How not to do it! (Introducing Rabbits)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Introducing Rabbits
Date:	07/10/09 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: works

Disadvantages: takes time

Well, there is a way to do this and a way not to do it, and I have done both!

HOW NOT TO DO IT:
Just put them together in the garden and see what happens. I did this with our new female rabbit as it was to meet our old female rabbit. After lots of frisky running around the old one began to hump the new one's head. Then, it swang round and humped the new ones, erm, willy? We lifted it up and found the new GIRL to be a boy, and a while later we had very cute baby bunnies! Oh dear!

HOW TO DO IT:
If you have to do it, then put the new rabbit in its cage in the garden and leave it in the cage for a week. The existing rabbit will go and look and smell, wee all over it, and make sure it knows who is boss. This stage is dead important as the newbie in the cage gets the idea and the old godfather in the garden won't hurt it, even though it will want to. It will use up all its anger stomping around and peeing all over the place.

After this stage, take the oldschool rabbit up to the cage and talk softly, introducing the new rabbit. Have a heart to heart about how much you love old school rabbit, then open the cage whilst still holding old rabbit and see what happens. If it all kicks off, shut the door!

If it's all kicking off, put the new rabbit in a run and let the old see it in a different position. After a while swap places so the new rabbit can get to know its way around too.

Finally, let both out at the same time, and be prepared for at least one fight. Our house rabbits had one once just after Claire had hovered and it made a right mess!

All in all, a tricky old business but they get there in the end.

Summary: go for it