waited even longer and this happened again, but this time she laid her head down for me to pet her.  I was so excited.  I rubbed her ears and her head.

Well Bailey got jealous! She hopped up, scooted right up to Hailey, nudged her head against her and right under my hand.  I couldn’t believe it!   So I ended up petting both heads with one hand.  Bailey flipped over to her side while Hailey just laid down on her belly with her hind feet under her.  I rubbed them for a while and saw all 4 eyes close.  It was a sweet moment I couldn’t believe.  I was just in awe.

As soon as I quit rubbing them, I retrieved my hand and still laid there to see what they would do.  Bailey woke up and started going away to explore.  Hailey laid there a little longer, then she opened her eyes and started to hop off, but then it was a crazy hop…..in fact – I think I witnessed my first binky!!  She jumped, flipping her feet back and twisted around to where she was facing the other way when she landed.  And I didn’t think it was contaigous because Bailey saw Hailey binky and Bailey did a big one immediately after.  So I saw them both do their first binkies tonight!

I was so thrilled!  I thought we came so far tonight!  But it always seems like the next time they go back in the cage, it’s like we have to start all over.

I went to the store and came back to let them out in the play area again.  And it was like we got no where.  Hailey didn’t like me again.  My boyfriend and I went to the livingroom to watch tv on the couch.  We let the rabbits come along.  Hailey being pretty much litter trained, she stayed on the couch for an hour, fell asleep and took a good nap.  Bailey ended up peeing in my boyfriends lap…*snicker*  She’s working on it, though.  I see her in the litter box every now and then.  Hailey didn’t really want to sit in my lap, but she rather sit on the very other end of the couch and take a nap.  it’s okay, I’m trying not to take it personal.  Bailey ended up trying to dig her way under the blanket, stretched her legs all the way back and plopped down to chill.

It’s so weird how both of them have completely different personalities. I hope Hailey comes around soon.  Gonna post some more pics of them on the couch soon.