Tomorrow's the day!

[fffarmergirl]

Hubby's putting the finishing touches on the cages now. We're leaving for a long trip in the morning and by tomorrow night we'll have two german/english hybridangora does and one buck!

These are our first rabbits.

What do you all use in your trays below the cages to absorb urine? I was thinking about just laying out sheets of newspaper. I want to be able to separate out the manure for use in the garden in the Spring, because the manure doesn't have to age in a compost pilebefore it goes in the garden but I think the urine does. Hey - you spell 'does' and 'does' as infemale rabbitsthe same way! I never noticed that!

Anyway - back to the subject. Newspapers? They don't spray when they pee, do they? Don't want pee on the walls.

We got timothy hay and rabbit pellets and papaya supplements. What do we do with the hay? Do we just leave pellets in their dishes all the time? Do you hand feed the papaya supplements as a little treat, or just put a couple in their feed every day, or what?

We've got crocks for the food.

I think the onlythings we still need to pick up tomorrow are waterers and some toys or something for them to chew on. Any last minute suggestions? Anything we're forgetting?

The rabbits are going to live in the cold pantry for the remainder of the winter then starting in the Springthey'll go under a roof outdoors during nice days and probably in the garage on rainy days.

Oh - one more question. Brushes. We have the little flat dog brushes with the pins close together all over them that look kind of like wool carding brushes. Good? And can we use the dogs' nail trimmer on them?

Oh yeah - forgot to ask. Can they chew on sticks? We've got beech and maple and hemlock firewood we can cut into sticks for them.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

YAY! Remember photos!

I don't know but I think hemlock is bad

 

[gentle giants]

fffarmergirl wrote:

What do you all use in your trays below the cages to absorb urine? I was thinking about just laying out sheets of newspaper. You won't get much absorbency from newspaper. You could try Yesterday's News, which is a pelleted litter made from recycled newspaper, and that will hold liquid much better.
Anyway - back to the subject. Newspapers? They don't spray when they pee, do they? Don't want pee on the walls. Yes, they will spray, especially the buck. Getting him neutered will usually stop this, especially if he is still young.

We got timothy hay and rabbit pellets and papaya supplements. What do we do with the hay? Do we just leave pellets in their dishes all the time? Do you hand feed the papaya supplements as a little treat, or just put a couple in their feed every day, or what? Give them lots of hay, you can put it in some sort of rack/container or jsut put it on the floor of the cage if you want. They should not have unlimited pellets unless they are still very young and growing. Adult rabbits should only get a small amount per day, along with a good variety of greens and their hay, The papaya is jsut for treats, I want to say one or two per day.

We've got crocks for the food.

I think the onlythings we still need to pick up tomorrow are waterers and some toys or something for them to chew on. Any last minute suggestions? Anything we're forgetting?

The rabbits are going to live in the cold pantry for the remainder of the winter then starting in the Springthey'll go under a roof outdoors during nice days and probably in the garage on rainy days. Honestly, I'm not sure what a cold pantry is..?

Oh - one more question. Brushes. We have the little flat dog brushes with the pins close together all over them that look kind of like wool carding brushes. Good? And can we use the dogs' nail trimmer on them? Is the brush called a "slicker" brush? That should be ok for rabbits with long/thick hair, but do brush gently so as nto to scrape their skin. Dog nail clippers are probablt too big, I use the cat ones.

Oh yeah - forgot to ask. Can they chew on sticks? We've got beech and maple and hemlock firewood we can cut into sticks for them. I don't know about the hemlock, I thought that was poisoinus? Anyway, apple tree twigs are great, pine cones are ok too. Here is a link that will tell you more about what is safe and what is not. http://earthhome.tripod.com/rabsafe.html

I glanced over it right quick, and hemlock is on the toxic list, so don't try that.

http://www.adoptarabbit.com/articles/toxic.html

 

[Numbat]

Lol! Tons of questions! It sounds like you're VERY prepared!

Newspaper should be fine Good luck! Looking forward to pics!

 

[fffarmergirl]

OK! We're on our way!

I guess I'd better hang something up on the back of the cages to keep them from spraying the walls.

A cold pantry is an unheated room in the house for storing food.

"Slicker brush" - yeah, that's the word.

There was a philosopher who died from eating poison hemlock - but that was the plant, not the tree. A hemlock tree is a giant conifer.

Gotcha about the newspaper.

Hopefully I'll show you some pics soon!

 

[Bo B Bunny]

I wouldn't chance the hemlock tree. There are just too many other things they'd like that you would be sure of being safe!
Can't wait to see them

 

[fffarmergirl]

Loooooong day but we're back. We came back with 4 instead of 3. Two bonded females (a REW and sooty fawn), one single female (torte? deeper than a sooty fawn but similar?) and a little buck (REW). The buck was loose in the barn when we got there and we had to catch him, but he was the only white buck.

They're beautiful. One is shedding her coat right now so she's getting a haircut tomorrow. I held her in my lap in the car on the way home for a while and brushed her, before I realized all her wool was coming out all over my coat.

When we got home, we opened the back of the car and brought the buck and some supplies in. During that short amount of time, our border collie went out there and tried to pull the entire big double cage with the does in it out of the car! He tore up our brand new litter pan trying to get to them. He scared them but didn't hurt them, fortunately.

Other than that, the trip was uneventful. The breeder showed me how to brush them and showed me all of her spinning.

They were out in a big very drafty barn, so they're accustomed to the weather. The buck's in the garage now (don't want him spraying in the house) and the girls are in the cold pantry. It might be a little warm in there for them - hope they're not too uncomfortable.

I still need to round up the camera but when I do I'll post some pics!

 

[Elf Mommy]

oooo Find the camera! We need photos!!!!! Congratulations on your new babies!!!

 

[Bo B Bunny]

YES!!!

 

[bunnybunbunb]

Nice I take it you are going to breed? The bonded pair would make for a good experiance in breeding I think. Two of my breeder friends have bred two bonded does and let them raise their babies together. The one said her does nested in the same box(she gave two) and raised them together, the other said both does had DOA babies(both your first time moms). I have also been told about many other breeders doing it and they say the babies do so good, on adverage.

 

[gentle giants]

bunnybunbunb wrote:

Nice I take it you are going to breed? The bonded pair would make for a good experiance in breeding I think. Two of my breeder friends have bred two bonded does and let them raise their babies together. .

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with this.I haven't heard any stories about situations like that ending well.Prey animals don't like having company when they give birth.

If fffarmergirl wants to breed, then we will be glad to help her get started properly, and answer any questions she has. Also, not to sound like a snob, but it is better to start off with good purebred breeding stock than with crossed breeds. That way you have a Standard to go by as far as what to expect/look for in the babies, for one thing, and you can have the fun of showing them if you want as well. And you have to have something you can do with the babies too,simply selling pet mutt bunnies in the paper and such is not a great idea. Again, I want to make sure you know I have nothing aginst mixed breed rabbits. But people who buy a cute little baby bunny from the newspaper or petstore on impulse are the ones who will be more likely to dump them in the shelter or re-home them carelessly later.

I hope I haven't offended anyone with this, it was not intended to be offensive or hurtful towards anyone.

 

[naturestee]

Congrats on your first bunnies! We need pictures!

I do agree that bonded does shouldn't be bred (unlessyou separate them for the birth + raising). Although on the mixed breed- I'm wondering if there was a purpose to this one, such as improving wool quality/amount? Like how some cattle breeds are crossed on purpose for other attributes. In that case, and if the rabbits are all kept or rehomed with other wool-spinners and not for show, then it's ok. Hybrids are often usedfor livestock (andplant crops).

 

[paul2641]

I use shredded paper and it does the job. Plus it doesn't get tangled in the long hair! So It is the perfect job!

 

[fffarmergirl]

Yeah - the german/english angora hybrids are bred that way for their fiber quality.

I got the buck in case I decided to breed, since it's so far away to go buy bunnies. But I don't know. These four are going to keep me a lot more busy than I thought they would. I'm thinking maybe we won't do any breeding.

I had absolutely no idea how much waste they produce! I thought about the pellets but I am shocked at how much urine there is. I've got them in the house until Spring and wow. Pretty disgusting.

I am totally amazed at how different in character they all are. I've been taking them out one at a time, letting them run around and have a little freedom, brushing them, etc.

One is so outgoing. I let her out and she chased the cat, stood up on her hind legs and put her front legs on my husband's lap, etc. She didn't like being groomed and bit me (didn't draw blood) and she clucks like a chicken - a lot!

The one I have out now is slowly checking out the room, a little at a time, stayinig kind of close to me. She thumped a couple of times when she saw the cat but got over her fear real quick. She's so sweet - and a real beauty.

The third female's just kind of a happy little bunny but she doesn't like being picked up much. She let the kitties check her out but didn't seem too interested in them.

The buck - I haven't taken out and allowed to roam the house yet. He's kind of small and fast and it took us forever to catch him in the barn when I went to buy him (he had escaped from his cage). He looks miserable in his little cage all by himself in the garage, and I don't think we should have brought him home. He's lonely out there. But we can't have him in the house because he'll spray. Poor little guy.

I think we need to make them all a little building and let all the females run loose in it and have the buck in his own pen, but at least he'll have the company of the females around him. I feel awful for having them caged. I should have thought about this and waited until Spring.

 

[fffarmergirl]

My goodness - I think the cat and the rabbit are playing! How adorable! The rabbit is much larger than the cat.



Yes! They are playing - or at least the rabbit is. I think the kitty's afraid.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

I've seen a lot of cats and rabbits be friends. Tony and Diesel like each other.

 

[gentle giants]

Well, if you have decided that breeding is not for you, you could always get your buck neutered. That will usually stop the spraying.

 

[fffarmergirl]

Yeah - neutering might be the way to go. Of course, once we get them outside, things might change.

This one is so sweet, though - she is having a blast! They are so freaking adorable!

I wonder what would happen if I took the other two out and let all three of them run around?

 

[gentle giants]

Well, they might do ok, or they might fight. What I do when I am trying a bonding session, is have a big pile of hay or some fresh greems for them to eat, and keep a pair of leather gloves close by in case of fights. In my personal experience, it does seem to make it easier when you introduce more then two at a time, it is much easier to bond two groups than it is to bond two individuals.

 

[fffarmergirl]

Thanks for the tips, gentlegiants.

They sure are - lively and full of character. Somehow I just didn't expect that from rabbits. I thought rabbits were quiet and timid and gentle, didn't move around much, etc. That is totally not true. The bonded pair are nuts. They make a ton of noise in their cage and when I got them out to run around they went wild. Are they kind of like dogs? Wild when they're young and calmer as they get older? Do they go through something similar to the puppy stage?

They HATED their haircuts and they don't appreciate being brushed much.

And did I mention they poop and pee a LOT?