I’ve transplanted 4 babies, maybe killed big girl and left other biggin alone. I popped a main root when transplanting. So I pushed her back together and left her in the soil. Gave her some rooting hormone and staked her up. She’ll survive.
Rabbits and deer do not like human scents ,often growers in the bush use a bar of soap (like dial or Irish spring)hung on a stake in a pair of pantyhose. Keep it a foot above soil and replace as needed. This does not need to be super close to the plant as it covers a decent area.
I have rabbits in my yard even with a 110 pound German shepherd casing them all the time they are tricky little bastards. Lots of plants people plant around gardens to keep them out or they use silver foil pans on a stick and small dia . Rope so when the wind blow it makes noise but of course if your covert outdoors growing in a crappy state might not be a good idea…I’ve known people over the years use bear or wolf or mountain lion piss on perimeter of grow to keep deer out,He’ll take a wiz around perimeter hahahah also u can order any type of urine u want and even on eBay. Just saying! Blue approves this message right or wrong
Ps: I used pepper spray for a skunk I had here a few years ago never came back.