jessie15273
Well-known member
I have one doe who absolutely refuses to have anything to do with them after they are like 3 1/2 week old, Even when she is not bred
6-8 week weaning age- is it a bunch of "hoopla"?
- Thread starter MamaSheepdog
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andyva
Well-known member
The rabbit that I mentioned in another post as being "stunted" was weaned at 4 weeks, we got her at six weeks, but I believe that her former owners nutritional program was more to blame. He fed them handfulls of grass picked by his kids. Still wondering if that can be undone.
OneAcreFarm
Well-known member
andyva":32670tlo said:
He may catch up with a better diet. I wean mine at 4wks regularly and my rabbits reach 5lbs at 9-10 wks...so I don't believe that weaning at 4wks will stunt their growth. Actually, weaning at 4wks is NOT early weaning. Even if you leave the kits with mom for 6-8wks, there is very little if any nursing going on after 4wks or so, at least at my barn. My does are DONE at 4wks! :lol:
This is a subject I am really struggling with right now. I have had pet rabbits all of my life... and I purchased all of them between 5 and 6 weeks. My latest, Mokey, a Holland Lop was five weeks and 1 day old when I got him from the breeder. He recently died at about 9 yrs of age. I am desperately looking for a lilac or blue Jersey Wooly that is no more than 6 weeks old as I find they bond really well at that age. If I thought for a minute that it would be bad for the rabbit I would hold off until it was older but after all my experiences I just don't believe there is a health benefit. I think it is the breeders just wanting to keep them longer. 20 yrs ago it used to be usual to sell them at 6 wks. I would think that it would be more important that the rabbit is going to a loving home where it would live inside, be treated like a member of the family and have the best care available. If there are any Jersey Wooly breeders in Wisconsin who are willing to sell a lilac or blue at 6 wks I would appreciate it greatly if you would contact me. I am looking for a pet not a show rabbit. I am feeling empty after losing my baby now that my mourning period is over. I have also raised rabbits from newborn kits after a friend had a mother who would not care for them. I tried to go back to Mokey's breeder but she has stopped raising rabbits over the last nine years and the lady whose name she gave me refused to sell a rabbit that young. I think the decision to sell at that age should be made on an individual basis depending on how much experience the person has and what kind of life the rabbit would have with that person rather than just a set age made up by an uncompromising breeder.
Marinea's right. Few reputable breeders will take the risk of losing their rabbitry by knowingly violating state or federal regulations. All it takes is one "customer" turning in a complaint.
I guess I don't understand what the problem is waiting a couple of more weeks.
I guess I don't understand what the problem is waiting a couple of more weeks.
Prisma
Well-known member
elysheva":3e0vx9s8 said:
You got REALLY lucky. That's great, but it IS a big problem. No responsible breeder is going to just take your money and sell you a 6 week old to take home on your terms. You may find a pet breeder you can convince or will let you if you can show them you have working knowledge, but no one working for show stock or has stock that's pedigreed even most likely is going to frown and refuse sale for even asking. GI stasis is even WORSE with a wooly breed about cropping up than some others. Its great you had such luck, but usually, as its already been said and explained, it doesn't happen that way. Ages are not just made up by breeders because they just "feel" safer, its been proven over multiples that the younger the rabbit going home with some one the HIGHER the chance of death EVEN if they know and do every thing PERFECT.
can't say I agree with this.
In MY experience, six week old kits transfer to new places MUCH more easily than 8 week olds. I can move 5-6 week old kits NO issues.. but moving the 8-9 week old ones and suddenly one will go off feed, another will sulk in a corner.. whereas the little guys go.. OH COOL, new place, check it out.. OOH>>Hay!!! Pellets!!! YEAH.. and they do just fine. They don't mess around with each other if mixing litters. NONE of that stuff.
I don't lose kits at 6 weeks and ergo prefer to bring them in at that age as well. They thrive for me. WHEREAS.. bringing in a 8-16 week old is asking for me to toss my money in the toilet or I have to molly coddle them through to adulthood where by which time I'm tired of 'em and only want one live litter before I sell them or just plain stick them in my freezer.
So differing perspectives on the same issue. This is why people have such strong opinions on this topic. One works for one doesn't work for another and vice versa. Wish there was just more leniency in the area.
From a FEDERAL perspective I can see legislation happening. It just makes it easier all round to set one age range for all different types of animals.
Thanks for the validation. I have also found that the "law" breeders are using to back up selling so much later is not being interpreted correctly. My husband and I looked up the law and it basically says that you cannot sell a rabbit that young to a retailer. Most breeders are know are not retailers as retalers refer to people who get their stock from a wholesaler. Most breeders I know raise their own rabbits and therefore the law should not apply to them. I am afraid I am going to have to buy a breeding pair of blue or lilac jersey woolies and that seems worse to me because I only want one rabbit so I would pick out one of the kits and then would be stuck trying to sell the breeder pair and siblings which seems way worse than just being sold a 6 wk old bunny as it is often hard to find homes for older rabbits. Please, if you know any breeders in the Wisconsin area willing to sell at 6 wks PM me. Thanks so much.
macksmom98
Well-known member
I am looking this over now. What ladysown said actually makes a lot of sense, and I personally just sold a kit who just turned 6 weeks old because he was the only one in his litter and his mom just had a new one. He had a great start and was super fat and grew really fast. I know that doesnt necessarily mean he was more healthy but it was the right thing to do for the situation. And I work with his new owner who says he exhibited very little skiddish or nervous behavior, and said he was exploring and running all over the new apartment the very next day. I will say that no breeder would keep kits longer just because they want the power to do so (although that is there right as a current owner of an animal). Its a lot more work to hold on to a kit, especially if they are a larger litter, than it would be to sell at a younger age. Anyone in a huge rush to purchase an animal I would be leary of too. But most owners who wait do so with good intentions and because they really care about the health of the animals they put their name behind.
Hi, I have given up on trying to find a breeder willing to sell me a 6 wk old blue or lilac holland lop baby and am now looking into buying either a pregnant doe or pregnant pair so I could raise the babies and choose which one I want to keep. This way I could enjoy the baby stage without putting the bunny in any danger (which is still hard for me to believe because of all my past experience.. BUT I totally understand that each breeder has their own beliefs that are also based on their own experiences and realized I was not taking that seriously enough. I expected the breeder to listen to me and that was wrong of me because it asking them to go against their own beliefs as to what is best for their baby bunnies. I thought that purchasing a pregnant doe or a pair would be a great idea not simply because then I would get to raise the babies (or let the doe do it hehe) but also because my daughter is getting into raising rabbits for show and is wanting a buck and doe to breed that are lilac or blue. She told me that you should breed a broken blue or lilac to a self blue or lilac and you should get some of both babies. Obviously, the pedigree would show more about that. So, it wouldn't be like I was buying a pregnant doe and the buck and a litter of babies with no place for them to go when I pick out the one baby solid blue or lilac that I want to keep. That would seem just wrong to me. But my daughter would love to have them and she doesn't just raise them for show... she loves them as part of the family as we do with our pet bunnies. I thought since I had someone who wants the adults and other babies it wouldn't be a totally selfish thing to do in order to have the baby bunnies to choose from. Plus, then I could wean them and keep them with mom as long as is best for them. So, if anyone has any idea where I could buy a Holland Lop blue or lilac doe who is expecting blue or lilac solid babies I would be extremely grateful. I need it to be in Wisconsin because I am very sick and unable to travel. I am on bed rest and that is part of the reason I want a baby to snuggle with so badly. Thank you in advance. I love bunnies so much and am so grateful for any help people could give me.
