I just did the evening feed, and while poking around to find out what my White NZ kindled last week while I was away (very full nest box, I wouldn't take them out for a proper count but it looks like more than 10, all solid coloured orange, white and agouti), I took a peek in the next nest box... odd. There was black hair in it. Lots. There are about 6 kits, just about an hour old (they are still a bit damp, but warm)! I found it odd, because this black rabbit was moulting baddly before I left (I had even considered culling her because of how poor she looked) and I figured her poor condition wouold have her turning down my buck or leave her barron for a while. I got my hands on some calf manna right before I left for NS, and it has definitly worked its magic on her. While her coat is still slightly patchy and still has some shedding/clumping it is shinie and thicker, and her shape is good.
The White NZ's kits appear to be well covered in fur, and the agouti in one corner was looking at me with wide eyes... but I know they were born after the 19th. I can't wait to see their weight gain and condition after starting the calf manna. I have vowed this winter I'm not bringing anybunny into the house unless it's an emergency.
I also bought a 4L heated dog bowl before the trip, which I really like. It is possitioned right at the door to the colony and they haven't bothered the cord at all. I expected to find day old water dirty and the bowl in need of rinsing, but they haven't been messy near it. The best part is not having to thaw the large pots I normally use.
I sat in the shed watching the rabbits interact tonight, and they are all so active, the 10 week olds are very cliquie, only really wanting eachother... probably due to mom's pregnancy hormones and their father exerting dominace over them. The does, while not close have been seen laying together under the hay rack, probably lamenting about the newest kits and the weather. The quail have given up trying to scare off the rabbits, they aren't cowering either, though. I watched as my buck taught the 10 week olds to nudge them with their noses and the quail just went along with it.
I miss my silkies, and the 4 fosters I have in the kitchen are not as much fun, they have no intrest in me or my attention. However I have picked out 2 other breeds I would like to have when I get my farm in NS, both have big fancy roosters. A dutch and a pheonix. Maybe.

That's a lot of excitement to come home to, Iggysbabysitter. Congratulations on all the new popples!

Wow... congratulations!!!

Congrats on all the babies! What a nice welcome home gift.

So I awoke from a bad dream at 5... and what's better to do at 5am than look at happy bunnies? So out I went.
Everybunny kinda looked at me odd for being WAY off schedule. I noticed my agouti NZ/flemmie had laid claim to the last nest box, and it had a tuft of fur in the door. Upon inspection it appears I have 9 from this first time mommy, lots of dark skin, a few will be white.

It's so unusually warm out there that I took the opportunity to tip white bunny's nest box and finally get a good count. I'm not sure what she started with, but 9 good looking kits found their way out for a look around.
So, in the colony are:
3 does
1 buck
6 8 week olds
9 3 week olds
6 1 week olds
9 1 day olds

And yesturday I caught the missing black flemmie/NZ that my son lost And then I returned the unused over priced raccoon cage

Rabbits breed so happily in a colony setting, don't they? I had to pull out my buck for awhile. Poor Pudge is not a happy boy being away from his ladies, but with 16 kits and four does in an 8 foot square area, the colony is as full as I would like it. I badly need more space.

Sounds like it's time to build up. Do you still keep the partition in the middle?
I know it'll look a bit crowded in my shed when 24 kits come out of the nests, especially if I don't have the first 6 fryers culled by then. I'll be pulling my buck, and he'll probably need one of the kennels altered to have a wire bottom.

Put in a second level? There is certainly room for it and it might be our best solution.

Yes, we still have the partition but sometimes we open a doorway between the two areas. I prefer two pens because it means that Pudge can commute between them and spend less time in a cage.