First kits are 3wks, now....

[LatchawBriarPatch]

Hi,
Thank you all for helping me get started in the world of rabbits. We will be at one year in October. Our first two litters are thriving inspite of the summer heat. And we are well on our way to raising our first batch of meat rabbits. Just a few questions...

1. How soon do you start doing monthly health check ups and handling mama again after birth?

2. When do you start weighing kits to check and compair growth rates?

3. What age can you tattoo kits? The permanent marker didn't work.

4. What color rabbit is lilac level light gray colored with white agouti markings around the eyes, in ears, white belly, and triangle. Blue undercoat all-over. Is this an undesirable or flawed Lynx color? I have 5 of them! 2 more have the opal level gray coat. No orange band visable yet at 3wks old.

5. Are the faults in these coats enough I shouldn't choose one of them even if they have a great body feature I'm looking for? I guess a better question would be, as I "build the barn before painting it"....what color faults should I not alow in my Rabbitry because they will be too difficult to get out once it is time to "paint the barn".

6. Purchasing Hay locally....how do you find someone without alfalfa in the hay they grow?

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

I start handling the mother at least the day after she gives birth

 

[Preitler]

1. don't really do checkups, and keep handling them the same all the time, which is pretty much just pets and ear rubs, checking their behind in the process, plucking lose fur and lifting them out of situations they can't get out themselfs (fenced my Topinambur, they manage to get in over the 1m fence, but not out)
2. If I do that, only when it's time to select a keeper doe.
3. I stick to the permanent marker, boys right inside of the ear, girls left. Lasts about a week, but since I know how many girls and boys I have, and having at least some variation in colours the markings usually are easly refreshed.
6. Why? I would be glad if there were Alflfa in my hay. Anyway, I make half of my hay myself, the rest comes from a local farmer where i can pick my bales.

 

[LatchawBriarPatch]

6. Why? I would be glad if there were Alflfa in my hay. Anyway, I make half of my hay myself, the rest comes from a local farmer where i can pick my bales.

Thank you!

I used a black marker, and it didn't last till morning the next day. I'll have to try red and see if that works.

I use a complete pellet. I don't have to feed hay. But to the best of my understanding, alfalfa on top of a complete pellet is too much calcium for rabbits.

 

[rockyhillrabbits]

Thank you!

I used a black marker, and it didn't last till morning the next day. I'll have to try red and see if that works.

I use a complete pellet. I don't have to feed hay. But to the best of my understanding, alfalfa on top of a complete pellet is too much calcium for rabbits.

My understanding is that you can feed alfalfa hay to babies, but not adults. I use a marker called Inkzall, made by Milwaukee, that works really good. Much better than Sharpie.

I handle the moms again as early as I need to.
I do weekly weight checks on babies starting about week 3.
I tattoo before they leave the farm at 8 weeks old.

 

[MuddyFarms]

You can ask feed stores (particularly small ones) about farmers selling timothy or grass hay in the area or check on sites like Craigslist. Depending on where you are located, it could be nigh impossible to find any right now. At this time of year, there are sometimes people getting rid of last season's hay to make room for their new bales, and that can have better prices on it than this season's. There are definitely regional issues with hay supplies currently.

 

[LatchawBriarPatch]

You can ask feed stores (particularly small ones) about farmers selling timothy or grass hay in the area or check on sites like Craigslist. Depending on where you are located, it could be nigh impossible to find any right now. At this time of year, there are sometimes people getting rid of last season's hay to make room for their new bales, and that can have better prices on it than this season's. There are definitely regional issues with hay supplies currently.

Thank you! Do you happen to know the best time of year to seek local hay?

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Thank you! Do you happen to know the best time of year to seek local hay?

Probably around the end of summer/begining of fall

 

[ladysown]

Tattoo Pens/clamps aren't that expensive. Pens are easy to use even on young kits using a dot system. Dots are easy to work around and are usually ignored in older rabbits.

Alfalfa in hay, you might have to just keep calling around, or look specifically for HORSE quality hay. I start looking for hay mid-July. (sw ontario).

weigh and compare kits on your schedule. I know of people who start from day one and others who start at week three.

Handle your does and check their overall health status from day one post kindle DEPENDING on your doe. Some does will stress but you will want to do your best to observe that she's okay post kindle. You can tell alot simply by watching your doe move around. If she stiff, just sit quiet and won't move, or sits hunched up pretty certain something isn't okay.

Health checks should be done when you clip nails which should be once a month.

If you are just starting out, worry more about type than about coats. Coats are usually pretty easy to fix, and baby coats don't always tell the whole picture.

 

[MuddyFarms]

Thank you! Do you happen to know the best time of year to seek local hay?

I just look for it when I need it right now, since I have no suitable place to store large quantities. Currently, there are farmers getting rid of their bales from last season, so that can be handy.

I was mostly referring to the drought around here, making it hard to get local hay. It is really something that varies depending on where you are. It can be good to learn your local market, but that takes finding the right people to ask.