Limit to how meny buns

[samandshawn]

Does anyone think there should be a limit to howmany buns one person should have, obviously if you have one bun you cangive it more attention than fifty, butI think it depends onthe situation, my friend whent to get a bun and said thebreeder had a bunny mill because she had a lot of buns, Idon't think someone should come to this conclusion without taking intoaccount of the condition of the bunsI didn't see how the bunswere kept but I wondered what you all think about keeping a largeamount of buns?

 

[pamnock]

Idon't think you shouldhave more than you can properly care for and enjoy.

When it's not fun anymore -- you have too many.

Pam

 

[samandshawn]

I agree I think that money plays a big role too.

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

pamnock wrote:

Idon't think you shouldhave more thanyou can properly care for and enjoy.

When it's not fun anymore -- you have too many.

Pam

I agree

I've been to a barn with about 450 rabbits and all were healthy andclean therefore it seems they are still having fur withtheirrabbits. These rabbits are Netherland Dwarfsand some Mini Rex so it wasn't like their does popped out gops of kitsat once either. They also had the neatest 'identification'set up that I adored! All their cages were single leveled with pitsunder them. Well, the walkways were cement and under the cages weredirt. There were 4 rows with back to back cages with a slipt half waydown the barn for easy human moving through the barn. On top of certiancages their were colored close pens. One color ment the doewas bred, another ment the doe was palpated and took. They also had acolor for For Sale Rabbits, rabbits that were 'on hold', and rabbitsthey were considering selling.

I've also seen people that can't properlly handle and maintain one rabbit that they own.

So I think as well that it depends on the person's ability and how many they can care for that are kept healthy.

 

[samandshawn]

Dwarf_Angel04 wrote:

pamnock wrote:

Idon't think you shouldhave more thanyou can properly care for and enjoy.

When it's not fun anymore -- you have too many.

Pam

I agree

I've been to a barn with about 450 rabbits and all were healthy andclean therefore it seems they are still having fur withtheirrabbits. These rabbits are Netherland Dwarfsand some Mini Rex so it wasn't like their does popped out gops of kitsat once either. They also had the neatest 'identification'set up that I adored! All their cages were single leveled with pitsunder them. Well, the walkways were cement and under the cages weredirt. There were 4 rows with back to back cages with a slipt half waydown the barn for easy human moving through the barn. On top of certiancages their were colored close pens. One color ment the doewas bred, another ment the doe was palpated and took. They also had acolor for For Sale Rabbits, rabbits that were 'on hold', and rabbitsthey were considering selling.

I've also seen people that can't properlly handle and maintain one rabbit that they own.

So I think as well that it depends on the person's ability and how many they can care for that are kept healthy.

I cant see how someone with 450 buns could give them the love care and attention they need.

 

[pamnock]

Dwarf_Angel04 wrote:

I've also seen people that can't properlly handle and maintain one rabbit that they own.

So I think as well that it depends on the person's ability and how many they can care for that are kept healthy.

Good post!

Pam

 

[Kricket]

I've always wondered how someone can excerciseand love soooo many buns. Do they get excercise? Dothey get enough love? Maybe there are several people to carefor them all???.... just wondering...

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Kricket

 

[TinysMom]

I think the question comes down to....what is alarge amount of buns? For some people - one is the limit -for others - they can have many more!

I currently have five buns. Four of the five all playtogether for 10-12 hours a day. I probably spend at least anhour a day on the floor with them....feeding them, talking to them,trying to get them to learn to trust me (my ND still has some trustissues - but I am starting to get kisses and he'll jump all overme). I have another bunny coming in a few days - and he willjoin the mix.

I also spend at least 1/2 hour per day with the bun that is inseclusion...plus he has the same amount of playtime in hisroom. He is in seclusion because he was starting fights - I'mhoping that in 2-3 weeks he can rejoin the others since he just gotneutered. At this time, the others will often go and sit bythe gate beside him (on the opposite side of him) and they will stareat each other and just lay down together on opposite sides.I'm hoping he has a good transition.

As has been discussed, I too would like to breed. I'd like tostart out with either 3 or 5 breeders....and maybe eventually get up to10-12 at most.My plans are to breed for does for acertain length of time - probably until they're 2 or 2 1/2 - and thenpay to get them neutered so they don't get cancer...and sell them aspets...even if they are show quality. I need to do moreresearch on how long they can breed and still have the surgerysafely. I will only breed my does 3-4 times a year at most sothey have a rest between litters. I want to do more researchon males and neutering because if it really doesn't reduce testicularcancer...I may not neuter them before finding them homes when I retirethem.

Anyway, I'm considering how many bunnies can I take care of and love -and exercise....and how I'll be able to do the attention (scheduling mytime so all get attention and play time).

I do know that when/if I breed - my buns will get out of their cage atleast an hour or two per day and play somewhere....I just have tofigure out how to do it without them fighting or getting pregnant!

One point that I've thought about is that I have more time for bunniessince I'm home all the time - so I can have more bunnies to playwith. If I was working - I think I'd limit myself to one ortwo.

Peg

 

[Kricket]

TinysMom wrote:

One point that I've thought about is that I have more time for bunniessince I'm home all the time - so I can have more bunnies to playwith. If I was working - I think I'd limit myself to one ortwo.

Peg

Peg! You are SO lucky! I'd LOVE to be able to spendall day with my buns. I am so jealous! heeheee Lucky bunnies they will be to have you!

I only work 5 hours a day and it is SO hard to tear myself away fromthem!! I rush home each day to give pets &kisses! I know-I am a geek!

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Krick

 

[TinysMom]

Kricket wrote:

Peg! You are SO lucky! I'd LOVE to beable to spend all day with my buns. I am sojealous! heeheee Lucky bunnies they will be tohave you!

I only work 5 hours a day and it is SO hard to tear myself away fromthem!! I rush home each day to give pets &kisses! I know-I am a geek!

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Krick

Thanks Kricket! Actually, my husband of 25 years now, hasactually been jealous of the bunnies if you can believe that.Since I got them, I sleep bunnies, think bunnies, and talk bunnies mostof the time.

I had been struggling with a depression and minor mid-life crisis whenI rescued a bunny and had to return him to his owner. Myhusband insisted I get another one - and come to find out......a largepart of my depression was because I didn't have anyone to "nurture" whoabsolutely NEEDED me. Nurturing is such a big part of mypersonality - and my kids are 20 so they don't need mom.Having the buns has turned my life around.

Over the last few days, my honey has come to see the rabbits assomething other than competition for my affection. It helpsthat I put them to bed before he comes home at night...and I try tovacuum up the floor and stuff (they're not fully litter trainedyet). He is learning to like them and learn theirnames....and he even pets them at times.

But yes, I do love being home with my bunnies all the time.When we get moved - Tiny will have the run of the house most of thetime - and the others will get 3-4 hours of playtime a day and maybeeven 8 hours (while Art's at work). But...their cage will begreat - I'm designing a NIC cage that is 2 squares wide - 4 squareslong and 4 squares high. I want it on plywood (or whateverwood) with wheels so it can roll out the door on nice days and they canget some fresh air.

Peg

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

Kricket wrote:

I've always wondered how someone can excercise and lovesoooo many buns. Do they get excercise? Do they getenough love? Maybe there are several people to care for themall???.... just wondering...

Hugs!

Shorty, Star & Kricket

Well this is where the line is drawn for pet rabbits and show rabbits.

When my rabbits are out of their cage most of the time they are beingposed and then play around on the grooming table. They do getoutfor loadsof hugs. I don'tallow them to play around in the grass or floor as their are too manychanges in picking up diseases in my thoughts. I used to let my rabbitsrun around in an area of the house but found those rabbits wanted torun up and down the show table more so. Therefore I have stoppedallowing them a lot of running time. However, if I see a rabbit thatneeds to let out energy then they get to run around ina smallsection of the house for 10 to 15 mins or until they get into'trouble'.

The particular breeders that I'm speaking of are a couple who are ARBAjudges. I don't believe they have kids but they raise cows and rabbits.Their rabbits don't seem skittish at all and are well mannered. Thatsalso something that is 'bred' into a rabbit.

In my humble opinion,

Amanda

 

[pamnock]

Now, if only people were so concerned about"children" getting enough love and exercise . . .

Pam

 

[Dwarf_Angel04]

pamnock wrote:

Now, if only people were so concernedabout"children" getting enough love and exercise . . .

Pam

Right... :?

 

[rabbitgirl]

TinysMom wrote:

I want to do more research on males and neuteringbecause if it really doesn't reduce testicular cancer...I may notneuter them before finding them homes when I retire them.

Better include a disclaimer with those.

"This model's features include a high-volume squirt gun. Seller is notresponsible for any damage/inconvenience/disgust that may result fromthis model's special features."



Rose (who wears protective clothing when feeding Bub-laddie)

 

[m.e.]

TinysMom wrote:

I want to do more research on males and neutering because if it really doesn't reduce testicular cancer...

Wait a minute - how can neutering not reduce testicular cancer??They can't get testicular cancer if they don't have testicles! Correct?Or am I missing something in regards to the neuter operation...:?

 

[rabbitgirl]

I think it could have more to do with the rateof testicular cancer vs. the rate of ovarian cancer--if the overallrisk of cancer is low for intact males, then one would possibly chooseto leave them intact.

Rose

 

[m.e.]

I see...why neuter them if they're unlikely toget testicular cancer anyway? It just sounds wierd to say thatneutering doesn't reduce the risk of cancer

 

[bluebird]

My problem with this would be who decides howmany is too many.i dont think there should be a number limit, how manyyou have time to properly care for is the right amount.what i have seenthat many people that have a lot of rabbits are retired and this isthere hobby.I work at home so i have more time.bluebird

 

[pamnock]

I often see people getting stuck on wantingactual numbers for testicular or uterine/ovarian *cancer*.There are certainly incidences of cancer, but far more common arebenign tumors (especially in the uterus). There may not beany signs early on, but the tumors can grow very large. Theincidence of these tumors is over 80% in rabbits over 4 years ofage. These numbers are not surprising, as benign uterinetumors are also very common in older women. (In fact, I havethem. Currently not causing me any problems, but the doctorsaid that I will have to have a hysterectomy at some point).

As far as testicular cancer -- 2 of our bucks had to be put down lastyear for testicular cancer. So I do believe that diseases ofthe testicles are a real threat to the buck that is notneutered. Risk increases as the animal ages.Removing the testicles also eliminates the possibility of injury orother testicular diseases.

The actual numbers for cancer can be argued -- but the incidence of benign uterine tumors is extremely high in older does.

Pam

 

[rabbitgirl]

What! The most common tumors are benign? Ididn't know that--thanks Pam! The numbers I heard were for uterinecancer, and it seemed weird that it would be that common fordoes over 4. But you're right aboutbenign tumors being commonin women, so it makes sense that it would work that way for femalerabbits too.

Interesting!

Rose