Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Leigti]

Rabbits actually similar to cats in respect to social needs. Sure they can live with other cats and be friends with the others, but they are equally happy on their own.

interesting. Obviously the research I've been doing has not been in the right place. It is amazing that no matter what type of animal there is so much bad information out there. I figured that out when I first got my first tortoise. 90% of the information out there was bad and probably 50% of it was dangerous and possibly fatal to the tortoise. Some of the information on chickens wasn't any better. Can you recommend a good site or for him etc. for information on rabbits? I haven't looked on the site much yet.
One rabbit is fine with me but I just figured they needed a friend.
What kind of rabbits do you have? I know they are meat rabbits but do they make a decent pets? How big do they get?

 

[Leigti]

Rabbits actually similar to cats in respect to social needs. Sure they can live with other cats and be friends with the others, but they are equally happy on their own.

Have you ever had an indoor pet rabbit?

 

[Leigti]

Wow, I just read my locals craigslist and somebody is selling started pullets they are one week old! OMG :-(

 

[Hinotori]

Wow, I just read my locals craigslist and somebody is selling started pullets they are one week old! OMG :-(

 

[pennyJo1960]

Wow, I just read my locals craigslist and somebody is selling started pullets they are one week old! OMG :-(

Meyer Hatchery advertise them also they cost more because they
are alive cost more to feed and raise

 

[Leigti]

Meyer Hatchery advertise them also they cost more because they
are alive cost more to feed and raise

I was being a smart Alec. Started pullet means they're almost at laying age. Not one week old.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quote: right
that is how they are advertising them ready to lay

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gang anyone up yet to da*n early in my view

 

[junebuggena]

What kind of rabbits do you have? I know they are meat rabbits but do they make a decent pets? How big do they get?

I've got two New Zealand does and a New Zealand/California/Chinchilla mix buck. Temperament depends a lot on breeding. My does are not pets, at all. Even with daily interaction, they still don't want anything to do with people. My buck was bred with temperament in mind, and he is a love. He begs for attention. They are all about 8 to 10 pounds, so pretty big.

Have you ever had an indoor pet rabbit?

My first rabbit ever was a english spot mix, and he was an inside/outside rabbit. He had his own yard and his cage was kept in an old playhouse outside, but he was also allowed to hangout in the house. He even played tag with the dogs. I've had pet rabbits for years till I got married. The military doesn't allow rabbits in gov. housing, so it wasn't till we bought a house that I could finally have rabbits again. This is the first time I've ever had more than one at a time.

This site has TON of info.
http://rabbit.org/

 

[Chickielady]

Could you explain more or do you have a link?

I have a few 50 foot rolls of pipe wrap, but you can also get it in lengths, ready to use, at Home Depot.

I originally made this after a brain storm, when I was mad about my cold frames being cold...and wouldn't it be awesome if they were warm ?
So how to heat a cold frame ?

We just made a new big one, it is out in the cold rain right now, full of 1/2 gallon pots planted with tomatoes...YIPPEE!!
The cold frame outdoors is made of plywood, painted with spar var, assembled, and the interior walls are covered with 1/2 or 1" styrofoam, with the alumninumshiny stuff on the inside, which increases light.
The pipe tape is about 3 x the length of the box, a water proof heat shrink is attached to the end (we cut a length off the roll) and a plug attached.
Einstein wire the plug to feed a wafer thermometer, then that feeds the pipe tape.

The pipe tape is wound around in the bottom of the box..and use BIG wire staples to hold it down to the floor of the plywood box, careful not to nick it, do not staple in btween the 2 wires or it will arc ! The plastic has metal in it that heats and is self limiting...and a nick would ground it out.

So, then as the wire is wound around, 3-4" apart, the end in the center...cover it with sand or pea gravel.
Plug it in with a thrmometer in there & watch when you get to about 75-80 degrees, add your plants.

Or iguanas........

I can tell the temp in there as I have a RC transmitter thermostat in there, the reciever in the house, so if it gets too warm, I can turn the power down by adjusting the wafer.
Just like an incubator.
The lid is clear dual wall poly caebonate, available also at HD..................you can also make a "Hot Frame" like this out of an old window...hinges on the back..... get the window, make a box to fit.

Here is a few old prototypes..


These prototypes last 3 years outdoors, unpainted, here on the WA coast !
But this year we made a really nice, bigger one, and one inside the barn, for the baby chicks.

The one for the chicks is made out of a giant rubbermaid tub, cut a hole about 2" up from one corner close to the outlet you want to use.......feed in the pipe tape, and plug it in it is easier to mold although it can be hot !
I hold it in place with thin fire bricks..........then dumped a bag of play sand on top, smooth it out & stick a stem thermometer in gently, do not nick the pipe tape wrap.....
I then added compressed straw on top, about 2" deep...and the food & water.
The babies LOVE IT!
There is no crying, no pasty butt, only purring & happy babies.
I love how happy baby chicks make that purring noise...........
I will try & get better pictures later.

The power can go out, and the bricks & sand keep the babies warm OVER NIGHT !

The temp registered on the stem therm stuck in the sand can get to 120 dgrees...but on the surface it is 99, and with the straw it is a nice warm nest !
To clean the little doo doos out, use a strainer spoon, or a slotted spoon ans sift like you do a cat box.
Poo dries up fast in the warm sand, preventing babies from getting poo stuck on them.
Is is awesome !!