This is a sensitive subject for some people.
I posted it in the meat rabbits section for this reason.
I believe that I'm going to need to start nest box culling, because my rabbits are having litters of 11-12 or more!!
The poor mamas putting so much into raising their kits that , even with supplements, they are very thin at weaning.
I breed Magpie Harlequin, so by day 2, I can tell who would stay and who definitely will go.
Out of a nest of 11 I might have 3-4 that I would consider keeping for breeding/showing, the rest will be eaten when they grow big enough.
Not wanting to be wasteful:
I called a local wildlife rehabilitation centre to see if they would take the kits. I explained that my rabbits were overly prolific and felt (especially a litter I have right now) that mama will suffer with 11 kits and very likely not all will live anyway... so, she says to bring in the dead kits.... and I ask her, you don't need them live for raptors? (I know nothing... admitted it too)... she starts to get offended; explained that there is a moral issue now; if I am going to kill kits to bring them in for feeding ..... What does she think the big companies do? The baby animals (mice, rabbits etc) aren't just born in frozen blocks and big companies aren't just shipping the kits that don't make it!!??? :evil: :shock:
I explained we are talking about a domesticated prey animal here.... they kits dies as a kit (either not enough food or by my hand) or it grows up and I kill it to eat... no matter how you look at it...the rabbit is going to die.... of all the people to understand this... you would think a wildlife rehab person would understand.
So, those of you that choose this route, what do you do with the kits?
I posted it in the meat rabbits section for this reason.
I believe that I'm going to need to start nest box culling, because my rabbits are having litters of 11-12 or more!!
The poor mamas putting so much into raising their kits that , even with supplements, they are very thin at weaning.
I breed Magpie Harlequin, so by day 2, I can tell who would stay and who definitely will go.
Out of a nest of 11 I might have 3-4 that I would consider keeping for breeding/showing, the rest will be eaten when they grow big enough.
Not wanting to be wasteful:
I called a local wildlife rehabilitation centre to see if they would take the kits. I explained that my rabbits were overly prolific and felt (especially a litter I have right now) that mama will suffer with 11 kits and very likely not all will live anyway... so, she says to bring in the dead kits.... and I ask her, you don't need them live for raptors? (I know nothing... admitted it too)... she starts to get offended; explained that there is a moral issue now; if I am going to kill kits to bring them in for feeding ..... What does she think the big companies do? The baby animals (mice, rabbits etc) aren't just born in frozen blocks and big companies aren't just shipping the kits that don't make it!!??? :evil: :shock:
I explained we are talking about a domesticated prey animal here.... they kits dies as a kit (either not enough food or by my hand) or it grows up and I kill it to eat... no matter how you look at it...the rabbit is going to die.... of all the people to understand this... you would think a wildlife rehab person would understand.
So, those of you that choose this route, what do you do with the kits?