Hello everyone
Just reporting in
Collected bunnies yesterday afternoon and they are absolutely gorgeous ...their distinct personalities are already beginning to show!
I had a sleepless night on Tuesday before they arrived having been warned about the fact that a change of diet and environment, might cause them not to eat or drink ...or cause a stomach upset .... but they were both eating and drinking happily within 30 minutes of arrival. Phew! The responsibility is fairly daunting given my level of inexperience. I'm keeping to the same diet as the breeder for the moment, and then she suggested trying them out with a tiny piece of carrot on day 3. Does this sound right to all of you?
My only slight concerns are the fact that I haven't seen the male drink today as yet (75% sure he is a 'he' but as yet unconfirmed) and the issue that you all warned me about - ie picking them up. They have had their first couple of sessions exploring our sitting room and terrace (can't go on lawn yet until they are vaccinated on Monday) and yet when we come to pick them up to put them back in their cage, they run away, struggle and kick and seem very traumatised by the process, however gentle and careful we are.
I remember having this issue with the gps when they first arrived but they soon got used to being scooped up by us ...the rabbits ...even at this age ..are much stronger and more wriggly. Do they ever get habituated to being picked up?
I think we should try to vary things and ensure that "being picked up" doesn't always mean "being put back in cage" but also "being given a treat" or "being put down to run about on lawn".
Even worse, when I put the female back in her cage the first time, she shook uncontrollably for about 2 minutes 
She's fine now but it's a bit unnerving to say the least.
If the male doesn't drink by this evening, I have a syringe of 'special nutrition' available for him. Heaven knows how I will adminster this though if it becomes necessary.
I will be leaving them quietly alone for the rest of the day but they really seemed to enjoy stretching their legs. Just from their first circuits around the room, sniffing and stretching and exploring everywhere, I can see how much space and stimulation they are going to need.
And I also felt because even though I bought them from a very reputable and knowledgeable breeder, the cages they were in weren't huge and the male rabbit took a while to 'get his back legs' under him on our parquet. I think he had been so cramped that his muscles weren't being stretched properly. I can see how important it is that they get sufficient exercise.
Any advice or comments on above gratefully received. Although I have rabbit-knowledgeable contacts on standby, I still feel as though I am walking on eggshells with them at the moment ...v. anxious about their welfare atm.
Photos to follow when I can (a) find the camera and (b) work out how to upload [technophobe ignoramus emoticon]