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🐰 The First Days at Home

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Helping your bunny settle in.

The first few days in a new home can feel overwhelming—for both you and your bunny. New sights, sounds, smells, and routines take time to adjust to. This is completely normal.

Rabbits are sensitive animals by nature. Their awareness helps them stay safe in the wild, but it also means they may need extra patience and calm during this transition.

 

🏡 Create a Calm Start

Set up your bunny’s space before bringing them home. A quiet, low-traffic area is best for the first few days.

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• Provide fresh hay, water, and a litter box

• Keep the space calm and predictable

• Avoid loud noises, sudden movements, or frequent visitors

Allow your bunny time to observe and settle in at their own pace.

 

💛 Let Your Bunny Lead

It’s natural to want to hold, pet, and bond right away, but many bunnies need time first.

• Allow your bunny to explore their space without pressure

• Sit nearby and let them approach you

• Gentle talking helps them learn your voice

• Handling should be limited the first day or two

Trust builds best when your bunny feels safe and in control.

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🌾 Eating & Bathroom Habits

It is normal for appetite and litter habits to be slightly off at first.

 

• Hay should be available at all times

• Eating small amounts frequently is normal

• Some bunnies may eat less the first day, then improve quickly

If your bunny refuses food for an extended period or seems lethargic, contact a rabbit-savvy veterinarian.

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🕰️ Give It Time

Every bunny adjusts differently. Some settle in quickly, while others need a few days—or even a week or two—to feel fully comfortable.

 

Signs your bunny is settling in may include:

• Eating more consistently

• Exploring their space

• Relaxed body posture

• Gentle curiosity

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Bonding will come with patience, routine, and trust.

 

🤍 A Gentle Reminder​

Your bunny has just left everything familiar. With calm care, consistency, and love, they will learn that they are safe. 

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🐰Additional Information🐰

The first days of having your bunny in your home can be stressful for you and your bunny. You want to do everything right and can’t wait to bond with your new family member! Just remember that rabbits are sensitive creatures by nature as that is how they survive in the wild. In their new home they will be experiencing different people, sights, sounds, and smells that are all new to them. Holland Lops and Teddywidders are very mild by nature but it is still important to take things slowly these first days and weeks until they fully acclimate. Here is some general information to get you started.

Feed: I will send you home with a transition baggie of Kalmbach 18% protein feed. If you choose to use another brand try to get one that is 17-18% protein to support their wool  growth needs. If you choose to use another feed a good Pet Brand is Oxbow. The transition process should take about a week. I suggest starting with a ratio of 75% old feed to 25% new feed. Gradually increase that amount every couple days to 50/50 then 25/75 until fully on their new feed. Free feeding quality Timothy Hay, this is most important during their first days. I suggest a small amount of pellets the first couple days and lots of Timothy Hay. You can also supplement with a small amount of Alfalfa hay. If you see soft poop feed ONLY Timothy hay until their poop firms up. A quality Pet Hay I suggest Oxbow or Small Pet Select 2nd or 3rd cut. See my Starter Items page for links. Although any quality packaged Timothy Hay is fine. Kaytee and Oxbow are nice convenient choices.
 
Habitat: Bunnies do best when they have a little burrow to feel safe in. That can look like many things depending on your setup. If wanting to teach to free roam I suggest having a small area/enclosure within the playpen that has their water, food, and litter box. This will help them to learn where to "go". The smaller space will also give them a sense of comfort kind of like a burrow. You can put a towel or small blanket over 3 sides of it so it looks like a burrow. Always remember to make sure there is adequate ventilation. As they acclimate you can make the area larger. This will be less stressful for them and will lock in the potty training.
 
Potty Training: Bunnies are used to using a litter box but will not always know where to "go" initially. If your new bunny potties outside of the litter box simply put it pick it up or wipe it up with a paper towel and put in the litter box and they will learn that is where to "go". If it is urine put the paper towel piece under the grate so they do not play with it. Rabbits typically like to potty in the same place. I suggest a litter box that has a grate on the bottom (plastic or metal) to separate them from their excrements. This is more sanitary for them and will deter them from digging and playing in it. Try to get one where the grate locks onto the bottom and the litter box can be secured in a single position.  ​​​​​​

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