I belong to several rabbit boards. They each have a different focus I find. One is very show oriented, another meat rabbits, another pet focused, and yet another is broader based with a strong homesteading attitude. I am part of these boards for a few different reasons.
- to share my joys and sorrows
- to ask questions
- to answer questions
I am realizing more and more how valuable experience is. it's an excellent teacher and allows one to help others walk through situations.
Recently a gal on one of the boards brought up a problem she was having with a young bunny. It had a very dirty rear end and she wondered about cleaning it, keeping it warm and dry, and long term prognosis.
Since I started with pet stock for my buns I had to go through a variety of health issues with my bunnies. i dealt with ALOT of entropathic illness. I though it was just a part of raising rabbits until I read about one lady who very specifically bred her rabbits to perform as SHE wanted them. She wanted furry paws, quick breed back, vigorous litters, ability to breed in temperature extremes and such like. It took her a few years but she has for the most part achieved her desires.
ANYWAYS... Since I had lots of experience with dirty bummed kits I was able to share the quickest and easiest ways I've learned to clean up kits rear ends (a sharp pair of scissors, a steady hand and a willingness to cut icky stinky hair away from baby bottoms). No water, no oil, just a pair of scissors and patience. If there is no hair there, there is nothing for icky poos to get caught in. :) Also means less stress for a struggling kit. Pop some probiotics into the kit and generally keep an eye on them and they'll come along unless they have something seriously wrong with them.
Another gal pointed out the green poop on that kit. Green poop...not a good sign with a struggling kit and GENERALLY it is best to cull them rather than let them suffer (as hard as that is to do with wee littles).
Sometimes in animal husbandry people have to make hard but necessary decisions. It can be a painful thing, but also a necessary thing.
Experience helps to lower the burden of caring for the animals under one's care. Tis indeed a good thing to share the load.
The boards I am part of
1. Rabbittalk. - my favourite board, highly recommend anyone join. It's a good mix of pet people, homesteaders, show people and the like. If you have a rabbit and the type of person willing to learn from others and to teach what you know, this is the place for you. :)
2. Meatrabbits. This is a yahoo group. It is VERY meat rabbit focused. BUT is an excellent group to go to if you have odd health questions with rabbits, or want to talk predominately to meat rabbit focused people.
3. RabbitsOnline. This is a pet rabbit/rescue rabbit focused group. I predominately go to the Hare Care section only. I don't go to other sections unless there is a specific reason to do so.
4. Rabbit Addict. This is mostly a show oriented site. Good people on this board, it's not as busy as other boards are. Excellent place to go for show rabbit advice, though rabbittalk is getting to be as good. :)