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The first week decides a lot about how your lionhead will behave for years. Rabbits are prey animals, so a new home full of strange smells and noises is stressful, even if the breeder handled the babies often. Good preparation makes that week much easier for both of you.
Before pickup day
Set up the living space first. A pen or cage should be big enough for your rabbit to stretch out fully and take a few hops, and it needs a place to exercise outside it for several hours each day. Lionheads are small, but they are active. Put in a litter box filled with hay, a heavy water bowl, a hiding box and a small pile of hay to graze on. Our pages on housing list indoor and outdoor cage options if you are still choosing.
Ask the breeder what your rabbit is eating right now and buy the same pellets. A sudden switch can upset the stomach.
Days one and two
Put your rabbit in the pen, open the carrier door and step back. Do not pick it up, and keep the room quiet. Some bunnies explore right away and others sit in the hiding box for hours. Both are normal. Check that it is eating, drinking and producing droppings. Those three things tell you the move is going well.
Days three to five
Start spending time near the pen. Sit on the floor, read a book and let your rabbit come and sniff you. Offer a small piece of leafy green or a herb from your hand. Once it takes food calmly, try a gentle stroke on the forehead and cheeks. Rabbits usually dislike being touched on the back legs and belly, so leave those areas alone for now.
When you do pick your rabbit up, place one hand under the chest and the other under the hindquarters so the back legs cannot kick out. A lionhead that kicks free can hurt its spine.
Days six and seven
Book a first check with a vet who sees rabbits. Bring a list of what the breeder told you about age, food and any earlier treatment, and ask about a vaccination schedule where it applies. You can read about that on our vaccinations and general health page. If you are still deciding where to buy, the selection and buying guide explains what to look for in a healthy rabbit.
By the end of the week you should have a rabbit that eats in front of you, uses the litter box most of the time and comes out to explore. If it still hides constantly or stops eating, call your vet instead of waiting.