Nice neighbor and the miserable bunnies

[redhen]

Quote:
I totally understand why you are upset.. I hate to see ANY animal stuffed in small cage to suffer. I hate that some people think that just because its a meat rabbit, it dosent deserve room to hop around in its cage... What a horriable life... I'd rather he just kill them too..then have them live like that. How sad.. I hate to hear stories like this...

ETA: I have nothing aganist using them for meat. In fact, we are thinking getting some rabbits for meat too...

 

[mamagardener]

I have nothing against raising your own meat.
I do have something against putting animals in a little tiny box and saying well they are for meat only.
That's why I have my own chickens, because I can't stand the thought of what they do to laying hens on big production farms.

 

[1stepcloser]

Whiteconfections, I am not shoving my anything at anybody. You commented your rabbits have a 18"x8" cage, can build nest and let them out. Good for you. These rabbits are never let out. They have no runs. I have watched litter after litter freeze to death because he refuses to even add a handful of straw to help guard them against the elements. I watched one desperately try to stretch his limbs yesterday and after a few failed attempts the poor thing just started panicking throwing himself against the walls until he gave up and went limp. It wasn't pretty and trust...I am a LONG way from being dramatic about it.

theOEGBman, I know he hasn't killed/eaten of them because we talk almost daily. My son is actually interested in learning how to process them and our neighbor has offered to teach him how but months later no processing has taken place. (He is still trying to figure out why the litters die...UGH) And like I mentioned, their cages face my backyard (our properties back up to one another) so whether I like it or not, I notice the rabbits.


Thank you mamagardener and redhen. That is why I have chickens too. The idea of contributing to a system like that sickens me. I have zero issue with eating animals... I guess I am just one of those bleeding hearts who hates to see anything life a crappy life regardless of its "purpose". And yes, solitary confinement for incredibly social animals in cramped conditions where they die from exposure meets my definition of crappy.

 

[Bettacreek]

Reading one of your other threads, there has been a LOT of good advice. What all have you tried so far? What was the response? It sounds like a lot of the ideas would work. If not, knowing what his excuse was would probably help us come up with new ideas, since we'd know his mind-set.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

As long as they are sheltered, fed and watered...they are his animals. Allow him to raise him with his own way. The animals are cared for...just because they are not housed in the housing system you would prefer does not mean he is doing it the wrong way.

I'd be building a privacy fence if I were him or you.

 

[cutrite]

Build a fence so you don't have to look at the situation. Just cause you dont like it doesnt mean the neighbor is in the wrong. Better yet pull your curtains closed.

 

[1stepcloser]

There was lots of great advice and I tried talking, tried bringing him a book "saw this and thought of you" (along with several lbs of fresh pork we shared just to be nice), asked if I could help work on the run to further my own skills by learning from him and who knows...I might be of some help.

Nothing. He'd smile and thank me then sorta prattle on about plans he had but nothing has come of it. I am at a loss. I don't understand why or the adversion to bedding.


And wow. Thanks RP. Makes me so glad myself and others care so much for YOUR animals and their welfare. I guess we could all use a good privacy fence.

 

[redhen]

Building a fence wont help the rabbits though, will it?

 

[teach1rusl]

Lordy...I'd have to put up a fence section, plant a pine or two, or put up some tall hedge shrubs, because that would depress me too. Folks have such a HUGE difference of opinion of what's right for animals. You see it here in dealing with chickens on BYC all the time. What one person considers humane, I might cringe at. Same with rabbits, dogs, etc.

The only other option I see is to build your own pen (look on craigs list for a free dog house you could modify or free materials). Once he sells you one or two rabbits, they're yours to house how you see fit, whether that's free ranging or whatever. Personally, I'd be afraid to free range a bunny, but it sounds like a better life than squeezed into a tiny cage to me... On the other hand, if you buy one or two, will he just fill the empty cage with another rabbit????

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
I wasn't the only one who said it if you'd notice. You raise your animals your way. You have chosen to raise them as pets with all the "perks" of pets. Your neighbor is raising them the way he has been taught by his father or one of his friends. Heck, he might even have had success with it before you moved there or before he moved there, whoever has been there longer.

If the animals are cared for, including feed, water and shelter, what more can the man do? He is keeping the rabbits for himself, not for neighbors to look at and "tsk" under their breath for. What if he were reading this right now? What if he doesn't like the idea of someone telling him how to do something and then be berated when he continues on his own way?

Edit: I'm sorry if you see this as me "bashing" your ideal animal husbandry tactics, but we all have our own opinions on how something should be kept.