Tre3hugger's Rabbit Thread

[Tre3hugger]

Food doesn't, but you might decide to hold one back for breeding or make a pet sale ot two.

Ok got ya. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something. Thank you for clearing that up.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Update time! The kits are 16 days old and doing well. All 9 seem to be putting on weight to slightly varying degrees. I did notice during inspection today that one still hadn't opened it's eyes. All the other ones are bright eyed and tall eared. There are some classic chinchilla colored ones and others with a brownish chinchilla coat, assuming from Maple's tortoise shell or her red/black lineage. I know they are not an accepted Standard color, but they sure are interesting looking. I will have to find a way to use their pelts and honor their beauty. I expect they will be hopping out of the nest within a week!

I put some veterycin on a cotton pad and gently soaked the eyes of the little one who hadn't opened up yet. The eyes didn't appear crusty or irritated so hopefully it is nothing to worry about. I will keep an eye on it (pun intended) over the next couple days. This is the Stevie Wonder kit.

This is the littlest next to the biggest

I plan on rebreeding Maple in 5 days (3 weeks since birth) and staerting the weaning process a week from then. This should giver her a two week break without babies, and free up the grow out cages in the right time.

In other news, Crewella got her nest box today! She is due for her first litter on Thursday. Hopefully I get some beautiful pedigreed pets from her. She quickly made a burrow in it and has been hanging out next to it.

Lastly, I took the opportunity this week to join the ARBA, registered my rabbitry and purchased a breeder listing in their directory. Am now also a proud member of the National Livestock Conservany. It's all happening!

 

[MissE]

Exciting! Love the little kits. They are growing fast.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Exciting! Love the little kits. They are growing fast.

It really is amazing how quickly they develop. It has been a true joy to witness. I am so impressed with the nourishment Maple is able to pass on with 10 total feeding minutes a day.

Question: When the kits start hopping out of the nest, should I remove it or just tip it on its side so they can still snuggle in there?

 

[MissE]

It really is amazing how quickly they develop. It has been a true joy to witness. I am so impressed with the nourishment Maple is able to pass on with 10 total feeding minutes a day.

Question: When the kits start hopping out of the nest, should I remove it or just tip it on its side so they can still snuggle in there?

I put a block in front of mine so they could get back in. They will annoy the crap out of mom when they are able to climb out, so if there is a way she can get on top the box to get away from them, she will love you. I put a little shelf above mine. She may even appreciate her own cage, but then you have to move them twice a day to eat.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I put a block in front of mine so they could get back in. They will annoy the crap out of mom when they are able to climb out, so if there is a way she can get on top the box to get away from them, she will love you. I put a little shelf above mine. She may even appreciate her own cage, but then you have to move them twice a day to eat.

Ah okay a block, like a little step. That would work. The nest box does have a ledge she could utilize if she desires. I am going to start removing kits, largest first, over week 4-5. i saw the kits tasting hay today already. So cute!

 

[MissE]

Ah okay a block, like a little step. That would work. The nest box does have a ledge she could utilize if she desires. I am going to start removing kits, largest first, over week 4-5. i saw the kits tasting hay today already. So cute!

Luckily they outgrow the cute stage and turn into bratty teenagers a couple weeks before butchering time. Makes it a lot easier.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Luckily they outgrow the cute stage and turn into bratty teenagers a couple weeks before butchering time. Makes it a lot easier.

I have heard that from quite a few seasoned rabbit raisers. lol I have been assuring my wife (and myself) that soon they will just be eating pooping machines! With another litter and rebreeding in the immediate plans, things would QUICKLY get out of hand if we didn't subtract very regularly. All that being said, DARN they are cute right now.

 

[MissE]

I have heard that from quite a few seasoned rabbit raisers. lol I have been assuring my wife (and myself) that soon they will just be eating pooping machines! With another litter and rebreeding in the immediate plans, things would QUICKLY get out of hand if we didn't subtract very regularly. All that being said, DARN they are cute right now.

Cute now is why we help them stay alive long enough to start fighting, humping, and carrying on like little jerks at 8 weeks.

Rabbit math is waaaaay worse than chicken math for sure. Without steady subtractions, you are sol.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Sad morning here at Cuckoo Mountain. Crewella gave birth to her first litter last night on the wire. I found 4 cold dead babies this morning when I went to feed her. It was such a pain to get her bred and I was really hoping to hold back a daughter form this group to replace her as a breeder. Oh well, we make plans, the animals laugh.

Tomorrow was the day to rebreed Maple, so I will give Crewella today to rest and then breed them both tomorrow. Only silver lining I can find is now my breeding schedule is lined up for both does.
I have read that rebreeding right after the lost litter is optimal, and can result in heightened receptiveness and larger litters on the next kindling. Can anyone offer any insight on this? Maybe @MissE ? When would you rebreed her?

I know this is just a part of the game. Life and Death. Yesterday I watched 5 guinea keets tumble out of their eggs and look at the world for the first time. Today it is 4 dead kits on the wire. The cycle continues, and I am grateful to be a part of it, on the good AND bad days.