"New" breeding stock?

[grumpy]

Quite some time back, I'd made arrangements to visit another breeder that had my processor in a "Tizzy" over their production rabbits. Wide shoulders, firm, compact frames, quick weight gain....so on and so on.

Well, I made the trip. All 347 miles round-trip. The stock was exceptional. I ended up buying a dozen young does and a young buck. Basically, they were cal's blended with NZW's. But, very well put together nonetheless. Most were 6-10 weeks old.

I brought them home and put them in replacement stock pens. I've taken care of them just like I do the rest of my herd. 4 of them....I've been a little leery of. Yesterday afternoon, they showed their true colors.

They are, without question, the craziest darned rabbits I've ever tried to pick up!!! Wilder than a coot!! Scratched the ever-lovin' snot out of me...and squalled like a banshee when I was moving them into production pens to let them settle in to their new homes.

I had to laugh, thinking to myself, "Okay....ladies....you and my snake-guy are going to become "fast-friends" the next time he's up." Which is in about 8 days. I will "LOSE" money on these gals. But, there's no way I'm going to deal with these crazy suckers for the next 2-3 years. I can only imagine the kind of "alligators" they'll turn into when they kindle. They are ready for a fight...whenever I open their cage door! They will try to take you!

The other 8 young does aren't nearly as looney as these 4 are. I'll tolerate them and see how they do. I've got one old 2 year-old "blister" left from a doe that was evil. Once she's finished producing...she's history. I'm darned sure not going to introduce any more of this nonsense into my herd.

Moral to the story: The grass/rabbits isn't always greener/better on the other side of the fence.

Grumpy.

 

[MaggieJ]

Ouch! That has to be disappointing.

I wonder why they are so crazy. Could it simply be that the long trip has upset them? How long have they been at your place?

 

[grumpy]

Ouch! That has to be disappointing.

I wonder why they are so crazy. Could it simply be that the long trip has upset them? How long have they been at your place?

About two and a half months, Maggie. I've treated them just like the rest of my rabbits. They are certifiable "loony-tunes".

One thing I "WON'T" do, is sell them to someone else. I'll send 'em to the snake-man before that happens. There, the freezer, or the processor, are the only places they will go. (I get more money per pound from the snake-man.)

Grumpy.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Yep, disappointing, but you cannot fix crazy!

 

[MaggieJ]

Definitely NOT the upset of travel, then! The snake-man sounds like the best solution. You certainly don't want crazy in your herd.

 

[ollitos]

I'm sorry but I just cracked up laughing at your original post. I understand what you're saying but "Wilder than a coot!! Scratched the ever-lovin' snot out of me...and squalled like a banshee... " had me laughing so hard. hahahahahaaaa

 

[3mina]

Crazy tastes pretty good though

 

[toastedoat37]

Grumpy, How much did you have to pay for 6 to 10 week old breeding stock?

 

[grumpy]

Grumpy, How much did you have to pay for 6 to 10 week old breeding stock?

since it was mostly mixed NZW/CAL crosses...I paid $2.00 per pound live weight for the rabbits.
grumpy.

 

[Miss M]

Yow... so sorry, Grumpy!

Any chance that pregnancy hormones could suddenly turn them sweeter than divinity? It wouldn't be the first time...

 

[Legacy]

Since they are as old as they are and you are already invested in them, I would at least get a litter out of each of them first. Then you could sell them and their litters to the snake man. Might make them a little more worth the time and effort you have already invested.

 

[grumpy]

Yow... so sorry, Grumpy!

Any chance that pregnancy hormones could suddenly turn them sweeter than divinity? It wouldn't be the first time...

That would be nice....but I've got a hunch them suckers are gonna be like alligators w/hair!

I've got them bred, so we'll see what happens. I don't believe the "three-stikes" and you're out rule is going to be applicable in their case. They'd better hit a home-run their first time at bat!

I hate to have that attitude because they're built like a brick outhouse!
Not all of them are "NUTS"! Just the four that are a shade older than the others.

grumpy.

 

[Secuono]

Maybe they were breeding for every other meat trait and didn't care if they were aggressive? I mean, if I got some from a line like that, I would just get some good ol Kevlar gloves and be giddy over how well the kits do.

They may settle, took my now dead buck, a long while to calm down. Whole time he was in the hung cages, he hated me with such passion, fear or not, w/e. But then I put him out on grass, awhile later I noticed he no longer charged me or got into his fighting stance when I went to feed/water him. If the coons hadn't of killed him, I'm sure today I could of picked him up w/o him trying to rip my hands off or scream all the way to China!

I agree with breeding and getting something out of them. Maybe the breeding will even them out. My AmChin doe was fairly calm before breeding, she would get so mean and defensive once 2wks preggers up until 2-3wks after kindling. By the 3rd litter, she is very much so fine with me bothering her or the kits. Though, she will pick a fight with a neighbor rabbit. =D

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hopefully the girls will do well and have a change in attitude!

I don't know how much you handle kits in the nest, but I have found that it makes for very friendly rabbits later on. You might want to give their kits a little extra handling and see if they do well or go crazy like the does.

 

[reereechickens]

Grumpy I'm glad you won't sell them to anybody else! Can you imagine someone with not much rabbit experience with these "alligators with fur"? BTW I love that term, alligators with fur!