newbie question-rabbits not breeding!

[MamaSheepdog]

I had assumed after 7 mo and no more respiratory problems that problem was over.

It might be. Bring on the stressors and see what happens! If they get sick, cull them.

I started with two bucks and two does. One of the bucks died for an unknown reason before I bred him. I was still new to breeding for production, so didn't do a necropsy and buried him instead. The other developed an abscess within the first year and I culled him because I suspected Pasteurella, and I did necropsy him. All of my current stock is descended from the buck with the abscess, but my herd is very healthy overall.

My attention then turned to using those with heart problems for the freezer, ending that problem

Good plan.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Did some research. There are 4 causes of pneumonia in rabbits. I am still convinced Greyson had Asthma, however, the cause is suspicios because eventually Gracie died too a year later after having bunnies. The second pair became less thrifty and was butchered to reveal one side of the heart enlarged on both! No sign respiratory illness and since then no respiratory issues with the remaining rabbits at all despite weather events, wild critters ect.. Back to the 4 causes, Bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic. In the 2 affected rabbits, in Greyson as I said Asthma fit him, it was all lower respiratory and not ill until the end he developed pneumonia and died. Makes me think maybe fungal but now I'll never know. Then Gracie suddenly became ill with pneumonia, eyes ears and nose were clear and no nasal congestion at all. Treatment didn't help, she died, So that leaves me to wonder about everything. Two rabbits from the same place were affected and no body else has been with those symptoms. Gotta due more reseach but for now, I'll keep watching and culling out some of the second group. There are 2 does left that are daughters to the second pair with bad hearts. The rest I'll keep for a while for manure and decide on them later.

 

[ZRabbits]

I'm in the same position you are in. Have a Lion Head buck that came down with "Wry Neck" at 13 weeks old. Reputable breeder with a nice set up. I got him at 6 weeks old, and had no issues at all until he hit 13 weeks. None of my other rabbits came down with it, even bringing a young Flemish into the Tribe, who shows no symptoms. The Buck did recover after one round of Baytril. He is now 11 months old. At 9 months, put him with my Lion Head doe, and he was still fine. He did well with the stress of breeding. The doe is fine. His kits are now 8 weeks old and there are no signs at all. Will keep watching as well. Maybe their (kits) immune systems are strong and they are fighting what might have been passed?

Karen

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Did some research. There are 4 causes of pneumonia in rabbits. I am still convinced Greyson had Asthma, however, the cause is suspicios because eventually Gracie died too a year later after having bunnies. The second pair became less thrifty and was butchered to reveal one side of the heart enlarged on both! No sign respiratory illness and since then no respiratory issues with the remaining rabbits at all despite weather events, wild critters ect.. Back to the 4 causes, Bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic. In the 2 affected rabbits, in Greyson as I said Asthma fit him, it was all lower respiratory and not ill until the end he developed pneumonia and died. Makes me think maybe fungal but now I'll never know. Then Gracie suddenly became ill with pneumonia, eyes ears and nose were clear and no nasal congestion at all. Treatment didn't help, she died, So that leaves me to wonder about everything. Two rabbits from the same place were affected and no body else has been with those symptoms. Gotta due more reseach but for now, I'll keep watching and culling out some of the second group. There are 2 does left that are daughters to the second pair with bad hearts. The rest I'll keep for a while for manure and decide on them later.

You are going to find a lot of conflicting information on the internet... It really is very hard to research rabbit diseases, since most of the literature is skewed toward either pet owners or lab animals. Here is what I would do....

1) dispatch anything showing symptoms of illness or less than optimal immune system. You really don't want asthma, allergies, etc in your herd anymore than you want pasteurellosis or wry neck. Disinfect everything they touched.

2) keep the 7month olds separated and, as my Sistah said, bring on the stressors. Breed the does with a buck you won't be heartbroken to lose, and house him with them. Dispatch any that develop symptoms after kindling.

3) if you bring in new rabbits, house them separately from the rabbits you are keeping and care for them first.

Hopefully, you will get a handle on it and end up with a healthy herd with good, strong immune systems!

 

[AmysMacdog]

Sounds good. I already have plans in place to keep newbies some where else, we have 6 acres so that part is easy. We have dcided who will have to go, then I will spray down their cages with bleach then move them to the new spot and leave them empty for now. The only rabbit there is the cali. The rest will stay together as manure maker pets for the garden. I'll keep trying to breed the 7 mo olds just to fill up the freezer. I wasn't planning on keeping anymore from that line anyway. At the price of Chicken, I hope we can get some rabbit in the freezer. Hopefully, I can find some new stock later that will be good healthy rabbits to enjoy. Thank you so much for your help. I'll keep in touch and keep reading this forum, I've really been enjoying it!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Sounds good. I already have plans in place to keep newbies some where else, we have 6 acres so that part is easy. We have dcided who will have to go, then I will spray down their cages with bleach then move them to the new spot and leave them empty for now. The only rabbit there is the cali. The rest will stay together as manure maker pets for the garden. I'll keep trying to breed the 7 mo olds just to fill up the freezer. I wasn't planning on keeping anymore from that line anyway. At the price of Chicken, I hope we can get some rabbit in the freezer. Hopefully, I can find some new stock later that will be good healthy rabbits to enjoy. Thank you so much for your help. I'll keep in touch and keep reading this forum, I've really been enjoying it!

If you feel comfortable enough to post the state that you live in, we can try to help you locate some breeders in your area.

 

[AmysMacdog]

We are up in the top right hand corner of Georgia on the South Carolina line. Near Toccoa, Lovonia area. There isn't much here. I've seen ads for counties close by but at this point I would love some recommendations. My last 2 attemps didn't go so well. Its funny years ago I took in unwanted Easter bunnies for people when the kids were tired of them. Never a problem. I buy some, got problems! Rats! If I could have put a smiley face behind "rats" I would have but I am just learning how to use a computer. Lol.

* there's your smiley! If you use "Full Editor" you will have the option of choosing different smileys or you can simply type "" without the quotation marks * OAF<br /><br />__________ Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:33 pm __________<br /><br />Thank you for my smiley! I have an unrelated question about bunnies for next time I have any, what is the best coccidiostat does everybody use. Used to be Albon. At the advice of somebody else, last thing I used was Corid in the water. Was this good or bad? Would like to have the right stuff on hand for later.