Skip to main content

raising rabbits - the importance of petting

Donna, our New Zealand / Californian doe
Storm, the new buck, adjusting quite nicely to his new home on the farm
We raise rabbits for the purpose of meat; they are not pets. We don't baby them, they live outdoors year round, sometimes in cages, sometimes on grass. Since tending to the new buck Storm after he escaped and lived in the woods for five days, I have been thinking about the importance of petting when raising rabbits. We don't get out each rabbit every day and coddle it, however each morning when I'm giving them food, water and hay I do rub the rabbits down the back a few times. This is important to help monitor the health of the rabbits, you can tell a lot by running your hand over their spines, if they are too skinny or too fat, or if they have any sensitive areas. This isn't really petting, in most people's sense of the word, a few quick strokes down the back, but it makes a difference. In addition to monitoring the health of the rabbit, it also helps keep them social, friendly, and handle-able, so when the time comes to hold them for whatever reason (breeding, cleaning, vet procedures, etc) they don't kick and scratch because they've never been held before. Rabbits have surprisingly sharp claws, and they are not afraid to use them.

Storm has been gaining wait, his coat growing and shiny, and adjusting to our daily time together.
I think soon he will get to meet one of the girls, and become a real part of our colony.
Storm and Donna, our new leading couple I think.

Until next time,

Angela Kelly

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

raising rabbits: newborns in a wind storm

bunbuns love lettuces :)  We had eighteen baby rabbits last week, the first litters of the year. We also had a super wind storm the very day after they were born, which knocked the hutch over, and nearly scared me to death. We were in town and had to rush the hour home to check on them, and amazingly enough, they all survived. We shuffled them around, moved two moms with babies inside the house, secured the rest, prepared for the storm. We made it through okay. It's been almost a week now, and they are starting to get their fur and move around a lot, so we will be moving them back outside very soon. It has been pretty cool having them so close, keeping an eye on them all the time, watching them grow. Raising rabbits is always an adventure, and we are learning more every day. I sure am enjoying the process, though. the new mommy eating some lettuce newborns more babies - they look like little aliens the rabbits at sunset Until next time, Angela Kelly...

the good, the bad, and the embarrassing

Our first week and a half on the farm have not been uneventful by any means. In fact, tonight on the ride home I said to the Universe (or more accurately Jonathan, since that's who heard me) "thanks for all the tests you've been throwing at us lately, but that's enough for now, please?" We expected some hard times and lots of hard work, but we weren't ready for random mishaps and accidents that would set us back so soon in the change. Bad things that have happened since we arrived: Jonathan gets a tick and the head is stuck in his back. It's been a week now and I think it's all worked out, but I was really scared. We get locked out of the Jeep, and it's $120 for a locksmith to come unlock it. We have snatched Zaphod (our kitty) off of upstairs windowsills about five times. I smacked myself in the forehead with a knife (apparently I missed the day in class when they tought you basic knife-holding skills.) It was just a little cut, mainly my ego ...

puppy play date

Yesterday Trilli got to have a puppy play date with her best friend, Oreo, and a new boyfriend, Yeti. Everyone in our group has a dog or two, so socializing them is essential. With several large breeds covered in our pack, they can be a bit much at first. Oreo (the pit bull) is quick like lighting, nudging the others with her nose and batting her paws. Trilli (husky and lab) loves to play but has the biggest mouth, constantly barking. We're working on that. Yeti is a basset hound and great Pyrenees mix, still growing and just beautiful. He got along with the girls wonderfully, outside taking turns pouncing on each of them. It's great to watch a pack of dogs together, it's so natural for them, their own kind; friends.  Hopefully next time I'll remember to bring my camera! Until next time, Angela Kelly