Brand New Bunny Family

[MamaRet]

Hello!

We adopted a 10 week old holland lop female named “Flower”. We are so excited to have a new member in our family but I am trying to find out information about bonding a rabbit with young children. I have a 4 year old little girl who is dying to play with a rabbit but I’ve instructed her that we Flower will be left alone for a while to adjust to her new home. 

We’ve been talking to her, reading books to her, and scattering pellets in her cage 2x a day. Currently she is in a large guinea pig cage on the floor of our family room. She is preview to all the noise, tv, commotion of our every day lives – is this too much? Should the bunny be moved to a more secluded part of the house? I’d like for her to get used to “us” but is being in the main living space too much too soon? 

Also – should we handle her at all? We have an x-pen and would like to put her in it while my 4 year old sits quietly on the floor near her. Just for everyone to get used to everyone. Would it be more damaging to pull her out of her cage rather than letting her hop out when she is ready? 

Thanks!

[Joeythenethie]

I’d say to keep Flower in a quiet room, even after she’s adjusted. I’m sure that even in the secluded room, she’d still be able to hear the normal sounds of your household and get used to them (so if you ever had to, let’s say, vacuum that room, the noise wouldn’t be completely foreign to her). If your daughter ever wants to play with her, then they can sit together in the quiet room with minimal other sounds. Also, be sure to provide flower with some hideaways to prevent stress. And I agree that Flower should be allowed to hop out on her own instead of being picked out. Once she adjusts, she’ll get curious about her surroundings and explore on her own.
Best of luck, and keep us updated!

[caudex]

I think I have a different perspective… my bunnies started out in a quiet room to themselves, but were VERY happy to be moved to the living area, where there were people and things to see. Especially for an only bunny, there is a social aspect to consider. How does she seem? Skittish, or curious? If Flower seems interested, and isn’t hiding or thumping or charging the cage, she is probably safe to hang out with in a controlled setting. As a former four year old bunny owner who cringes at the things I used to do, please make sure your daughter understands how to nicely visit the bunny…namely, no grabbing, squeezing, screaming, poking….yanno, four year old things.

If you check out the Habitat page, you’ll see lots of people (including me!) who have x pens as the full time habitat. Her day to day space should be around 8 square feet, so a cage alone can be too small. That has the added advantage of being big enough for a vacuum, or for a person to sit in with her, even with a litterbox and a place for bunny to hide.

[Author]

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