I was surprised two days later to discover five live kits in the box.
A litter of six born to this duo. I have to admit I was surprised at two peanuts in the litter. It's good to know though the Bella is a true dwarf. I was just surprised about Calypso. So Bella has four kits to raise, I'll be fostering 2 of Marilyn's over to her as she should have no problems raising six kits. I was surprised two days later to discover five live kits in the box.
0 Comments
Marilyn the second biggest rabbit I own, and Cheta a small dwarf boy who stayed here for a spell, produced 12 kits. 9 dark kits and 3 broken. Marilyn is a HIGHLY protective mama and I will need to exercise caution when checking on her littles. I thought she'd have nine or so, therefore was a bit surprised with 12. I'll foster a couple over to Bella in the morning. Watch Me GrowBorn Dec 7, 2019 Gregory is a sweet 75% English Lop. He has a bit a New Zealand and Rex in him. A very sweet boy who traveled almost 3 hours to get to London where I picked him up.
You may recall that gorgeous little dwarf buck that stayed here for a spell. He went to his new home this past Friday. Rather neat story. His new owner was at Walmart trying to find a good cage for Cheta to live in and a very kind stranger offered her spare rabbit cage to her. Wasn't that sweet of that stranger? He certainly looks comfy in his new digs doesn't he? Living the life of luxury. What more could a fun, energetic bunny want?
As his new person says "he's a happy boy". I absolutely love when I get messages like what I received this message today. I wanted to touch base with you, let you that "Dragon" has been renamed "Duke Bennington the Third". haha ridiculous, I know. We call him Benny. Anyways, he's settled in well and is an amazing addition to our family. Thank you so much. If you recall Dragon was the odd man out when one of the keeper girls decided to reveal himself as a young male. So his new owner was the beneficiary of that.
Do you know the importance of isolation? Of keeping animals separate and away from your herd for at least 30 days? Protect your herd, protect your new animal as well. Why Isolate?Rabbits are animals that are masters at hiding illness. You can have what looks like a perfectly healthy animal in front of you. Passes all your tests for an animal that you want to purchase, but hidden beneath the surface may be an illness that you don't want to bring home with you. But how would you even know? Illnesses that hide: pasteurella, e.cunniculi, Coccidiosis, etc Illnesses easily missed: vent disease, ear mites, sore hocks, abscesses, etc. This is why isolation is so important. The stress of moving from one place to another is often just what is needed to bring hidden illnesses to the forefront. As well the time in isolation, when you are watching your new bunny closely, can show you things that you might have missed when you first looked over your new rabbit. Where to place your isolation cageYou want to place your isolation area in a place close enough to get to easily, but far enough away that illness won't spread. At least 20 feet away from other rabbits. What to do during isolationFeed and care for the rabbit in isolation AFTER you care for your other rabbits. Change your clothes and wash your hands before going back to your original rabbits. Watch for any signs of illness. Snot, hunching up, weepy eyes, unusual fecal output, bloat, etc. Give your new rabbit a thorough check over once a week. Look for contusions, abscesses, sore feet, overgrown nails, blisters around nose or vent, teeth and more. What if your new rabbit is sickIf you discover sickness within the first 24 hours...contact the person you bought the rabbit from. Hopefully they will stand behind their rabbit and do what is right. Helping you to solve your problem, or taking the rabbit back and give you a healthy one.
Generally after 24 hours the most you can get from a breeder is helpful advice. Suggestions about how to help the rabbit, or more information about condition, and so forth. If you have managed to "get taken", or involved with an unethical breeder, all you can is cull a serious ill rabbit (pasteurella is one such illness), or treat (most other illnesses). Only you can decide how much effort to put into helping your new purchase. Cheta, this lovely, sweet, energetic boy found himself a new home today.
A young lady came out from I think London to get him. Cheta came in as a rescue and quickly stole our hearts. Such a bright energetic confident lad. If I had the space to have kept him forever I would have. I am sure he will do well in his new home and quickly steal her heart as well. I sold Brother Cornelius in April. He's enjoying his new home. A space to call his own and a big friend to watch over him. What more could a bunny ask for?
This 2017 mama went into a new breeding home today. A good girl she's given me a replacement with an offspring waiting in the wings. Rain joined Aida in her new home. Hopefully she'll do well for her new people. She's a June 2019 youngster.
I was talking with a new rabbit breeder this morning who (it seemed to me) was disclaiming her non-pedigreed rabbits who she had turned into pets. I mentioned she can easily make her own pedigrees. I think she was surprised. So HOW do you make pedigrees from non-pedigreed rabbits? Rabbits are show by phenotype not genotypeUnlike in the world of other animals where pedigrees really truly matter. People want/need to trace their animals back to foundational animals that need is not present in the rabbit world. Is it nice to know? For sure! But rabbits have been primarily a food animal for a very long time and have been judged more by their type then by their pedigree for a very long time. If you have a rabbit that looks like a dutch, you can show it as a dutch even if you have no pedigree. Same thing with Netherland dwarf, Flemish giant, Holland lops or mini rex. What matters most is what the animal looks like. Where do you startHere you are with your rabbit of unknown origin. You know their colour and general build. Take for instance, this fellow. Looks like a holland lop, has the approximate size of a holland lop. Call him George. You breed George to Tilda also a non-pedigreed holland lop type. This gets you your first generation. A doe you've named Lincoln. You breed Lincoln to DarkSun and get your second generation. You might have a bit more information that you have recorded about DarkSun like colour. Write down as much information as you can. Weight at six months, colour, date of birth etc. If you have a rabbit that is more pedigreed, use them to fill out your pedigree a bit more. Be honest on your pedigreed. If you have mixed in a netherland dwarf into your pedigree to bring down the size of your large holland lops, kept the breed on your pedigree so people will know that. Each generation gives you another generation on your pedigree. Keep collecting information. Add it to your pedigree. Colour, weight (6 mths), tattoo, etc. Until eventually you get a third generation pedigree. Three generations is the minimum number accepted on a pedigree, four is better but three is acceptable. For me in my rabbitry, if I'm starting a pedigree from an unknown rabbit I keep one of out each successive generation and sell the less pedigreed parent into a pet home. This way you continue to move forward in your quest to get fully pedigreed animals. NOW I do have to say this. If you have a fine looking fellow like this who is CLEARLY a mutt it would be helpful to keep a pedigree program for him. BUT he is not any define-able breed, so you would merely be pedigree-ing the offspring in order to help your record keeping, or perhaps to start your very own breed. Cheta is a dwarf type and I'd love to start my own dwarf breed with his colouring and attitude. But he's not a particular breed, a real little mutt. :) Perhaps I can create a breed called "The Cheta Dwarf" :) An affordable pedigree program is Kintraks. The owner is based out of Australia and you can use it to pedigree any animal species that you have. One life-time fee. Regular upgrades included. Costs... about $25.
|
AuthorI have been breeding rabbits for a quite a few years. I thoroughly enjoy them as animals and think they make great pets. I also like to take some of them to rabbit shows to see how they measure up to the standards. For the BEST rabbit forum I've ever found. Go to Rabbittalk.com. Good for the pet rabbit owner as well as the breeder for meat or show.
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|