What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[SternRose]

Hello

 

[Wild Child]

Hi!

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Welcome!

 

[kacklinkelly]

Stern rose - colony raising, to me, is a scary thought. I'm a bit of a control person. I like to breed at certain times of the year due to the exhaustive temps here in the summer time. We are doing our best to keep our small herd somewhat comfy in our triple digit temps. So far they are doing quite well. I've had a recurring dream/night mare that I forgot to put a couple of rabbits back in their cages (ours get exercise time and I'm careful to keep the boys away from the girls) and ended up with a back yard colony explosion.

It puts a knot in my stomach each time I have that dream. Just my opinion.

 

[SternRose]

Stern rose - colony raising, to me, is a scary thought.  I'm a bit of a control person. I like to breed at certain times of the year due to the exhaustive temps here in the summer time.  We are doing our best to keep our small herd somewhat comfy in our triple digit temps. So far they are doing quite well.  I've had a recurring dream/night mare that I forgot to put a couple of rabbits back in their cages (ours get exercise time and I'm careful to keep the boys away from the girls) and ended up with a back yard colony explosion.   It puts a knot in my stomach each time I have that dream. Just my opinion.  

O no! My buck won't be with the Does! He's got his own cage. The 3-4 Does would live together with out the buck when not breeding season

 

[RedRidge]

Each of my bucks has his own cage. A doe is brought to him for breeding. Takes about 5 minute. By the time he falls off several times, my coffee is finished and the doe is taken out. QED
Does frequently live in pairs or trios until their first kindling but their their own suite after that.

 

[Bunnylady]

I had a friend who tried colony breeding; she had Mini Rex, Holland Lops, and Netherland Dwarfs. She lost rabbits to foxes, raccoons, owls, hawks, dogs (including her own), and snakes. She lost litters when the heavy downpours of summer thunderstorms flooded the burrows, and she had rabbits that dug out and escaped. The real "kicker" is that she was breeding for sale as pets, and because they were raised on the ground with little handling, the babies she did produce were wild as - well - rabbits.

I know some people do it, but going on her experience, I'd have to say that you need to make sure your space is really, really secure. Knowing rabbits, I would say that if you have enough space that the rabbits can get away from each other if they need to, and if you have enough hiding/sitting/nesting places that each can have her own, it can work. If you are willing to do what is necessary to protect them and treat them for the parasites and diseases that they will be exposed to on the ground, and are willing to accept some losses because of them, it can work. If you don't mind having rabbits that go bonkers when you try to handle them, it can work. But if you want puppy-dog friendly rabbits coming and going and living happy little lives like some Disney fantasy, well, that ain't gonna happen.

 

[SternRose]

I'm wanting to colony raise my NZ meat breeders. I plan on having wire on the ground, where the grass still goes threw but rabbits can't. I'm going to make lots of nest boxes and a big wooden shelter for them to go in ic its raining, snowing ect.. It'll be a safe pen

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Well if you do decide to try it, let us know how it turns out. I've never colony raised nor do I have a need to, but UK curious to see how it would work.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Be careful what energy you send out to the universe. Well, my dream/nightmare may have come to fruition. My DH left this morning at 4:30. He is left handed. (that will make sense in a minute) When I got up at 5, I heard a noise on the side of the house. I looked out the window and everything seemed ok. I went outside and found my smallest and youngest female outside her cage and appearing to be frozen in fear. I scooped her up and couldn't figure out what the heck was going on. The clasp that I use to secure her door was on the left side of her cage door. Meaning, DH went out to check on the buns before he left. (I always put the clasp on the right side) The clasp didn't catch on the door and the cage, just the cage and well…. the rest is history. The buck who we let out yesterday appeared to be laying on his side looking as happy as could be. The poor little girl was panting and had loose fur on her back. She let me hold her for the longest time. The buck isn't coming anywhere near me to be put up. I think he's waiting for another female to fall from Heaven.

I don't know if it would have taken, she's 14 weeks old. I'm concerned about her size and age. My mature does are quite large. her mother is about 9-10 lbs. This buck and my mature does throw anywhere from 5-8 kits. I've been reading different forums and some say the immature female can die. Others say the litter will likely die or it will stunt her growth to have been bred that early. Any feedback you have is appreciated. I'm sure in 31 days I will know for sure. Just shaking my head…..