my new dutch rabbit

Question
Hi dana, before I have already sent you a question about pairing and now herbie (polish dwarf bunny, 2 months) has been paired with hazel (dutch, 1 month) for one week.. They groom each other and sleep together.. Herbie is more active, she like to run and hop around but sometimes accidentally she step on hazel's head.. Is that okay? Or I have to warn her? Hazel's hind leg is not normal since my mom bought her, should I go to the vet? Cause I see her can do anything normal and she can also run.. Last question is, do dutch rabbit has more calm personality than polish dwarf? Cause I can see herbie make a binky everyday while hazel just once in one week..

Thanks Dana, hope ur reply..

Answer
Dear Michelle,

I doubt Herbie can hurt Hazel if he occasionally gets his foot on her head.  She would let him know if it bothered her.  It sounds as if they really are in love.  I hope both will be spayed/neutered when they are old enough, as you will be up to your armpits in rabbits otherwise.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

and

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/scary.html

Herbie can be neutered first, as soon as his testicles descend.  Then you can wait to spay Hazel until she's older, since estrogen is important for skeletal development.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

It would not hurt to have Hazel looked at by a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to see if her leg is treatable.  If it's splayleg, then please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/splayleg.html

for help.

Finally, it's hard to say if one breed is more playful than another.  Some Dutch bunnies are very lively, and binky a lot.  It might just be that Hazel is a calmer rabbit than Herbie just because it's her personality, not because of her breed.

Hope all continues to go well!

Dana