Aging

[Bramble Briar86]

I am planning on showing my two buns this year(05) in 4-H but the age question comes up. i rescued the two from a 4-Hgroupl that rescued them from death row. i know that Bramble isold enough to have a litter because she had one before i got her.anyone know how to check how old a bun is? or if it's possible?

Ellie

 

[bunny_lover]

Hmmm, thats a good question. Sorry, I can't helpyou on that. I have never thaught about it all that much I guess...Idon't know. Sorry. But I would like to know now that you metion it.Good luck

~Mel

 

[Bramble Briar86]

lol, i haven't seen it in any of my rabbit books. lol. lets hope we find out.

Ellie

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Telling a rabbit's age is extremely challenging.You're vet may be able to give a rough guestimate based on teeth (thiscan be VERY far off their actual age though).

A doe can get pregnant at 12 weeks of age and a buck can impregnate a doe at 12 weeks.

Does the rabbit appear to still be growing?

 

[Bramble Briar86]

i honestly have NO clue. i just got them three weeks ago and am just know starting my record books

Ellie

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Chances are, if it's a rescue, it's olderanyways. And if the rabbits were young, you would no doubt notice achange in size over 3 weeks time.

Do you know the breed? If you do then research thatbreed forspecifics such as weight and size and if the rabbit is close to what itsays, chances are the rabbit is an adult (which I'm guessing theyprobably are).

Any way of posting a picture?

 

[Bramble Briar86]

i will i have the pictures. how do you put pictures in a post?

ellie

 

[pamnock]

There are some scientific indicators (such as weighing the eye) -- however, we're not going to do that LOL

In general, older rabbits will not be in prime condition, they willhave wider/longer toenails and may have developed dewlaps.There is no way to tell the age of a rabbit by it's teeth.They grow and wear off continually through the rabbit's life.

It's very likely that the rabbits are now old enough to be shown in thesenior class. (6 months and over for small breeds, 8 months and overfor large breeds). In some breeds, weight mayalsodictates the age class they are shown in (for breeds that allow"bump-up").



Pam

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Really? :?I was told that a vet cangivea rough guestimate from the teeth. :?I knowit's hard but I thought it had something to do with the with of thebase of the tooth or something.

 

[Bramble Briar86]

thanks a bunch, that helped. neither of myrabbits nails are wide. they're quite thin. thanks again! but, briarhas two nails on opposite forefeet that are black, scaly and stubby,they've bleed too! ellie

 

[pamnock]

MyBunnyBoys wrote:

Really? :?I was told that a vet cangivea rough guestimate from the teeth. :?I knowit's hard but I thought it had something to do with the with of thebase of the tooth or something.

You can tell the difference between a very young and a very old rabbit,but it's not a very exact indication. The nerve of the toothalso extends further down in an older rabbit.



Pam

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Ah ok. That's not what I was told, but thanks for clearing it up.