HELLO!

[HeirofBarrad]

Hello, rabbit-y folks.

It's always a bit awkward writing this post. You see, I am not a breeder and do not intend to become one.

What I am is a writer. And I need your help.

I am writing a trilogy of books (the first is done) about Elves. In my books, magic enables Elves to talk to animals. All Elves have an affinity animal -- one that they share a connection with. My main character's affinity animals is rabbits. She lives in the foothills of a snowy mountain range in a fictional land called Barrad. So, I've researched mountain rabbits/hares and I think she raises/breeds/sells/cares for the mountain hare.

But I want to be accurate about that.

The story is set in a quasi-hollywood medieval time. So, I'm thinking Teeka (my character) keeps the animals in a barn, in wooden hutches.

I was wondering if anyone here could give me some basic information I haven't been able to find on any website. Details about keeping rabbits, raising them, breeding them. I need some basic information about housing -- all I could find in my google search was information about keeping rabbits as pets and nothing talked about having multiple animals. How many animals is it advisable to keep in one hutch? How many animals total would Teeka be caring for (generally) at any given time?

At this point, I still don't know what I don't know -- so feel free to give me any advise or information you would like.

And yes, I am aiming to have these books published but no I won't be quoting anyone directly. Because of their magical connection, animals are integral to the Elvin way of life, but while they will probably make their way into nearly every scene, they are not the focus of the story.

Thanks so much!

Veronika

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Veronika!

I've always wanted to write a book myself, but inspiration has yet to strike.

Unless Teeka's hutches are very large, she would keep one rabbit per hutch, with the exception of does and their kits, of course. As for the number she would keep at any one time- it depends on what she is using them for. Is she a human sized elf keeping them for meat and fur or a tiny elf keeping them as draft animals or something?

There are discussion threads on all the topics you mentioned on RT, including one on how many rabbits we all have currently. Have fun researching! Maybe you'll end up with an "affinity rabbit" (or two) yourself.

Best of luck with your books! Let us know if and when they are published. I enjoy the Fantasy Genre, although I could gladly do without Hollywood!

 

[kotapony]

a tiny elf keeping them as draft animals

That would make an awesome illustrated children's book. :bunnyhop:

 

[currituckbun]

Just to pipe in with some thoughts. Many rabbit breeders use cages but there are quite a few who also have colonies which I am told is very European. I think most of us on here feel very connected to our rabbits and enjoy not only the company of our animals but the whole experience of taking care of them . I for one have enjoyed the challenge of learning a hobby that was completely unfamiliar to me. I initially got into it for health reasons ,but I have become enchanted by the animal husbandry of rabbits. This is affectionately called "Rabbitosis" on here and it is very catching .

 

[HeirofBarrad]

Thanks for replying.

And yes, I have had rabbits in my life. They were my first pets as a kid (hence the reason I made them Teeka's affinity animals). But I only ever owned one at a time.

As for Teeka's height, she's about 3'10". small... but not draft animal tiny. (which I agree would be a great kid's book).

I will have to look into colonies.

Thanks again,
Veronika

 

[ladysown]

mmm... the storyteller in me is curious... hmmm.... about 4 feet tall... she could have giant rabbits.. or be more prone to having the small ones. Will the rabbits be able to communicate with her verbally or will she be able to understand "rabbit speak" ... as in what it means if rabbits thump there feet, or go into silent still mode... Will the rabbits get offended with her?

Will they be fodder or a source of magical ability?

 

[hoodat]

Ladysown asks some good questions. Rabbits communicate very little verbally; it's almost all body language other than scent which we humans are helpless to pick up on.

 

[Miss M]

Along the lines of "rabbit speak", you should find this website very informative: http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

If she doesn't do colonies, Teeka would probably build rabbit hutches from locally available materials, which might not include cage wire. You can find lots of pictures of third-world rabbit hutches which are very ingenious and use materials like bamboo, wood slats, thatch, and so on. In tropical and hot desert climates, rabbit hutches often include an underground section.

A rabbit hutch in Malawi, complete with rat guards on the stilts: http://www.fao.org/docrep/u4900t/u4900T1a.jpg
Rabbit project staff in Camaroon, with their cages and nest boxes: http://www.fao.org/docrep/u4900t/u4900T1c.jpg

 

[MamaSheepdog]

a tiny elf keeping them as draft animals

That would make an awesome illustrated children's book. :bunnyhop:

Well, Kota, can you draw? I'll write it, you illustrate!

Your going to have so much spare time on your hands with a new baby, y'know! :lol: A little project to keep boredom at bay! :lol:

 

[Miss M]

Is it always cold in Teeka's foothills? Heat is one of the major concerns with rabbits. Even in winter, shade must be provided, as rabbits can overheat easily in direct sunlight. Some people have barns or other outbuildings, some are just under roof with open sides and tarps to keep out rain and wind, and some actually have their hutches set into the woods to help with keeping the rabbits cooler. They would still be elevated and have a roof over them to keep out the rain.

Rabbits do not mind the cold or snow, as long as they are protected from wind. One of the ladies on here took a picture of her colony rabbits, and one of them was sprawled out on top of the snow like it was the place to be!

Colonies can also be indoors, in stalls. Bucks are kept separate so they do not harass the does. Does in a colony have a pecking order, and it works only if the dominant doe tolerates the presence of the lesser does and their babies.

Rabbits kept in cages are usually kept one per cage. On here, 24"x30"x18" is usually considered the smallest desirable cage for a single rabbit, though circumstances sometimes don't allow it. Does who have babies typically get 24"x36"x18" or better. At about 6 weeks or so (it varies breeder to breeder), the babies are separated from their mother and put into a growout cage until they are sold or are processed.

Let us know if you have any more questions!

 

[HeirofBarrad]

Wow! Thanks!

Lots of questions....

Elvin magic is telepathic. Yes, as many of you have become able, I'm sure Teeka would be able to "read" the rabbits non-verbal cues, but she can also communicate mentally with them. The way I've written it is that it's not really "talking" -- it's like you get a sensation, like a tingling in your head, and then you just fill in with words and know what they want or need or feel. And -- just a tidbit to add -- Elves can communicate with ANY animals, they just work best with their affinity animals.

So if a rabbit was sick, for instance, Teeka would be able to tell by reading the non-verbal cues, but then she could use her magic and "ask" the rabbit the source of her/his pain, discomfort, etc. Magic can be used to help heal, as well. Likewise, Elves also used their magic to put an animal in a heaven-like trance before they are put down. This ensures the animals do not incur any suffering when they are put down (magic is also used to as a manner of death).

I'm thinking of doing the colony idea (though I've only been able to look at one website so far and haven't read the threads about it here yet). Teeka has a barn (which can be of any size) and thus the animals are protected against the weather. Yes, it snows in the mountain --- sometimes up to nine months of the year, but the barn would protect the rabbits from wind. I read yesterday that sometimes people who have rabbits in a barn attach a connected run outside extending from the barn into the yard (it has to be both fox proof and rabbit proof, so I'm thinking thick mud-brick walls, though I have to do more research on this idea). The access to the run would have a latched door so Teeka would be able to control when the rabbits could go outside and when they couldn't.

I'm thinking the barn is fairly large. One side of it is dedicated to the stalls for the rabbits (maybe two large enclosures that serve two separate colonies of rabbits -- or maybe one for the does and one for the bucks). Against the wall on the other side are lines of cages, where Teeka would keep mamas with their kits and the growout cages. This is very much a business for her as well as a passion. She would sell the kits for meat and fur (as well as pets and breeding). I think being a lover of rabbits, Teeka would probably become attached to most of them, but she would also recognize the business side of things and be able to let them go. Her stable colonies, those rabbits she kept for breeding, would be like pets to though and I think she would grow to love them very much. (I'm thinking her eldest buck is her favorite).

You all are so informative!!! Thank you so much for helping me; I am learning so much!

Veronika<br /><br />__________ Sun Jan 22, 2012 3:00 am __________<br /><br />Also, are popples babies? What's the difference between popples and kits?

*so clueless*

 

[Bramble Hedge]

mmm... the storyteller in me is curious... hmmm.... about 4 feet tall... she could have giant rabbits..

Elops and use their ears to fly with or just as reins lol

 

[HeirofBarrad]

And thanks for the website link to rabbitspeak. That's going to be very informative. As I don't actually HAVE a rabbit available to me to study, a website that describes their non-verbal behavior is invaluable!!!

And I didn't know being offended was such a big deal! LOL! And yes, I suppose Teeka's rabbits would become offended with her -- but unlike human/animal relationships, Teeka would be able to telepathically apologize to the rabbit (but she would still use treats to be forgiven too).

 

[kotapony]

Sorry, MamaSheepdog, but I'm afraid drawing is not one of my God given talents. Even my stick figures are barely recognizable. :lol:

The book sounds really interesting. Whenever you get it done you'll have to remember to drop by and post the info about it so we can all read it.

 

[MaggieJ]

Veronika, you should not have a pen for bucks and one for does. The bucks would fight. Even does will get very territorial when housed together and if the enclosure is not large enough may harm or even kill each other. In colonies, it is best to have closely related does who are raised together or at least does that have been together since weaning age.

Popples is a pet word for kits, but it is not an official term. Someone on another forum invented it because of the popping-up of tiny kits in a nest when it is opened. They are hoping for a chance to nurse and pop up to latch onto the teats. It is such an apt term that it caught on... and we brought the word with us when RabbitTalk was formed.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Now... there are strange doin's in far off magical realms... Perhaps Teeka's rabbits, while following mostly true to real-life rabbity things, could behave in enchanted ways as well... Literary license , perhaps.....

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Veronika,

Once bucks start to mature, they will fight- so she will have to keep her bucks separate from one another. Maybe she could keep her young bucks together, and when she notices them beginning to argue over who has the biggest muscles or which young doe is prettiest she would know it is time to put them in their own quarters... maybe a vignette on two or more young bucks that are really good friends, and their confusion when they start arguing- and their eventual mature friendship where they are able to carry on civil conversations as long as they are housed singly...

 

[HeirofBarrad]

Maggie and Mama, thanks for your insight on colonies and keeping bucks/does together. I haven't really done my research yet so I was just throwing that out there. I WILL do my research before I write it though -- as I said, accuracy is important to me, even if this is fiction.

Random, I'll have to think about that. So far in the story, the ELVES have magic and animals are just animals. Hadn't thought of giving the animals magic, too.... Will seriously have to brainstorm about that. That's a really good idea, thank you for suggesting it.



Veronika

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I much prefer books that accurately portray real life events/practices- not to say in exclusion of magical or unnatural qualities, but clearly stated. "Unlike herds of human raised rabbits, the elves have bred a brotherly affinity into their bucks. It is not uncommon for older retired bucks to work in unison as sentries and protectors of the younger rabbits in the barn, since they have also been bred for bravery in the face of danger. Three or four bucks can usually prevail against a marauding fox or badger..."

 

[HeirofBarrad]

I was googling the mythology around rabbits/hares (mostly fertility based, a lot of hare of the moon stories and the conflicting scenario of rabbits as brave AND rabbits as cowards -- depending on where in the world the myth comes from) thinking I could maybe incorporate some of the myths into the magic of the animals somehow, but I like the idea that Elves would have over the generations (theirs and the rabbits') breeded bravery or affinity into the animals. They could definitely use their magic to do that. That's a VERY good idea and it means that Teeka could keep one side of the barn for the WHOLE colony as the rabbits (or hares, haven't decided what breed she has yet) could live together amicably.

Like that a lot. Thank you so much!! This is so helpful!

:mrgreen:

Veronika