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Post by downinmyback on Apr 9, 2007 2:28:05 GMT -5
My Doe Rabbit had babies today and i know two froze to death. I had put the nurseries box and straw in her pen 2 days ago and i noticed that she had put hair this morning when i fed and water her. I checked on her several times during the day but as cold as it was and this being her first litter she had two of them on the wire mesh instead of her nest. I do not know how many more she had as they were covered up with her hair and i had upset her enough with removing 2the two dead babies. I hope the rest of her litter survive the cold weather.
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Post by houseodessey on Apr 9, 2007 17:28:37 GMT -5
I'm sorry that happened DIMB. When I was a kid, I had a pair of does. They both gave birth during a thunder storm and ate their offspring (nerves, I guess). It totally devastated me. This cold weather is for the birds. I'm ready for it to warm up, too.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 9, 2007 19:06:22 GMT -5
Down, I really hope they pull through for you.
I've been in that very same situation, and the one that House posted about. Rabbits are such gentle creatures, but the instinct to protect their offspring in the face of adversity manifests itself in some horrific ways at times.
I'm going to keep watching this post to see how you make out with them. Huggz..
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 9, 2007 20:04:57 GMT -5
Sorry to here the bad bunny news, DIMB. Is it still really cold where you are? We're supposed to get flurries again tonight. We got a couple inches over Friday to Sat AM, but that all melted quickly. By the end of this week we're supposed to be back up in the 70's. Go figure...
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Post by downinmyback on Apr 10, 2007 0:15:23 GMT -5
I know last nite it got down to 31 degree. I think if the doe had given birth in the nest box which was full of straw and coated with the doe hair the two babues would have been ok but as rabbit babies cannot generate their own body heat for the first 4 days they froze on the wiremesh floor. I still didnot look to see if she had any living as she is jumpy now and mite eat any live babies. In a few days they will get uncover and i can seehow many she has. I didnot breed her last year as i only keep rabbits as a hobby and somebody wanted a young rabbit for their grandchild.
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Post by bunkie on Apr 11, 2007 11:52:43 GMT -5
DIMB, we've had a similar experience. the doe had 2 dead babies and left them outside the nest. we immediately removed them and saw something moving in the nest and it was a third one, that faired very well. this was the mom's first litter and she seemed to know just what to do. from what i've read, if the babies are going to be sickly, the mom will not lay them in the nest. we'll cross our fingers for you and hope it warms up there!
we're still cold here. 26F this morning and a hard frost. going to be near freezing for a few more days...sigh...peace, bunkie.
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Post by tomc on Apr 11, 2007 18:17:34 GMT -5
Years ago I used to raise rabbits for meat. They will at times act just as you describe. And yes, your right to sit tight till she settles down to check on any of the other kits.
I have a habbit of tinkering and built a feeder rather like, but larger than a pellet feeder that would hold hay and amaranth seed heads. The does I still fed pellets when ever they were preggers or with kits. But they all got good clover hay to eat and amaranth year round. I never had a problem with feeding disorders. The oes also got cried corn-cob and all too. I just let the ears roll around in the hutch. Does would use them as chew toys.
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Post by downinmyback on Apr 11, 2007 22:10:10 GMT -5
I use limbs that i prune off of fruit trees so the rabbits keep their teeth in good shape. I also feed them as much green stuff as possible besides the pellet. I am down to two rabbits 1 male california and the doe us a knothead ( i donot know what the real breed name is but it looks like a cottontail rabbit. Two years ago i had 10 does and 2 bucks that i was raising to sell to a pet store and to hunting clubs to train their young beagles. But i was losing money so i cut back to only ywo rabbits and only breed if someone ask me to.
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Post by downinmyback on Apr 14, 2007 10:18:57 GMT -5
Update on Bunny she had 2 more in the nest but they looked liked they froze to death to. I knew she had stop acting nervous when i fed her so i figger this was a sign that no baby bunny had survived.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 14, 2007 19:55:44 GMT -5
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Post by downinmyback on Apr 15, 2007 13:04:47 GMT -5
Who left the Freezer door open. This morning around 8 Am when i went to feed the chickens and rabbits it felt like winter again. The wind was blowing from the north about thirty miles a hour. I do not know what the temp was but by the time i got back in the house my hands were frozen.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 15, 2007 14:29:02 GMT -5
DIMB, So sorry to read about your bunnies. Hopefully the warmer weather will bring better luck in breeding her and raising her young.
Meanwhile, Pleez try and stay warm!!
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Post by downinmyback on May 5, 2007 8:16:18 GMT -5
I rebred the doe and the weather should be nice and hot by the time she gives birth.
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Post by downinmyback on May 11, 2007 23:26:35 GMT -5
Has anyone ever heard of a cat that likes to play fetch. My wife cats retrieve the plastic safety rings. My wife throw it and the cat go and attacks it then brings it back to her so she can throw it again.
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Post by houseodessey on May 12, 2007 21:06:23 GMT -5
Our cat used to love to fetch crumpled up cigarette packages when he was younger. Until Otis, I'd never heard of a fetching cat. Your wife is lucky to have such a rare animal. ;D
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