Saturday, November 26, 2005
False Dwarf Kits
False dwarf kits often make themselves known by the time they are three weeks old or so. You can see that some kits are bigger than others. That's not proof positive, but you can start making educated guesses then.
Sometime between three and six weeks old, the bunny's ears will make a tremendous growth. You can see it happen dramatically within the week. If the big bunny's ears are significantly longer than their littermates, that's strike, two.
By the time the litter weans, you can tell when there are two distinct sizes within the litter. That's strike three. A rabbit, larger than its littermates with longer ears, shoulders, and bone, is almost definitely a false dwarf. Now you can just hope that the false dwarfs are does, which can make great brood animals. A false dwarf buck that is exceptional may also be used for breeding. Ordinary quality false dwarf bucks are pets.
I had a visitor to my barn ask me who the dam was in the litter, pointing to the false dwarf among true dwarf siblings. It took me several tries to explain to her that the big one was actually part of the litter and not the mom. The size difference was that dramatic.
What can be harder to judge is a kit from a litter of one, or a litter with several same-sized kits in it. You really can't compare across litters because a small false dwarf in one litter may be the size of the larger true dwarfs in another. And long ears can run in lines, even in the true dwarfs. Those things are best judged by comparing within the litter itself.
By the time a rabbit is two months old, I use the back feet to help me make my best guess about a potential false dwarf. If the back feet are twice as long as wide, it is likely to be a true dwarf. If the back feet are three times as long as wide, a false dwarf is indicated.
By adulthood, you can be sure that rabbits over 4 1/2 lbs. are always false dwarfs and rabbits under 3 1/2 lbs are true dwarfs. But those around the 4.00 mark can be a lot trickier to identify.
The only way to tell for sure, of course, is by breeding. While most false dwarfs are obvious, I've been surprised by some really large true dwarfs. One was well over 4 lbs., but the peanuts he produced in several different litters were his credentials - he was a true dwarf.
You cannot avoid creating false dwarfs no matter what you do. Even if you only breed true dwarf to true dwarf, you will produce 25% false dwarfs, on the average. It's just a matter of learning how to spot them.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:04 PM
Sometime between three and six weeks old, the bunny's ears will make a tremendous growth. You can see it happen dramatically within the week. If the big bunny's ears are significantly longer than their littermates, that's strike, two.
By the time the litter weans, you can tell when there are two distinct sizes within the litter. That's strike three. A rabbit, larger than its littermates with longer ears, shoulders, and bone, is almost definitely a false dwarf. Now you can just hope that the false dwarfs are does, which can make great brood animals. A false dwarf buck that is exceptional may also be used for breeding. Ordinary quality false dwarf bucks are pets.
I had a visitor to my barn ask me who the dam was in the litter, pointing to the false dwarf among true dwarf siblings. It took me several tries to explain to her that the big one was actually part of the litter and not the mom. The size difference was that dramatic.
What can be harder to judge is a kit from a litter of one, or a litter with several same-sized kits in it. You really can't compare across litters because a small false dwarf in one litter may be the size of the larger true dwarfs in another. And long ears can run in lines, even in the true dwarfs. Those things are best judged by comparing within the litter itself.
By the time a rabbit is two months old, I use the back feet to help me make my best guess about a potential false dwarf. If the back feet are twice as long as wide, it is likely to be a true dwarf. If the back feet are three times as long as wide, a false dwarf is indicated.
By adulthood, you can be sure that rabbits over 4 1/2 lbs. are always false dwarfs and rabbits under 3 1/2 lbs are true dwarfs. But those around the 4.00 mark can be a lot trickier to identify.
The only way to tell for sure, of course, is by breeding. While most false dwarfs are obvious, I've been surprised by some really large true dwarfs. One was well over 4 lbs., but the peanuts he produced in several different litters were his credentials - he was a true dwarf.
You cannot avoid creating false dwarfs no matter what you do. Even if you only breed true dwarf to true dwarf, you will produce 25% false dwarfs, on the average. It's just a matter of learning how to spot them.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 10:04 PM
