Quarantine

[Cspr]

I should be getting two does. Maybe from the same breeder, maybe not. Depends.

The area I'm going to keep them in is outside with good ventilation. They'd be in hanging wire cages attached to wooden slats.

I used to keep feral cats for taming and would change my clothes in the laundry room before coming inside with my healthy house cat, so I know how to keep down the spread of germs when caring for both, but how far do you suggest keeping them apart? I have about eight feet length and ten feet width for my new "doe house". I could put them on opposite ends temporarily? Or is that still not enough space? Would a hanging cloth or tarp work, keep them from exchanging germs? Or if I do get does from two separate rabbitries, should I keep one in my structure and one elsewhere?

I could just be simple and get all my does from one rabbitry, but I'm sort of caught between one breeder that has chinchilla and one that has lilac. I'm sort of back and forth like, "Which varieties do I want now?" And, of course, I want the most compact does with best HQs possible, as those are not my buck's peak areas. So I would like to choose the two best, not best and whichever the same breeder has that is sort of okay. o.o

Thoughts?

 

[ladysown]

I don't isolate when I get rabbits as the same time from different breeders. I just put them in my isolation area since I can't make two separate isolation areas.

You could hang material between them though as that would help.

 

[Cspr]

Thanks for the information. I'll hang material between their cages then. -crosses fingers for buns not blowing up- I look for the basics: clear, clean eyes; no snotty noses or snotty legs; clean bums; clean ears; lack of fleas or ticks; etc. but I just worry. -shrugs-

 

[LauraNJ]

I separate. I currently have a cage in my basement and another in my garage as quarantine.

It is a pain but if someone gets sick then I know where I got it from as opposed to one getting sick and not knowing if the other carried it or if it brought disease with it, etc.

 

[Cspr]

I realized I have a dog crate down in the garage. I could keep one inside in there for at least a week or so, just as precautionary measure. IDEK. Thoughts?

 

[LauraNJ]

I quarantine for at least 30 days.

A couple weeks ago I bought 2 mini rexes, I have bought from this rabbitry before, one of my foundation stock actually with no issues.

That said, the 2 new ones are in quarantine for at least another few weeks just to be safe.

 

[Cspr]

Hmmm. I'll try to sort something out. -worries-

I'll hang a tarp, feed them with different bags so no germs get on the bags (same with the water if I use cups to fill), and handle them with different shirts and with well-washed arms and any other touched skin. Do that for thirty days and pray that's enough.

-somehow finds self in an apparently unique situation- It would be better if my parents would let me have rabbits anywhere but this one place. They don't want the smell in the house, and everywhere else is garage (maybe in the house?), too sunny unless a tarp is hung (cage strung to deck), or too dark and damp (under deck). :/ I'm just glad my parents are letting me have rabbits, though. XD

 

[LauraNJ]

I found a neat trick. I use pine pellets, they are for horses and I buy a big bag at tractor supply for $5.99. I throw some in the bottom of the pans for the ones that have litters or are inside. It keeps it smell free and it isn't as messy as pine shavings and doesn't get all over.

 

[Cspr]

Oh wow, really? I'll have to try that. I have a forest of pines in the back. Even for the outdoors ones, I can just use the needles instead of straw? Neat-o. Thought it was hazardous, but I suppose if only ingested...

 

[LauraNJ]

I only use the pine pellets in the bottom of removeable pans, the buns are separated by the wire from the pine pellets. It absorbs the urine and smells. Just smells like pine slightly when it is wet.

I have a bunch of pines too but the needles wouldn't absorb the urine so it probably wouldn't work as well. I have used pine shaving before and my rabbits haven't eaten them that I know of but they are light and messy and kicked around if they are within a cage, at least in my experience.

 

[Cspr]

Totally read that wrong. XD I don't know. I heard them breathing in any dust from pine or cedar can cause liver damage...?