He thinks she’s Juliette – she is the Eye of Sauron

[GeorgieTheBunny]

He thinks she’s Juliette on the balcony and does tall bunny up to see her. She is actually the Eye of Sauron going upstairs to monitor him with maximum intensity.

Drama aside, trying to bond the buns and I know it will take time but I don’t understand some things.

Hazel has been here 10 months and has a multi-story C&C condo. Hector has been here 1 month 2 weeks and is in an ex-pen. Both living quarters are in the main room in opposite corners. Each get free roam – just at different times.

Hazel is fine 90% (or more) of the time when free roaming next to Hector’s pen. They will eat, groom, stretch out, flop and use litter boxes beside each other. On a rare occasion they will push the double cage width close enough to boop noses and most times it’s neutral. He likes her.

When it is Hector’s turn to free roan Hazel is intensely jealous. I feel like she is a living version of the “Soon” meme. Unless there is food to distract her I feel Hazel is trying to bore holes into Hector’s soul through angry bunny telekinesis. If he gets within a foot of her enclosure she lashes out, grunts, growls, lunges, bites/shakes the bars, and with nip Hector if he gets close enough.

When Hector has free roam/exercise time we have to put up a privacy towel up around Hazel’s Condo so that they can’t see each other. Hector searches for the edges to pull back and look for her (which can result in a nip -so we don’t let it happen). Not being able to see what he is doing drives Hazel to the upper levels where she stares down at him. Hector will binky through the room and never gives up on Hazel, always seeking her. Poor little guy.

How do I attempt to lessen Hazel’s aggression?

[Luna]

The eye of sauron . I looked through some of your earlier threads and it seems you are still early into the process, so I don’t think it’s unusual for her to be sauron-like at the moment. How often are you scent swapping? Not sure what else you can do aside from continuing pre-bonding, but I’m not experienced with bonding so hopefully others can add .

[Kailaeve1271]

I agree with Luna on this, but I think something else may be happening as well.

I’m not the most experienced with bunnies, but do you think she may have a little cage aggression? The buns I’ve had over the ears and even my guinea pigs get aggressive about others coming into “their” safe space. Perhaps they can bond, but I think Hazel just wants to make sure she has “her” space just to herself, even if he does make her curious. My bunnies love me during playtime but get angry if I reach into their cage otherwise or if the other buns get too close.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

You’re right that we haven’t been a 2 bunny family for long.

Hector has been in the main room for 2.5 weeks and been getting free roam time (in full view of Hazel) for 1.5 weeks.

There is a communal litter box they both use each and every time they are free. I’ve only cage swapped 3 times, twice overnight but they have the same free roam space -in shifts.

They chin/groom the same stuffed animal, use the same diggy box, and run down the same tunnel. Many of Hector’s toys are from Hazel’s massive stash. Hazel only regularly plays with toys that have food rewards; treat balls and puzzle toys whereas Hector wants to toss first and foremost. It’s difficult to switch toys because they don’t enjoy the same activities.

I guess I gotta keep on pre-bonding

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Oh my goodness! I didn’t see your comment. Cage aggression for sure. We knew she suffered from cage aggression when we brought her home. It took awhile building a trust bond because of it. We brought her home knowing she has this issue and partially BECAUSE she had cage aggression. It’s likely from a past where she wasn’t safe :/ and hands always grabbed her. First time owners would pass her by and people looking for a bond mate wouldn’t want her. She was at risk, I felt for her, the last straw was when I saw she was surrendered the day I lost my Georgie. Hazel was getting a second lease on life – with me. It hasn’t played out in any serious way for 6 months or more – forgot this could be an issue. Thanks for the reminder

*Discovery*
I discovered a good distraction tactic last night

Hector needs to be able to approach Hazel’s enclosure without Hazel’s rage.

I know that positive re-enforcement is the way to go so I waited until dinner time….

Hector was free roaming. I had Hazel’s romaine lettuce in hand, sat infront of her cage and took down the privacy towel. Hector hopped right up as usual to proclaim his love – Hazel lunged forward in response. Before anything could get ugly I put the romaine stalk through the bars between them for Hazel. Too busy doing noms to growl and scratch.
Hector would hop in some direction, Hazel would get vocal and follow – LETTUCE INTERUPTION! Nom nom nom nom Perfect – I can work with this

[Luna]

Yay I’m glad the nom noms approach is working! If it took a long time to build trust with her, then Hector will probably face the same challenge. But just as you have won her over, I’m sure Hector will as well .

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Thank you Luna. You and Kaila are helping keep me grounded about my timeline expectations.

[Bianca]

Have you searched Hector thoroughly to make sure he isn’t concealing any magic rings he is trying to destroy? He may simply be trying to get past the Eye of Sauron and into Mount Doom. Understandably this would make Hazel a little defensive.

Patience is your friend here. Keep doing what you are doing. It may take a while, especially with a cage aggressive rabbit, but you will get there. It sounds like you are making progress already.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Lol!
Thank you for playing along Bianca

I feel bad for Hector’s rejections. The fur on his bopplesnoot has a little line where it’s parted – like a cow lick. It’s from him putting his nose through the gate toward her as far as he can. I don’t want him to give up on her – they both deserve love.
-Sigh -patience

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