Getting rabbits

Preparing to bring rabbits home

Before bringing new rabbits into your home, there are many things you can do to help them settle in.

There are also certain items you will need:

• Spacious enclosure and suitable bedding area
• Carrier case
• Hay feeder, food bowl and a choice of water bottle and bowl
• Feeding hay and food (including treats)
• Bedding (wood shavings, bedding hay or straw)
• Toys and enrichment items like tunnels and hideaways
• Large litter tray
• Grooming tools

Create a welcoming environment

• Make sure you get everything they need ahead of their arrival and set up their living space.
• Whether your rabbits will be living indoors or just spending some time indoors, it’s a good idea to rabbit-proof any areas they’ll be. Remove anything that could cause injury including items they could chew such as electrical wires, books or houseplants.
• Make sure there are no nooks and crannies your rabbits could get stuck in whilst they’re exploring their new environment.

If you are rehoming rabbits from one of our Centres during the winter months, and want to keep them outdoors, remember that they will need to acclimatise to the colder temperatures. We recommend keeping them in a shed or garage initially before moving them to their outdoor enclosure. Always make sure their bedding area is warm, dry and draught-free.

Travelling home

• Car journeys should be as short as possible so it’s best to get a rabbit from a rescue centre or breeder close to your home.
• Make sure your rabbits are secured safely in a carrier and ensure it is lined with something absorbent.
• Keep things nice and calm for the journey home. Avoid loud music and talking to your rabbit.
• Cover the front of the carrier with a blanket or towel, ensuring they are still getting plenty of air.
• The rescue centre or breeder may be able to give you something with their scent on it such as hay they have used or soiled bedding. This provides a sense of familiarity and helps your rabbits feel more at ease.

Settling your rabbit into their new home

Rabbits can be easily frightened by loud noises and sudden movements so moving into a new environment can be unsettling for them.

Arriving home

Gently place your rabbits in their enclosure. When they feel comfortable, they will start exploring their living area, nibbling on their food and checking out their toys and tunnels. Allow them to approach you on their own terms and reward interactions with treats to help build a strong bond.
Rabbits are herbivores, therefore, they need to graze continuously throughout the day to keep their delicate digestive systems working correctly.

When you first get your bunnies home, make sure they are eating. If you can’t tell, try tempting them with a tasty treat. It’s normal for rabbits to eat their caecotrophs so if you notice this type of poo in their tray or around their enclosure, it is a sign that there is something wrong.

Constant eating means constant pooing. If your rabbit doesn’t eat or go to the toilet within four hours of arriving home, seek veterinary advice.

Any children living in or visiting the home should be introduced to your rabbits gradually. Supervise any interactions to ensure the rabbits and children are both safe and happy.

Signs that your rabbits are stressed or scared

• Staying very still or ‘freezing’.
• Hunched up.
• Ears flat against their body.
• Bulging eyes.
• Jumping more than usual.
• Scratching or biting to get away.
• Thumping their hind feet on the ground.
• Grinding their teeth.
• Biting or attacking other rabbits or humans.

Signs that your rabbits are happy and relaxed

• Relaxed body.
• Lying down or stretching out.
• Approaching you or content to be near people.
• Jumping in the air with a twisting motion (‘binkying’).
• Nose twitching.
• Upright or floppy ears, whatever is normal for the breed.
• Healthy appetite.
• Chattering their teeth.
• Showing curiosity and exploring their environment.
• Flopping over onto their side.

Every rabbit will have their own characteristics depending on their personality, their life experience, and also their conformity. Remember, breeds with squashed faces (brachycephalic) will be more limited in their communication.

Food and Drink

When bringing your rabbit home, we highly recommend feeding them the same brand and type of food they’re used to eating as this will provide a sense of familiarity and help prevent tummy upsets. The centre or breeder may have spare food to give you. Always ensure your rabbit has access to plenty of fresh water. It’s a good idea to provide a choice of a water bottle and bowl for drinking from as each rabbit will have a preference.

Dietary Advice

Introductions

Give your rabbit time to settle in and make sure they’re eating well before introducing them to other pets or children in the household. Avoid having lots of visitors at once as loud noises can frighten rabbits.

Introductions with other rabbits should be done gradually. It is essential to wait a few weeks after neutering to allow their hormones to settle down before attempting to bond rabbits. It is usually easiest to bond a neutered male with a neutered female but it depends on their personality, the age they were neutered and your experience with bonding.

Give them plenty of space and be prepared to separate them should they show any signs of stress, fear or aggression. Herbal remedies can help to reduce stress when bonding. If you are struggling to bond your rabbits, contact a specialist. Check for any organisations in your area who offer a bonding service or speak to an accredited behaviourist.

Registering with a vet

We recommend registering your rabbit with a suitable vet as soon as possible after collecting them. When choosing a vet, please do your homework into local practices as rabbits are classed as exotics and require specialist veterinary care. There are many different services and plans available so it’s important to ensure they can meet the needs of you and your pet.

When adopting from one of our Centres, you will be provided with a record of your pet’s full veterinary history to take to your vet. If the animal has a pre-existing condition, our team will send the vet paperwork prior to visiting so you can discuss it with your own vet. Breeders should be able to provide you with proof of any treatment your rabbit has had to date.

Your vet will be able to discuss any regular vaccinations, treatments or dental work they may need.

Arranging insurance cover

We would highly recommend insuring your rabbit to avoid unexpected costly vet bills. It can be more expensive or harder to find policies which will cover pets with pre-existing conditions, therefore it’s important to make sure your policy offers the right level of cover for you. Your insurer is likely to ask for vet details so you must register with a vet first.

When rehoming from us, you will receive four weeks of free insurance cover from PetPlan which can be extended into lifetime cover.