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  1. MaggieJ

    First time breeding... scream?

    I wouldn't worry. I've had bucks scream as they fell off (I assume a scream of pleasure) but with your doe I think she was probably just saying that she'd had enough. Mating induces the doe to ovulate so I doubt very much that a bit of discomfort would be enough to disrupt the process. Rabbit...
  2. MaggieJ

    I WANT TO START A COLONIE!

    Jackrabbit, that's not enough space for three does. Not surprised that there were fights. I never had more than three breeding does in my colony. It was 8 ft x 8 ft. Adequate, but if all three does had kits, there could easily be 20 rabbits in there at once time. It did get kind of crowded...
  3. MaggieJ

    I WANT TO START A COLONIE!

    Jackrabbit, sorry to hear it didn't work out so well. How large was the enclosure you had them in? Had these three does been raised together and kept together? Sisters, or a mother and daughters usually do okay together as long as they have enough room and a few places they can go to get away...
  4. MaggieJ

    New Rabbits

    Some rabbits enjoy soft music on a low volume. My son once had a pet rabbit that adored The Righteous Brothers. It reduced "Buffy" to a puddle of bliss. It was quite amusing to see her. So it's something to consider trying, but under supervision in case your nervous buck freaks out.
  5. MaggieJ

    Question

    I wouldn't do it. A small buck and a large doe, sure. But not the other way around. Why take chances with her well-being?
  6. MaggieJ

    Gagging

    Rabbits cannot vomit -- physically impossible for them, same as horses. It sounds to me like he choked on a piece of something -- perhaps the pee pad. It could cause a problem if it creates a blockage in his intestines, but I have no idea whether or not this is likely or if there is anything...
  7. MaggieJ

    The Loss Of A Kit And A Grudge Made Stronger

    That's sad, but the cat was only doing what nature intended him to do. You can be angry with him, but what's the good of blaming a creature for following its instincts? There is no right or wrong to a cat and no conscience either. Those are learned human concepts. Prevention is the only way to...
  8. MaggieJ

    The New Safe Plants for Rabbits List

    I had a few plants when I had rabbits. When I was a bit short of good greens -- during a dry spell, for instance -- I cut foliage from the Jerusalem artichokes. I don't recall if they branched, but I think they must have because they always put up plenty of new growth.
  9. MaggieJ

    The New Safe Plants for Rabbits List

    The list is the first post in this thread. Thanks to all for suggestions to add to the list. Keep them coming and I'll add them as time allows.
  10. MaggieJ

    Chip Updates

    Believe me, I am delighted to see how well you have done with Chip. Ladysown and I were saying that frequently a kit who has trouble feeding in a small litter may have something wrong with it and lack the will to live. There are exceptions, and Chip may be one of them. Hope he continues to do well.
  11. MaggieJ

    Too Much Fat? warning graphic images of opened rabbits

    If you offer a variety of natural foods with the diet based on a good alfalfa/grass hay mix, they will do fine. They will need a trace mineral salt block if you are not feeding pellets. A lot of the information about natural feeding is in among the general feeding section. You can find it using...
  12. MaggieJ

    Too Much Fat? warning graphic images of opened rabbits

    Jax, that is a lot of fat. I had the same issue when I fed pellets to the rabbits (the first couple of years while I gained experience.) What's the use of saying a fryer weighs five pounds if one pound of it is pure fat? A little fat around the kidneys is fine, but I'd revisit my feeding regimen...
  13. MaggieJ

    How we Raise are Californian Rabbits……….. in Theory.

    I understand completely that we cannot always afford to provide the ideal conditions. I think, however, that if I were in your situation I'd be looking at raising fewer rabbits and joining two cages into one. You really only need one buck, and if you are only breeding your does once a year, your...
  14. MaggieJ

    How we Raise are Californian Rabbits……….. in Theory.

    What breed are your rabbits, Jax? Unless you are raising dwarf breeds, I think your cages are rather small. Especially the breeding does' cages. If they have average litters of eight, it must get awfully crowded by the time the kits are weaned.
  15. MaggieJ

    False kindling? Leave the box for a while?

    RabbitsOfThrCreek is right. Your does are not quite due yet, and their behaviour is exactly what it should be at this time. Always leave the nest box in the cage at least several days after Day 31. So many times I have heard of someone pulling the nest box too soon and their doe -- out of...
  16. MaggieJ

    Selling live rabbits for butchering

    I didn't sell a lot of rabbits, but people would buy the live rabbit and I would do the dispatching for them. What they did with it after that was up to them. I did sell a whole litter to a slight acquaintance who wanted to increase her breeding numbers. But the price was always the same. I...
  17. MaggieJ

    root crops as part of no pellet diet

    @Oriana Spiderowl I just went to the feed store and purchased a trace mineral salt block for general livestock. It was about the size of a brick and similar in colour - a dull, reddish-brown. It only cost about $2-3, but that was over five years ago. I don't know of a specific brand or a type...
  18. MaggieJ

    I WANT TO START A COLONIE!

    My best advice is not to rush into this. Colonies can be very rewarding for both the rabbits and the owner, but they require a lot more planning than cage raising. So plan, troubleshoot your plan, and run it by the folks here before you implement it. A few things you need to consider: - What is...
  19. MaggieJ

    Rabbits Dying in Nest Box (immediate issue)

    The newborn kits would not be aware enough to be frightened. If your does are okay with it unwashed then that's great. Some does are easily upset just after kindling, so I was speaking from an abundance of caution when I suggested washing it. Scoring all that sheep's wool was super! If you wind...
  20. MaggieJ

    Rabbits Dying in Nest Box (immediate issue)

    Hi Mariah. I knew I was forgetting something that could be used. Sheep's wool is an excellent choice if the strands are short. If there is any possibility of longer wool tangling around a kit's neck or leg, maybe snip a handful of the wool at a time into short strands. It should only take a few...
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