Age -
A baby bunny should not be weaned under 7 weeks old, and preferably not sold until 8 weeks old. Babies that are weaned at less than 6 weeks old are under a lot of stress already, and switching homes can be fatal. However, sometimes breeders will sell their baby bunnies before they are ready, when they are much too young, and if you get stuck with one of them, there are some things you can do to help your baby from having as little stress on its body as possible. I will detail this all in another blog, coming soon.
Bring a Carrier -
Your rabbit will not appreciate riding home in your lap. They need a small, quiet area to call their own until they get to their new home.
Leave him Alone -
When you first bring your baby home, leave him (or her, of course), alone for several hours. Try to keep the room or place your rabbit is in as quiet as possible. Rabbit ears are very sensitive, especially when they are first adjusting to a new place with new smells, sights and sounds.
Soft Music -
When I brought my first rabbit home, I noticed that soft music really helped her to drown out the excess noise and loudness of my family life (we have 5 kids in the home and she's in my bedroom). Soft music like classical is the best, nothing crazy like pop or rap. This will help keep him from getting stressed from the voices of people he's never heard before.
Diet -
Try and stick to the rabbit's original diet as closely as you can for the first day. With all the new sights, sounds and smells, the rabbit really doesn't need a whole new diet as well.
Getting to Know your New Rabbit -
Starting a bond with your rabbit is possibly one of the most exciting parts about rabbit ownership. However, many owners rush the process and end up hurting the bond rather than strengthening it. On the first day, handle your rabbit very little and only check on the rabbit a couple times to make sure he's eating and drinking, pooping and peeing. Talk softly whenever you visit the rabbit. Soon, the rabbit will come to know your smell, the sound of your voice, and your body language.
Let the rabbit make the first move. Let him adjust as slowly as he needs. Once your rabbit starts to become interested in you, and comes to the front of the cage, you can begin your bond. I have another blog post more detailed on that. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Handling -
Handle your rabbit very minimally on the first day; only as necessary. If your rabbit doesn't want to be picked up, don't pick him up yet. Many owners try to rush their bonding and that can make their rabbit afraid of them and it can make the bonding process take much longer. Let them initiate the bonding, and wait until they come to the cage door to see you until you start picking them up, cuddling and holding them on a regular basis.
I have SO MUCH MORE on this topic in my guidebook, Pet Rabbit Care Guide: All the Basics. If you're interested, click HERE and order one today!