moving them out of quarantine?

[coffeenutdesigns]

I'm not exactly sure how to go about moving my newbies out of quarantine and into the regular shed. They all look good and are growing well. They do still have some qt time before I move them, but I'm not sure how to expose them to my existing herd slowly to avoid a major catastrophic cross contamination of any sort.

Any suggestions? What's the SOP for this?

 

[Secuono]

You QT and then cold turkey move them into the herd, hope for the best. Really, that's just how it goes.
Depending on how you see it, they can either be weak and get sick or they can be infected and all culled.
As in breed for resistance or just try and keep a 'clean' herd.

 

[Marinea]

When quarantine was up for mine, I took them to their new cages. I did try to put the new buns into cages next to each other. Just keep an eye on them for a bit.

*fingers crossed it goes well for you*

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Hmmmm, I thought just moving them in would defeat the purpose of quarantine in the first place, if they are still going to go from zero to 100% exposure all at once, although I don't go full hazmat when going between rabbits anymore. If it's an all-in kind of thing I might just move them a bit early.

 

[tailwagging]

The QT is to make sure they aren't bring in anything to your already herd, like the sniffles.

 

[luvabunny]

I do not quarantine, per se. That said, I also do not buy any rabbit that appears to be the least bit sick, listless, thin, bad coated, or out of sorts in any way.

Since I show, my rabbits are around hundreds if not thousands of other rabbits on a regular basis. They are thrown into show cages that have housed numerous other rabbits that day without any type of disinfection between.

If/when I purchase a new rabbit, I do try to house that rabbit on it's own end of the rabbitry for a short period and not just flop it in the middle of everyone. My cages are stacked 3 high, with a foot or so between them, so no one has direct contact with a next door neighbor. To date, I have not had an issue with a newly purchased rabbit. Maybe I have just been lucky, but I simply don't have the time, space, or desire or have a regular rabbitry and a quarantine rabbitry and do the hazmat thing between them.

If they seem healthy, I would move them when it's convenient.

 

[tailwagging]

wow yours must be a breed that can easily be replaced.
I had to drive 1960 miles to get my newest.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

So nobody does any kind of halfway house introduction to expose them all gently to each other's unique germiness? This is my first time bringing in brand new rabbits and I did have to drive 4 hours to get them, so I'd rather not lose any if possible.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

When I quarantine, I keep the new rabbits as far away from my herd as possible. I feed my existing rabbits first, and then feed the newbies. I do not wash my hands or change clothing between the old and the new, so the new guys are exposed to whatever mine may have/carry in small doses over that month.

That gradual exposure is my "halfway house". The new rabbits are under stress from the move, so if they are carrying something themselves, it will usually manifest in that 4-6 week period.

My main concern is the new rabbits bringing something to my main herd, not the other way around.

My most recent acquisitions are a pair of American Blues. The Am. Blues have been "quarantined" in the same area as my growouts, but are in cages with metal dividers with no neighbors. I didn't really have another place to put them, and figured that if they infected the growouts with anything, it would be no big loss since most are headed for the freezer in any case.

Their month is up and there have been no problems.

 

[CWD]

I agree with MSD, I have all my new rabbits as far away from my other rabbits
for 4 to 6 week, then I move them to my grow out area.I keep them there for a week or so. and I do not do the haz mat any more. then after a week I move then in with the rest of my heard.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Thanks for that. I have doing something similar. I am going on vacation leaving the kids in charge, so assuming I have rabbits when I get back, they'll ge t moved in together.