This is very good news for Jilly as bunnies are very social and love to have a friend (other than their human, of course!!! LOL!!! ). I am very glad you are being careful. You have asked good questions too. And yes, a bunny from a rescue shelter is always a very good idea.

And you are right that bunnies should NOT be picked up by the scruff of their neck. As a prey animal bunnies hate being up off the floor because they know they are helpless. An agitated bunny could kick out and try to throw himself around in a effort to get away and end up breaking it's neck or back. The proper way to pick up a bunny is not so much different that picking up a small child with one hand firmly around the butt and the other firmly around the chest and front legs.

I have never had a problem with having a small bunny with a large one, but it depends on the bunnies personalities. Remember a long, slow introduction is best, as much as it drives us all crazy wanting our bunnies to be friends RIGHT NOW!!! It's just our nature to want for our pets what we enjoy too!

You talk about getting Jilly a friend, and if it's a boy, having him neutered. I hope you are planning on doing the same for Jilly. Female buns have a very high incidence of reproductive cancers. Plus spaying will calm her down just enough from being aggressive. Many people worry that with spay/neutering that their animal will be less playful and energetic but that's just not true. A big plus is also that her urine will be less "odorous," for lack of a better word, and that she'll be more accepting of you as well as with another bunny. As I said above the introductions should be taken slowly so it may take a while to get them to be friends. Check out the House Rabbit Soc webpage on bonding multiple rabbits www.rabbit.org. Sorry to be preachy, as a bunny educator it's hard to get off my soap box!

Good luck with finding a new friend for Jilly and keep us informed. We bunny lovers can't get too much news about bunnies!! Heh-heh-heh!