What should I do?

[GBov]

My rabbits have thrown me a curve I dont know what to do with so thought I would get some input here.

I have consistently lost a kit or two from each litter (after I switched to rex two years ago) when they are born and now this spring am loosing one or two from each litter around 6 to 16 weeks of age.

For awhile now I have been wondering about the size of their lungs, when necropsied (sp?)or when butchering for meat, they just look under sized.

So this week I butchered one of our last remaining Florida Whites and found his lungs, compared to my Rex lungs, were enormous! :shock: They filled his entire rib cage.

This then is my dilemma, due to ill health of my father and many hours on the road to see him and a trip away booked this summer to visit friends over seas I had started the move to sell all my stock BUT if they have a serious defect should I sell or cull them all?

Not asking for judgments, just what you think you would do in this situation. Its got me seasawing enough to make me sea sick. :lol:

 

[Dood]

That sounds bizzare

I would disclose the information to buyers but since it only seems to be fatal in a couple kits in each litter they may not mind as Standard Rex are sometimes hard to find :shrug:

 

[GBov]

So far I have only had one interested buyer - and this is at $10 EACH - and she was well put off when I told her about the issue. Have just told another person and shall see what they do.

If I get no takers they will all go into the freezer but they are really really beautiful rabbits. http://daytona.craigslist.org/grd/5612684154.html this is my add so you can FINALLY see some pictures of my buns. :lol:

 

[Winterwolf]

Wow, those are beautiful rabbits!! If I lived a lot closer to Florida, I'd be very tempted to buy them all!

 

[GBov]

Yeh, they really are, arnt they.

One buyer is interested in two of them, despite their problem but I think I will take down the add this evening and then just cull them all when I get back to town.

The meat and hides will be good and then we can start again.

 

[Rabbitdog]

Which way is your trip to see your father. If you were in Virginia, I'd be coming to see you this weekend! My rex pair are probably on 60% the size of those beauties. Losing a bun or two here and there isn't that big of a deal. Maybe over time, it could be selected out anyway. Hope they find homes. Hate to think they're all freezer bound. Best wishes for your father, also!

 

[GBov]

I so wish that anyone from RT was closer and wanted them, would love them to go to good homes but I am thinking, if I cant get them sold for $25 each for proven breeders and $10 each for weanling, its just isnt worth my going any lower.

 

[Nymphadora]

I just got home from a drive down to Florida! If I had seen this, I might have made DH drive a bit further so I could get myself a little trio of your youngsters, they look so good! Nevermind the fact that we don't really have the space for them yet, and we plan on moving in a few months...

I really wish you all the best selling them, and if not, I hope they taste mighty fine I'm curious, do you lose a few kits regardless of which does/bucks they come out of, or are there certain matches that tend to lose more offspring?