introducing new rabbit to group

Question
I've been given a bunny who is approx. 4 months old with a badly deformed leg.  The leg is totally healed, but not functional.  The bunny is very healthy and has been living in an apartment for the past 3 months.  We have a very large outdoor hutch with different levels and shelters housing 4 female rabbits living together.  This is quite a recent construction, and they get along reasonably well, although one lop likes to keep to herself.  Is is possible to introduce this new little stranger with her deformity?  I feel so sad for her.....

Answer
Dear Shelagh,

It will be a real challenge to introduce the new bunny to an established group, especially if the others are not spayed.   The most likely initial reaction to your putting her in the hutch will be ferocious fighting, perhaps with bonded bunnies turning on each other.  I would *not* do this.

The only way to confidently establish a bond between the new and established bunnies is to

1.  Have all concerned spayed

2.  Provide a large, completely neutral territory for introductions and bonding.

3.  Follow careful bonding protocols, as described here:

    http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/introductions.html
    and more here:
    http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-a=00062824-sp00000000&sp-q=bonding&user=enter...

You'll have to be patient, and it might not work.  If this is the case, you could always let the little tripod pick her own pal from among those at your local rescuer's foster home.

I hope this helps!

Dana