The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG

GAA Show, Taylorsville, NC, May 24, 2008

2008-05-24T20:33:00.002-05:00

I haven't shown rabbits in over two months. I think that's a record for me. So today, I broke the fast, as it were, and hauled my bunnies out of the barn for a trip to the table.

I still don't have any juniors that I wanted to show. You may remember the dozen babies I got at Christmas. Well, let's see: 4 false dwarf bucks, 1 fuzzy, 1 split penis, 1 cute adorable doe - with a low shoulder, a false dwarf brood doe, a nice doe with a crown too tight to bother showing right now, and a couple of decent bucks.

But I've decided to sell the bucks, so I didn't want to spend money to show them. One is absolutely adorable, but is probably going to be small. He's out of Roxie and a LOV buck. (I've decided not to work on the outcrossing project I had planned because my herd is still so small and my breeding capacity has been slower than I expected kicking back in.)

The other is pretty nice and would have something to offer a breeder with the right doe. He's not the complete package, but nice with great stuff behind him.

Anyway, I took a look at my bucks. Lex is 4.04. He's a huge eater that seems to never be satisfied. So I guess I'll have to be satisfied with his 13 legs! He's done. He can join company with Rio, the original big eater.

My other brokens are in terrible fur. I mean they look like I ran over them with a lawnmower (or put them through the dishwasher!) Could it be that I'm on my 3rd feed in six weeks? Ummm, maybe.

Lord looked good - except for a patch of missing fur. No dander, so I'm wondering if he got stung by something. Padawan's still trying to molt out that gosh-awful coat of his. If you saw him now, you'd wonder why I want to keep a rag tag rabbit like that.

I could have taken MLK, perhaps, but I didn't think he could beat Java, who is back well under the 4.00 mark and in wonderful flesh and fur.

I went down my doe aisles and mentally tagged Jamillia to go. Too bad I didn't write it down because I forgot about her. She had 5 peanuts last time around, so she's in shape to show. I got distracted by the idea of showing May. I want to breed her tomorrow, so I wanted her up on the table, smelling those wonderful buck smells, and being stimulated by all of the handling. And if she did well - all the better.

That second part was a little too much to hope for from a 3 1/2 year old doe. But maybe I can squeeze a few more babies from her now. She seems to only do well with large litters. I want to do everything I can to increase her litter size this time.

Java was BOS in the first show and second place to the BRIS buck in the second show (if you gotta lose, it's nice to lose to a nice rabbit - this one owned by Margie Brewer). That makes an even 20 legs for him. I like that. It's a nice round number.

Anyway, my primary objective in going to the show was to relax and enjoy myself. I decided I wasn't going to work with judges, I wasn't asked to be a registrar (good thing I didn't take papers because folks asked). I had no meetings. Nothing. I was going to visit, look at rabbits, and have a good time.

Well, I did all of that, but did get swept up in studying English Spots. I found at the NC State RBA Convention in March that I was very deficit in that breed, so I mentally tagged it to get more hands-on experience.

And as luck would have it, there were four English Spot shows today, so I got to see them more than once, talked with the breeders, and then worked with a judge for their last show. It was a great experience because I finally began to "see" them by the end.

I was recruited to write for a while, but I enjoy that, so it was no problem. It makes me pay better attention to the rabbits anyway. And I do like to learn about them.

I took Roxie to breed with a friend's buck. I don't do that sort of thing often or with many people, but every now and then, it's a lot of fun to do.

Even though the breeder and I are good friends, we show each other the teeth and genitals and so forth before we breed. No one should ever been offended by a request to go over the rabbit in detail before a joint breeding takes place. And one shouldn't accept, "Oh, I trust you," from the other breeder either. Show them anyway.

An interesting situation came up with a split penis today. If you breed Hollands, then sooner or later you will have the occasional split penis. I personally feel that if there's no pattern to it, it's just one of those things. If you see it running in a line, deal with it. You know what I mean. Luckily, they make great pets.

The situation was a buck who had been DQ'd for a split penis, but appeared to be whole.

Sometimes a split penis can have a bit of flesh that flaps over the split, making it look just fine. But if the flap is moved to the side, the split is revealed. Even if you know the split is there (such as in the case of the DQ'd rabbit), it can be difficult to get the split to reveal itself. On this rabbit today, I only got it to open once, but I got a quick glance of it before it closed again.

If you see what looks like a dark line (red or purplish) down the underside of a penis, see if you can move aside a flap of flesh and reveal the split penis. If it's there, it's better to know about it sooner rather than later.

The difficulty in seeing these splits can answer a lot of questions about rabbits you sell that are just fine, but the new owner complains of a DQ. Or perhaps you were sold a rabbit that you were told was okay, but it turns out to be a split. It could very easily be that it was hiding itself with a flap. Don't automatically assume that the breeder was trying to cheat you.

And while I'm on the topic of penises, folks, please check your penises when breeding. I know you check them before you breed, but also check them after a buck has been with a doe, especially if it's not a wham-bam-thank-you-mam situation. If the buck is making contact with the fur with his delicate flesh, it can rub a whole layer of it off . Or, like Rio did once, he can get fur wrapped around his penis and become very sore.

Today, we saw a situation where just after one breeding (with a lot of extraneous activity), the buck's penis was missing the top layer of skin in a nice round patch - ouch!

I got a rare chance to correct an error I made at the Fort Worth Convention. On an impulse, I sold The Nature Trail's Glynis with two legs. She went home with her new owners and almost immediately granded and then got three additional legs. Then the new owners started breeding her. After a few months, I mentioned that when they were ready to sell, I'd buy her back.

Well, today, they gave her back to me. She was a junior in Fort Worth , so she should still be plenty young enough to breed. I'm very excited at the possibility. She's out of The Nature Trail's Navaro (who died or was put down this year after severely injuring his back). Navaro was a Merlin son. Her mother is Hilary. You might recall that I didn't get my other broken Hilary daughter granded before she went overweight. So its nice to now have a solid and broken Hilary daughter to carry on.

Changing topics from the show, I am in the middle of overhauling Precious Pet Rabbits. I decided to change hosts while I was at it since I've never liked who I had it with. The site was down for a couple of days. But it's up and kicking again.

For those of you who have sent me your link information - I haven't forgotten you. It's just that the changeover to the new format is taking longer than expected - of course. I should have known better, but I'm the eternal optimist.

If you want to see the new format, check out the home page at http://www.pet-rabbit-care-information.com/ and also the store pages, contact us, about us, help, privacy page, and a few more. Let me know what you think.

I'm going to be working on the Precious Pet Rabbits links next. The articles will follow because I think (stress think, I could be wrong) that they will be easy to change over.

After that, I will be adding some new articles. I plan to add videos on sexing rabbits. It's so hard to explain without showing, so that should solve the problem. When folks contact you about rabbits they got from a pet store, but don't know the sex of, you will be able to send them to that page so they can figure it out.

As much as I love Laurie's Cobalt World and my cobalt blue glassware, it has been so nice to take a couple of days off. Yesterday, I went to yard sales and flea markets looking for antique glass for my personal collection. Today, I spent with my bunny friends (though I missed a lot of you). I also plan to take tomorrow and Monday off. By Tuesday, I will hopefully be refreshed and ready to get back to my work.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm breeding. Send positive thoughts my way. I need to get these girls producing well again.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day. I'll try to remember to post a blog from time to time. No, I haven't forgotten all of you!

Laurie

Selling Pets

2008-04-26T16:56:00.003-05:00

Many breeders sell pets as a way of making a little feed money, making new pet owners very happy, and finding a suitable place for rabbits with nice personalities that lack the conformation to be show rabbits or breeding stock.

Although selling pets can become very time-consuming, I enjoy the occasional pet sale. My customers generally spend about an hour with me. I like to go over a lot of basic information, especially on how to hold the rabbit, inspect its general health, and feed their new bunny.

I have never had problems selling older bunnies as pets (3 1//2 to 6 months old). I simply explain my experiences and beliefs. I realize that some breeders sell young and have done so for a long time without problems, but Hollands, I believe, are easier than average to kill with diet and stress. I don't sell rabbits below the age of 12 weeks and I don't plan to ever start. It's worked well for me.

I started the Precious Pet Rabbits website as a way of providing even more indepth information to my pet customers. It was my hope that other breeders would send their customers there, too, saving themselves a lot of explaining while still providing quality information. Breeders can even ask their customers to visit Precious Pet Rabbits before they come to pick up a rabbit or meet with them at a show, possibly improving their preparation and reducing their need for personal instruction from the breeder.

I was also appalled that the majority of pet rabbit information before Precious Pet Rabbits came from a source that I consider to be a bit too extreme. I've met too many potential pet owners who were guilted into thinking that rabbits need so much more than they actually do. I've talked before about the mentality of "what would I like if I were a rabbit." Things just don't work that way.

I want to balance that statement by saying that the more your pet customers put into their new pet rabbit, the more they will get out of it. But "more" doesn't have to mean the run of the house, a rabbit companion, and a diet of fresh vegetables (which, by the way, are not the kinds of vegetables rabbits would be eating if they were still in the wild - rabbits don't have supermarkets with sugar-enhanced tomatoes).

Some rabbits do well with companions, some earn more freedom, and some can tolerate a richer diet. Other rabbits will constantly fight with their companion, eat the baseboards if given too much freedom, and die on a diet that is too rich.

I also want to encourage visitors to Precious Pet Rabbits to purchase their pet rabbits from breeders instead of pet stores. I realize there are exceptions on both sides (great pet stores and poor breeders), but by and large, getting a pet rabbit directly from the breeder is the best choice.

To help with that process, I have links to rabbitries on the Precious Pet Rabbit website. I know, I've been backlogged in getting links up, but I'm currently updating Precious Pet Rabbits, so it's a great time to send me your link requests now. You must meet the following criteria:

You have a website that is fully functional and complete
You are an ARBA member
You breed to the standard and not simply to produce pets
You do not sell rabbits below the age of 8 weeks.

Please do not ask me to make exceptions on the age. I'd prefer 12 weeks myself, remember. Eight weeks is already a concession on my part.

Also, I'd like to let you know that a contest is coming soon on the Precious Pet Rabbits website. Anyone with a pet rabbit is eligible, including breeders, because I know we all have our favorites. There will be more information coming later, but I'll just drop the hint now that it involves pictures of pet rabbits and a great prize.

Laurie

A Mysterious Package

2008-04-18T10:26:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week, I received a box in the mail addressed to Precious Pet Rabbits. My name was not included. I hadn't ordered anything for Precious Pet Rabbits. In this day and age of poison in pills and bombs in the mail, I was concerned. What could this be?

Andrew was also concerned since I had no idea what was in the package. We carefully opened it, not sure what to expect.

Whatever it was, it was packed in some sort of shredded litter. My mind went down the animal path. Had I offended some animal rights fanatic? Was there an animal part in there? Was there a live animal or bug in the packing? Snake? Roach? Rat?

I took the knife that I had used to open the box with and tentatively stuck it into the litter. "What are you doing?" Andrew snapped. Now I knew he was thinking explosives. Maybe the litter was to keep a bomb stabilized until we opened the box.

Why it was not okay for me to prod, but okay for him to poke around, I'll never know. But after gingerly lifting layers of the litter, he did find a sheet of paper in the bottom of the box and pulled it out.

I read the note, picked up a piece of the litter, and smelled it. Andrew was in a panic. "What are you doing? Did it say to smell it?" I realized that he had forgotten about bombs and was now thinking poison.

It's a shame that we live in a world of malware and computer viruses, warnings on suspicious mail, and a terrorism alert system. I'm sure that twenty years ago, we would have not proceeded with such caution and fear. Our minds would not have gone where they did.

So what was in the box? Litter. It was a sample of a shredded sugar cane litter that a company is offering. The cane is what is leftover after the sugar is processed. It is sanitized at 600 degrees. They claim it holds 3 times its weight in fluid.

I don't really recommend bedding for rabbits. I prefer raising them on the wire. This litter might turn out to be a good idea for your pet customers who want to litter train their rabbits, place a litter in the tray below the rabbit cage, or insist that the rabbit has to have a bed.

I do have some vague recollection that this company contacted me by email quite some time ago. I might have saved myself some stress had I recognized the name on the box.

We had a laugh after we figured out what was going on. But it wasn't as lighthearted as it could have been. We know that sometimes rabbitries are targeted by fanatics. We got out easy this time, but who knows whether some day we will be actual targets. Its a scary thought.

Laurie

This BLOG Is No Longer Daily

2008-04-13T12:15:00.002-05:00

I will no longer even attempt to write daily on this BLOG. From now on, you can expect just periodic posts perhaps after an interesting show or if some issue is really on my mind.

As the comment to yesterday's post points out, I can't even keep up with which day it is. I am totally preoccupied with starting a new business. I need to be.

As you all know, I've been providing this free service for nearly two years. The most I might get out of it monetarily is the occasional click on an ad. At roughly 7 cents a click, you can easily realize that I make pennies per hour for all of my work on my websites and this blog. I have done it not for money but because I love the hobby and because I enjoy helping other people.

But now, I need to help financially support our family. I am working so hard on my business that I often don't get breakfast until after noon and I rarely get into bed before 1:00 a.m. I take few days off, normally working 7 days per week.

I've enjoyed writing this BLOG. I'm sure I got much more out of it by writing than you have by reading. It's a great mental exercise to think about what you believe and how you think things best proceed. It's been a great discipline in my life and wonderful practice at writing.

Unlike my attempt at an April Fool's Day prank this year, this post is real. The time has come for me to give my keyboard a rest.

Thank you for letting me be part of your hobby. I've enjoyed the privilege.

Laurie

And The Fans Roared

2008-04-12T11:06:00.003-05:00

First of all, I have to apologize for not writing my BLOG yesterday. I received 220 pieces of glass this week including 46 brand new styles to add to my Laurie's Cobalt World website. And we're getting ready for the annual black tie gala held by our ballroom dancing club. So my week was pretty much inspecting glass and doing paperwork, or practicing dancing. I've been so tied up that I still haven't decided exactly what I'm wearing tonight!

In the barn, the big event this week is that the fans came on for the very first time! The fans in our barn are connected to a thermostat, so they operate automatically. It's always ify whether fans will still operate after the winter. But I've had the very best luck with these wall-mounted fans that have a completely sealed motor. They cost a lot more, but they last a lot longer.

We've mounted them on boards that span our back windows. They are up high and out of my way. I absolutely hated having fans on the floor in my way all of the time. We had a huge pedestal fan, but it lasted only one season and was always in the way no matter where we put it.

If I had my barn to do over again, I would put exhaust fans in the eaves way up out of the way in addition to the other fans we need. Instead, we installed a turbine to help remove hot air that collects under the roof. The exhaust fans would have had the advantage of being able to be operated by thermostat and not relying on a breeze above the roof to operate best.

It was strange to see the rabbits all stretched out in the warmth. It's probably time to reduce their feed by just a bit. I can see their appetites slacking off during the warm weather. Of course, we're likely to have much more cold, rainy weather before hot weather comes in for good. So I'll have to keep an eye on things and adjust so that there's not much wasted feed (it's way too expensive these days for that!)

If your fans haven't been used yet this season, it's time to get them out, make sure they are clean and in working order. It won't be long until you need them. And you don't want to get stuck on a surprisingly hot day with not enough working fans.

Laurie

Missing Fur

2008-04-09T11:32:00.002-05:00

It seems that I've been getting a lot of questions lately about missing fur. So I thought we all could talk about it for just a moment.

Missing Fur On Ears

Some rabbits just genetically have poorly furred ears. Others go through stages when the ears are not well-furred. If your rabbit normally has well furred ears and is missing some, check for these signs of problems:

head-shaking
dander
crustiness in the ear
a neighbor that licks his lips every time that ear gets near the cage wall

Try to breed this rabbit with one that has better fur covering on the ears if the problem is pronounced.

Missing Fur Under The Chin

Fur may be missing for one of these reasons:

excessive chinning
abscess of the scent glands
moist dermitis (especially in does with excessive dewlaps)
ringworm
rough feeders

Abscesses often need to be lanced and/or treated with antibiotics (check with your vet).

For moist dermitis, I would use a water bottle placed higher than usual and place a purple wound powder, made for horses, on the affected area.

Check out your feeders for sharp or rough edges. Plastic feeders, too, can start ripping out fur once the rabbit has chewed the edge into a rough pattern.

Missing Fur Over Shoulders

Although fur missing over the shoulders could be barbering by a neighbor or the start of a molt, chances are that if you blow into the poorly furred area, you will see dander, the telltale sign of fur mites.

Authorities seem to disagree about how to treat fur mites. I use ivermectin and it works for me.

Stripe Down The Back

Occasionally I'll have a rabbit look as though I took a razor and removed a strip of fur from neck to tail. Sometimes it is down the middle. Sometimes it is to one side. As bizzare as it looks, it's just the start of a molt. I love this sort of molt because, in my experience, the molt goes very fast. It's also amusing to watch.

Missing Fur Between The Eyes

Blame the neighbors for this one. The missing fur is most likely caused by barbering. You can add a layer of hardware cloth to the cage wall to keep teeth on the correct side of the cage wall.

Missing Fur On Footpads

Missing fur on footpads is just one step away from sore hocks, in my opinion. It amazes me how many rabbits have worn fur on their feet that come across the show table. Keep an eye on those feet and treat for missing fur so that you don't have to treat for sore hocks. You can improvise a resting board from wood or other smooth surfaces. Or you can purchase pre-made resting pads that allow waste to drop through.

When you think about all of the things that can happen to fur in addtion to normal molting, it can really make one appreciate a great fur even more.

Laurie

Many Miles Before I Rest

2008-04-08T10:39:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I made a 150 mile round-trip to get rabbit feed. Actually, I made it into more than that because I missed one turn, took two wrong turns, and then hit a deer after missing the turn to my house due to heavy fog on the Blueridge Parkway.

As for the deer, I hope it makes a full recovery. It just so happened that I approached the deer from the north as another car approached from the south. I slammed on the brakes as did the other car (I wasn't going that fast due to the fog, but the visibility was maybe two car lengths). Most of the deer made it safely across, but since I had a wet, steep bank on one side and a car on the other, I had nowhere to go. I heard and felt the hit. The other car herd the hit. We both pulled over and looked for the deer (I have no idea what we would have done if we had found it injured and alive), but it was nowhere to be seen. There was no blood on my car and it made out mostly unscathed. But I feel absolutely horrible about it. All I can hope for is that the deer is just sore today and not suffering from a broken bone.

This was the second time I had had to stop for deer. The first time they all made it across with room to spare. There were five large ones that time.

The feed issue is really getting to me. I figured that I spent about $30 in gasoline (not to mention the extra stress!) Since I got 6 bags of feed, that brings the cost per bag to $22. Yikes. I can't afford that! But I obviously can't afford not to buy feed, either.

I can drive an hour in the opposite direction to get a feed that I used to use a long time ago and hated. Have they changed? Some friends seem to be doing okay on it. At least I do drive in that direction more often naturally. But I'm still in a quandry about what to do. I want the best for my rabbits.

The problem tempts to me think about getting out of rabbits, but one trip to my barn always changes my mind. I can't imagine the barn empty and having less reason to keep in touch with all of my rabbit friends. Still, I think about the benefits of getting out, and it's appealing.

I've been so crazy busy lately that Andrew feed my rabbits yesterday and the day before. On Saturday, Anna offered to feed my furry babies for me since we were getting ready for a dance and I will still in the kitchen way too late making a snack to share (homemade English toffee - the recipe will be in Laurie's Cobalt World newsletter next month).

I know that part of my problem is that I bite off such a huge chunk of life. I love everything I do, but I struggle to make it all work out. I suppose the answer is to tackle one problem at a time. And for rabbits, that problem is getting a consistent supply of fresh, quality feed.

Laurie

Judge Credentials

2008-04-04T19:33:00.002-05:00

You may have read that ARBA is working on changing the way prospective judges qualify in the future. Although nothing to my knowledge has passed, it looks like there is at least an interest in making it harder to become a judge.

Though I may take issue to some of the details, in general, I'm all for it. But I see a potential downside - breeders may feel discouraged before they even begin. And we already lack enough quality judges, in my opinion.

I don't think that we should avoid raising the bar. I just think that we as a community will need to work harder to encourage those who have the experience and potential to be judges.

That might include local clubs sponsoring the Judges Academy so that it can be held in other places besides Illinois. I know my trip there was very expensive and it would be impossible for me to make that trip again in the foreseeable future. I think it would be a great requirement, by the way. I got a lot out of it and would love to go again. But only holding it at the main office would make it prohibitive for too many people.

Encouraging may also include mentioning to an experienced breeder with an eye for evaluating rabbits that he or she should think about being a judge. When I tested to become a registrar, I had no plans whatsoever of becoming a judge. But after people kept asking me if that was my plan, I began thinking about it, and then began planning on it.

If you have an advanced herd in one or more breeds, make sure you have an open door policy for those studying to be a judge. I would love to visit a nice herd of English Spots right now because I realize that I just don't have the grasp on them that I'd like. I'd be interested in seeing any rare breed up close and personal.

I think it's a great idea to raise the bar. But doing so without adding more support and encouragement just might dry up the pool of applicants.

Laurie

Replacing Does

2008-04-03T14:34:00.002-05:00

First, I'd like to report that May started eating her pellets. I'm quite relieved and much more optimistic about her full recovery now.

You identify a promising doe, show her a bit and put her to work producing. She misses or has a dead litter and you rebreed her. If all goes well, you get some live babies. Two are peanuts, two are false dwarfs, and one just might possibly be show quality. This pattern goes on with her sometimes missing, sometimes having problematic litters (like 6 peanuts), sometimes not having good milk, and then the weather gets some litters or one dies from enteritis.

And all the while you collect up the true dwarfs, and further cull them for conformation, trying to figure out which bucks she produces the best with.

And all of a sudden, she's 2 or 2 1/2 years old.

You realize that you should replace 1/3 of your does every year. Otherwise, you'll end up with a geriatric ward of does that produce one live baby a year each. But it seems that you finally got this doe figured out and it's time for her to leave!

My normal rule is that I sell a doe at 2 1/2, regardless of how well she is producing. Some breeders have a rule that does go by age 2. I personally want to sell a doe while she still has some productive life left in her. That way, I can make some feed money from her without worrying that I'm selling my friends something useless.

And it's fun to sell something that you believe can help someone else's herd. Winning isn't the only way to have fun and satisfaction in this hobby.

I have decided to make certain exceptions. Those exceptions may be for love. There are just some rabbits that you love and can't part with. Other exceptions may be for extraordinary producers who show no signs of slowing down (but will just two months after you decide to keep her!)

I'm having to make exceptions now because there are no does coming up to replace any of my girls. I've only produced and kept three does during the last 12 months - yikes!

But I hope to get back on course in the foreseeable future. When I have new does coming in, I will be more disciplined about selling does on time.

Following that policies means that my herd will always be youthful. It means that my gene pool will be out there, being worked, and perhaps occasionally making its way back to me, improved.

That policy also lights a fire under me, breeding-wise. I know that I have just so much time to produce something from a doe, so there's no time to waste.

I should say that if I purchase a doe that is 2 1/2 or older, then I keep her for the rest of her reproductive life or until I have a replacement doe. I know when I buy her that she's not got 3 more years in her. But she does come with a breeding history, so that takes a lot of the guesswork out of things. I should be able to find out from the past owner what she tends to throw and which lines she has crossed well with.

Laurie

May's Retained Kit Story

2008-04-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

GC The Nature Trail's May, 10 legs, is my all-time favorite doe and probably my all-time favorite Holland lop. She's been a great producer as well as a great show doe. But she's had a hard time coming back from being idle last summer (during my feed and water problems). She produced one live daughter in November, had a stillborn litter a month or so ago, and was due again on March 25.

On March 26, she kindled one huge dead kit on the wire. I wondered if that was going to be it, so I palpated her. Even if you aren't good at palpation, you can feel a 32-day pregnancy. And this one was huge, I could tell.

So far, I have been lucky in that all of my does who retained kits passed them within several days. (Pardon me while I stop and knock on wood!) But I was aware that sometimes does simply die or have to be put down.

By March 31, May had stopped eating. I feared the worst. My friend Janice suggested oxytocin.

My first reaction was that it wouldn't work because she was already 5 days past kindling. Her body surely wasn't prepared to work with the oxytocin, as I had always been told was a requirement. I've seen it written on many forums that giving oxytocin late wouldn't help.

And I knew that a ruptured uterus was also a fear. But I was at a point where I felt I had nothing to lose.

I once asked my vet what would happen if I gave oxytocin to a doe and she wasn't really pregnant. He said, "Nothing much." She's have some contractions, but that would be it. That wasn't as dire as I thought it would be.

So I decided to go with Janice's suggestion seven days after her due date and six days after kindling the dead kit.

I gave her a dose of 0.25 ml by subcutaneous injection. After what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened, so I assumed that the theory that the body had to cooperate and she was past that point was right. So I started feeding and attending to my other chores.

Then I heard a grunt. I went over to May's cage and she was definitely having contractions. Now I worried about the ruptured uterus. Was I watching May die? She wasn't typically a grunter during kindling, but was grunting with every contraction now.

This part seemed to last forever, though looking back it may have just been a minute or two.

Finally, I saw the kit emerge. It was over 5 inches long!

I don't know whether I was more relieved or May was.

I don't think she's out of the woods yet. I need to see her regain her appetite and some weight before I breathe easily. But she's past a major hurdle.

I still don't think that using oxytocin willy nilly is a good idea. I will still give does a chance to pass retained kits on their own. But I think that giving it a try is a better option than watching a doe die or putting her down due to a retained kit.

You may be wondering how to get oxytocin. I think the answer for most people is to have a relationship with your veterinarian. He or she may require that you have brought in rabbits for treatment and that you've demonstrated enough knowledge and judgment about your rabbits that the vet is confident in your abilities and your expectations.

I think you will have more luck with veterinarians that treat farm animals or raise a herd of something themselves. They are more used to the concept of herd management and breeders who do a lot of treatment themselves.

You will probably have less luck with your dog's veterinarian who just treats pets. They tend to expect to provide all of your animals' needs personally.

Laurie

Last Post

2008-04-01T11:55:00.004-05:00

This is my last post for The Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG. As you know, I've been writing this BLOG for quite a while now and have written over 600 entries.

At this point in my life, I feel that I need to spend more time developing my business, Laurie's Cobalt World. I enjoy my cobalt blue glass business a lot, but it takes a lot of my time and energy.

Also, I hope that you are all now reading my Laurie's Cobalt World Blog. Yes, there are no rabbits involved, but knowing that rabbit people are generally well-rounded individuals who have a life outside of rabbits, I'm sure that many of you will enjoy that BLOG as well.

Yesterday, I sent out my very first Laurie's Cobalt World Newsletter. Please check it out! If you like it, sign up for the monthly newsletter. No, it's not just one big ad for cobalt glass!

Of course, I'll still be here to answer questions (to the best of my ability). And I will add the occasional article to my website from time to time. So this is not a total good-bye.

And I want to remind you once again that there are 610 other posts to read and re-read. I'll be updating the index of favorite blog posts on my website to include those from 2008 pretty soon. You can use that as a resource or just browse.

I want to leave you with a link to my all-time favorite post. I hope that you will read it. It is very important to me.

Favorite Post

Laurie

Feed Frustrations

2008-03-31T17:42:00.003-05:00

It seemed that when I first got into rabbits, I had several choices for feed and it was mostly a matter of making up my mind which one I wanted to use.

I realize now that some of those choices weren't good choices anyway. Choice was an illusion. I had to work my way through them to find out why I didn't want to use them. One was incomplete nutrition. Another was always old or completely MIA, so I could never get a fresh supply of it. On another, my does just couldn't seem to have babies (at a time when others were having no problems). Then there was my feed disaster of last summer. After that, I was on another pet-level feed until I could get a professional formula. Then finally I was able to get a feed that I liked. Until today.

There's a bit of a complicated relay that has to happen for me to get my feed. But I was told that after the initial six weeks or so to get things started, I should be able to get the feed reliably each month. So I ordered, waited, got started, re-ordered, got my next batch, and re-ordered.

I waited 6 weeks, called to see if the feed was in. I was told it was, so I headed off up the mountain to pick it up.

The trip is about 1 1/2 hours round trip. When I got there, I was told that they had assumed another unusual pile of rabbit feed was mine and that, no, mine wasn't there after all.

Now I'm getting no answers of when there will be feed again. If it doesn't magically come in next Monday, I'll be scrambling. Again. They won't even have the professional forumla that I was using before because it, too, was a special order.

Last time I had to scramble, I was bailed out by friends. I don't know if they'll be able to do that again or not.

If you live in an area where you are able to get a fresh, quality feed on a consistent basis, thank your lucky stars. If you struggle to get a consistent supply of feed that is worthwhile and fresh, join the club.

It's such a frustration.

Laurie

A Shameless Self-Promotion

2008-03-21T09:44:00.007-05:00

I'm startng a monthly newsletter for my Laurie's Cobalt World business. I sell cobalt glassware for the home and I'm really excited about it.

The newsletter is free, easy to sign up for, and easy to unsubscribe from. Each issue will contain a feature article, tips, at least one recipe, a product spotlight, and at least one special offer only available to newsletter subscribers.

If you are interested in cooking, baking, beverages, home decor, entertaining, family meals, and anything else even loosely related to cobalt glass, please consider signing up.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Thanks for giving me a chance. I'll be working hard to keep the newsletter interesting and useful.

Laurie

Happy Easter

2008-03-21T09:38:00.002-05:00

To everyone celebrating Easter this weekend, I wish you all that you hope for and more.

I am taking a BLOG break today and next week. I'll be back at my desk the following Monday.

In the meantime, take the opportunity to look back over the 600 posts in this BLOG. A good way to find what you are looking for is to check out the index on my website. I've listed links to my favorite posts there.

Or, you can go to a search engine and put in Nature Trail Rabbitry BLOG and then add a word that relates to what you are looking for.

See you soon!

Laurie

The Whole Thing's Rigged

2008-03-20T13:24:00.002-05:00

I got a complimentary email from a rabbit breeder on my Precious Pet Rabbits website this past week. When people take their time to write to me, I try to take a little of my time to write a personal note back. When I did, I found that he refused to show his rabbits, especially at ARBA shows, because "the whole thing is rigged anyway."

He told me to ask around and find out what a "57" is. I still have no idea about that, but I can tell from his tone that we've managed to turn some people totally off showing rabbits.

I would have to agree with him that I have sometimes had judges that I felt were less than professional at the table. One judge I once had was pretty hostile, it seemed to me. But by and large, I've met judges who try to do their best, hone their skills constantly, and make an effort not to know whose rabbit is whose.

We could always use more good judges, of course, but we are lucky to have some really good judges.

I love to see judges turn their backs as rabbits come to the table. I appreciate it when a judge shows the first place ear number to the writer instead of reading it. That way, the ear number is still confidential as he picks the specials.

But what if you lived in an area where there were a few judges who knew everyone, thought they knew everything, and abused their authority? Add to that clubs that don't bring in judges from outside very often. I can see how that would turn exhibitors off, especially if they didn't end up on certain judges' favorites lists.

I've heard the argument that our local judges are someone else's exotic judges and that we should be pleased to have the same ones over and over - they are just as good as the ones from elsewhere.

I would argue that I would rather have the same quality judge from outside our area than the same ones over and over again. I might even go for one with slightly less skill, in fact. (Poorly skilled judges should not be hired at all, in my opinion.)

Judges are human. They may try to wipe their mind's clean and judge each table afresh. But our minds try to categorize information for us. It's human nature. It's hard to forget that the best broken senior buck you've ever seen is from this area.

And no judge is perfect. One judge does a killer job evaluating hindquarter, but poses every rabbit like a commercial rabbit. Another judge knows wool inside and out, but doesn't evaluate according to the points allocated in the standard too well. Another judge lines up the rabbits well, but doesn't give thorough comments. The list of ways judges vary can go on and on and on.

I don't happen to believe that the "whole thing is rigged." If I did, I guess I, too, would stop showing rabbits. I have to believe that the vast majority of the time, my rabbits are given their due consideration based on their merits.

But I also have to believe that we are all better served by constantly having a variety of judges evaluate our rabbits and give us opinions. We get a better, more well-rounded set of comments from 12 different judges than we do from 4 judges, given three times each. We get a fresher opinion from a judge who doesn't see the same set of rabbits over and over again.

Is the whole thing ever rigged? I can't speak for all shows in all places at all times. But I think it is rare, if it happens.

Are show results sometimes predictable? Yes. I've seen several breeders get together and predict accurately that when Judge A has rabbit B on the table, it will win, even when it doesn't win under other judges the same percentage of the time.

Does predictable mean that something is going on that shouldn't? I don't think so. It could simply mean that a certain rabbit or rabbits happen to fit a judge's internal picture of what the breed should be.

Let's all work to keep our rabbit shows fresh, objective, and politics-free. One way to do that is to work hard to keep variety in the judge lineups. Suggest judges, ask for recommendations from breeders in other areas, and support shows that work hard to bring in a variety of judges.

Laurie

Promote Your Breed - Promote Our Hobby

2008-03-19T09:56:00.003-05:00

I asked the good people on the rabbit survey Yahoo! group to help me develop a list of the top ten things we can do to promote our breeds and promote showing rabbits. As usual, they came through in style.

Before we get to the list, I want to encourage all ARBA members to consider joining the rabbit survey Yahoo! group. I constantly learn things from those who post there. We have great conversations. Although we're not going to change everything overnight, we are taking steps to let those in authority know how we feel about issues. It's a very positive place to be!

Here are some of my favorite suggestions:

My daughter Harley and I spend a Saturday at our local farm supply store and assist with Easter bunny sales in the spring. Harley helps sex bunnies for people and she shows them what is needed to care for them and how to trim nails. She tells parents about 4-H and ARBA, and explains the difference between her Hollands and Champagnes.

Sydney at Butler Bootcamp Rabbitry

* * * * * * * * * *
Help new breeders get a great start in rabbits as they're more likely to stay in rabbits, and possiblly get friends involved, if they're not starting with junk.
Be willing to answer the questions of new or prospective breeders.
Be willing to cheer on your fellow exhibitors when they get that big win.

Fallon Duncan at 4-D's Rabbitry

* * * * * * * * * *
Create a website for your rabbitry and schowcase your breed(s) Provide information about your breed(s), their housing requirements, personalities, care tips, etc. on your website. Photos of your breed(s) and your setup can inspire and encourage others to get involved. Encourage anyone to e-mail you about the breed(s). It's amazing how having a website can promote your hobby!
For rarer breeds, bring them to your local shows even if they aren't sanctioned. Place them on a grooming table and work on posing them; people tend to come over and watch. I was really surprised how many people came up to ask about my Belgian hare at the last show!

Whitney at Suburban Bunnies

* * * * * * * * * *
Start a Specialty Club.
Join local all-breed clubs and be an active member. Accept a position with the club.
Recommend good judges for your breed for all-breed shows.
Encourage your specialty club to work with all-breed clubs to share the expenses of bringing in judges skilled in your breed.
Sell good stock to youth breeders. Discount it or give it to them, if you can.
When you sell a bunny include ARBA, HLRSC member applications and discuss upcoming shows with the buyer, whether it's a youth or adult.
Put a bunny sticker or decal or tag on your vehicle; it's amazing how many people approach you at the supermarket, mall, gas station, etc.
Wear your ARBA Convention sweatshirt or your National Club t-shirt when running errands. Lots of people just ask out of the blue about raising and showing rabbits. Many people had a rabbit as a child, retired folks love to come back to the hobby, etc. Seeing your shirt will "prod" them to talk rabbits with you.
Try to present yourself as happy and enthusiastic about your rabbits and showing. People will want to try it if it looks like fun.

JoAnn RedGate Rabbit Ranch, OK

Wow! I couldn't have put together a better list. Thank you so much Sydney, Fallon, Whitney, and JoAnn for your great ideas.

Laurie

I Heard That . . .

2008-03-18T09:11:00.002-05:00

I once heard from a breeder that a certain Holland lop doe had been spayed and was still being shown. The person who told me seemed to really believe this was true and was not happy about it. But then later, I heard from another person that the doe had just had a hernia operation and was not spayed. In fact, she said she'd seen the doe with her litter.

I've overheard a person saying, "That doe should never have won over this buck. There's just no way she's better than he is." It sounded like sour grapes to me. But then later I found out that that breeder owned both of the rabbits and was comparing her own bunnies.

In my lifetime, I've heard many, many things that sounded credible at the time, but turned out to be inaccurate nonetheless.

I'm not going to tell you to refrain from gossiping and to stop passing on stories you hear. That's human nature. We pass news from person to person. That's been going on as long as there have been people.

But when it comes time to decide how you will behave, react, think about a person, or do anything based on what you have heard, that's the time to sit back and reflect first. What if what you have heard is wrong? Will you be doing or saying something that you would regret if, when the facts do come to light, you find that the reports you heard were wrong?

Dealing with all of the "news" that comes our way will be something that we struggle with all of our lives. Here are a few things to consider:

How credible was the source - was it a first-hand account or something that had been repeated many times?
Does the source have an agenda or a stake in the story?
Does the story add up or are there missing pieces or questions unanswered?
If the news impacts you in some way, is there a way to confirm the information?
Do you want to pass on this story to someone else and later find that it was a false story?

We've all been sent emails with disturbing "information." I generally check those out on Snopes. Most of the time, they are false. Often, I'll get an email a short while later saying to disregard the information - it was a hoax.

Likewise, when we hear something, we should attempt to check it out before we pass it on. If we pass on something that turns out to be false, we need to go back to those we told and correct it.

I'm as guilty as the next person of believing a story because the person telling me the story obviously believes it. It's not a matter of being told a lie. The person believes they are telling the truth and we accept it as such.

But it would pay for all of us to be a little more critical of the stories we hear and to reserve judgment until the facts can be confirmed.

Laurie

Some of you may recall a BLOG I wrote that featured a spayed doe that was still being shown. It was not a Holland doe and not the one mentioned in this post. In that case, the owner of the spayed doe told me the story herself. So I regard the information as very credible. I am not using this post to correct the information in that one.

NCRBA Convention, Mocksville, NC, March 15-16, 2008

2008-03-17T06:03:00.002-05:00

What a weekend! I came home last evening and lay down for a nap at 5:30. I didn't wake up until this morning. Boy, was I exhausted.

My weekend started out by working too late on Friday night. I knew there was a big weekend ahead and I simply didn't show the discipline I needed to get myself to bed on time. Preparing for the show was a snap. Anna took two rabbits to show and I took two rabbits to show. I spent the rest of my evening working on Laurie's Cobalt World, my new business.

Up at 4:30 a.m. and out the door by 5:30, we arried in time to unpack and get settled in before check-in started. I had volunteered to help out, so I spent the first couple of hours in the morning writing receipts and making change.

After that, I introduced myself to Glen Carr, whom I would be working with that day. He remembered my face from the Judge's Academy held almost two years ago.

And what a great opportunity it was to work with him. Glen joked that he'd teach me everything he knew about judging in five minutes. Oh, if only that could be true!

I learned quite a bit, both about rabbits, and about how to mentally keep track of what you are doing. It takes a lot of concentration to be efficient and effective. I know that I personally will take much more care about interrupting judges in the future. It's amazing to me, after being on that side of the table, to see judges make it all look so easy.

I have to confess "Laurie's Big Blunder" to you. I think it was my worst mistake of the weekend, but then again, it could have been when I dropped the same Flemish Giant on the floor - twice.

Anyway, we were working with Satins when a color came up that I had no idea about. Satins are shown in black, blue, broken, Californian, chinchilla, chocolate, copper, otter, red, Siamese, and white.

The rabbit looked like a smutty sable point to me, but there was no sable point on the list. I remembered the tricky sable chinchilla mini lop from last month, so when Glen asked me what I thought it was, I weakly said chinchilla? Of course, I hadn't blown in the fur or checked for agouti markings, so I should have just said it looks like a sable point to me.

It didn't look anything like a Siamese sable Holland lop. Nor did it look like a Siamese smoke pearl Netherland dwarf, but it is a Siamese in satin. Another judge was standing nearby and said that in other breeds it would be called a sable point. That only made me feel a tiny bit better.

I think Glen was still laughing to himself at my outrageous answer at the end of the day!

Chalk up another color that I won't soon forget.

Not surprisingly, when I asked Glen at the end of the day what I most needed to work on - he said colors!

It's very funny that I can more easily figure out the five color genes for a rabbit than I can figure out all of the different names for those colors across the breeds.

Janice and Bill Jones kindly put my bunnies on the table for me. I'm very pleased that Lord was BOS to Pandora Allen's BOB. In the second show, he was also BOS under Stacy Easton. Crazy Horse was BOSG. (Their placements on Sunday were not worth mentioning!)

Congratulations to Steve and Joan Polleys who won their first BOB with a homegrown bunny - Benz. They were so sweet to name her Benz in honor of her grandmother Mercedes, just after Mercedes died. Benz' grandfather is Java, who won all four BOBs at last year's NCRBA Convention.

Benz also won a BOS on Sunday while the Polley's continued their streak with a BOB with an unrelated solid junior buck. They were excited to start winning with two different projects within their barn. I have to admit that I lost track of the other winners, not being a the table, but I do believe that Gary & Susan Smith won a BOB, too.

After the show, it was time for the NCRBA board meeting and general membership meeting. That lasted until 10 minutes after the banquet was supposed to start.

The banquet was followed by an auction of baskets donated to support the youth scholarship program. Awards are also given out during the evening. Congratulations to the royalty winners. And thanks to Lisa Young for all of her hard work.

Charles Bryant won the first annual Sandhills Rabbit Fanciers master breeder award. I was asked to take pictures of the winners, so I knew I wasn't in for an award this year. I had won sweeps last year so I decided that I shouldn't be greedy!

In open for the NCRBA 2007 sweepstakes, Pandora & John Allen were third, Charlene Everette was second, and lo and behold, I did win sweeps for the second year in a row. I was surprised. Notice that three Virginia ladies took the top honors!

Of course, I won't be winning any sweeps contests for next year. It's simply impossible to do showing 2 to 4 rabbits per show, no matter how well they do.

After the show, we convoyed to Brenda Smith's house for a gab session that lasted a couple of hours too long. But it was so enjoyable, it was hard to settle down and get any rest. Before I knew it, Brenda was standing over me saying it was time to go. We had to be there early for check in again.

We had a few scheduling problems with get worked out, so I was a little late getting to the show table and a bit flustered, too, as I arrived. But Allan Ormond set me to work right away.

I really appreciated his pushing me hard. It was a grand opportunity and I didn't want to miss a minute of it.

I gave comments, too timidly at first, but with more confidence as I went along. That's such great practice. Of course, he made sure that he added or corrected any comments that the exhibitors needed to hear.

I am still struggling with evaluating wool. Hopefully, that will get better with time.

As the day wore on, I wore out, but I tried to stay as alert as possible. I'm sure you are dying to hear about the Flemish I dropped - twice. He was a bad boy who kept backing up - at an angle. Once 1/3 of a Flemish goes over the edge, there's no going back. And I'm not going to start grabbing pieces - a sure way to break a leg. So down we both went to the floor - almost in slow motion. And then back to the table we went. Again, he started rapidly backing up on me and down we went again. I actually have a lot of comfort dealing with the Flemish - more than that little dance shows. But when they have a mind to do something, they have a lot of muscle to do it with!

The competition was tight among the Flemish, so Allan spent more than the usual amount of time running them. I got a chance to really stand back and see the bodies in motion. It really is a thing of beauty to see the powerful bodies flowing up and down as they lumbered across the table. It really made an impression on me.

I learned that I no firm mental picture of an English Spot. Allan challanged me to give comments, but I just couldn't get my mind around anything except a marking DQ, pattern congestion, spine markings, and evenness of markings from side to side. I will be seeking out some opportunity to see and evaluate more of these animals. Charlene Everette had commented something like, "now things are going to get hard for you," and she was absolutely right.

I will thrilled to get the opportunity to give comments on a himalayan. I have a lot to learn there, but at least I got a start.

After Allan was finished and had to leave to catch his plane, I took the opportunity to work with Stacy Easton on Harlequins.

I could have left then, having won no BOBs and no need to wait around for Best In Show. But my daughter Anna had won BOB with her Phunny Pharm buck Whiz Bang, so we stayed until near the bitter end.

That brings us all of the way back around to my 5:30 "nap." What a weekend! It simply could not have held anything more.

Laurie

Plan Your Rabbit Garden

2008-03-13T11:48:00.002-05:00

We're still about 7 weeks away from planting time, when it comes to tender annuals. But hardy perennials can be planted any time the ground is not frozen. Some of us are able to do that kind of planting now or soon.

Whether you are planting now or still perusing seed catalogs, take a second to think about your furry babies. They might really enjoy a few things from the garden, too.

Raspberries - the leaves are astringent and can tempt a rabbit who is off feed to start eating again. You get to keep the berries for yourself.
Parsley - this is a cool weather plant. It's a biennial, but all you get is seed formation the second year, so we grow it as an annual. Using fresh parsley in your kitchen is a welcome departure from always using dry. There's a bit of a tang that fresh parsley has that dried never replicates. And rabbits love it.
Oregano, basil, lemon balm, and other herbs. Plant the chives for yourself, but most other herbs are enjoyed by rabbits. Basil needs to be pinched down frequently to keep it from going to seed. If you aren't using the pinchings in your own food that day, your rabbits would be glad to help you out. Mint family herbs can get away from you if you don't keep after them. Again, rabbits are pleased to eat anything you have to pull up.
Carrots. This is a great deal if you live in an area that is conducive to carrot growing. We have clay soil, so it takes a lot of work to get a carrot to grow for us. But we get to keep the carrots and the rabbits will gladly take the tops.
Kale and other deep, dark greens. We should all know by now to stay away from head lettuces. Basically, the lighter in color and the less fiber in a green, the more problematic it is. The darker in color and higher in fiber, the better. Try not to overdo greens, however. Some contain components such as oxalates that can cause problems with rabbits if you overdo it.
Cauliflower, beans, cabbage, potatoes, and rhubarb should all be kept to the human population, as should anything that grows from a bulb.
I have used raw sweet potatoes to put weight on rabbits and it works very well. I've never had a problem feeding it, but I've read that they can block some nutrients. So if I feed sweet potatoes, I use a two weeks on, two weeks off schedule.

Yes, the rabbits can help you when you have 18 bushels of tomatoes to get rid of. I'm not sure about the zucchini, though.

Laurie

Nest Box Warmers

2008-03-11T16:34:00.002-05:00

We're heading into the best breeding season of the year. But with cold nights still prevalent for the next couple of months, getting babies here is only half of the story. Keeping them warm enough to survive is the other half.

I love and hate my nest box warmers. I hate them because I have failed to use them at the correct times too often and want to kick myself for not saving babies when I could have. Owning them makes me feel guilty when I screw up!

I love them because I can save a singleton even in very cold weather. Francesca had one kit yesterday. I decided to palpate her and found that she just had one. So I induced labor and scooped the baby off the wire. The warmer was already warmed up from use under a different nest box that no longer needed it, so I was able to switch it over and make a warm spot for the baby quite quickly. Francesca had pulled some fur and I borrowed some from Hope who no longer needed her nest (yes, that's the one I'm still kicking myself about - she had 7 perfectly formed popsicles).

Today I checked on the baby. It was all snug and seemed to have been fed. I'll know in a day or two whether the effort was worth it.

Besides saving singletons, you can also encourage a reluctant nurser to spend more time inside the nest box. I've seen it make a big difference in milk production.

If you have never seen a nest box warmer, you might appreciate a little description. It looks like two sheets of metal, welded together. It's the perfect size to fit under my nest boxes. The cord has a metal spiral over it to discourage cord-chewing.

The warmer never gets hot. In fact, unless it's covered by a nest box, it's difficult to tell if it is even on.

I think that it poses much less risk than a light bulb, which can be a fire hazard in a hay-filled barn, or a heating pad, which can overheat babies and isn't made for the barn environment.

My nest box warmers (I have two), cost about $25 each, plus shipping. Try www.bassequipment.com or other rabbit supply companies on the Internet.

It would be great to be able to afford enough nest box warmers for every doe that kindles, but that just isn't possible. I try to save them for singletons and pairs, older does that don't have time to waste losing litters, very valuable does, and for any doe who is likely to kindle on an especially cold night. Sometimes, I just have to choose the most important two.

You might also use it with a doe who is determined to make a nest on the wire. Entice her into the warm nest box.

So, okay, I don't really ever hate the nest box warmers. They are, in fact, some of my favorite things.

Laurie

Mothers Who Eat Their Young

2008-03-10T10:08:00.002-05:00

My teenagers have sometimes driven me to the brink of exasperation. At those times, I have to wonder whether the mothers who eat their young have the right idea. Nah. I guess it's really never a good idea.

In all seriousness, occasionally we do get a doe that eats her young. It's confusing, gross, and disturbing.

You may be tempted to think that a doe that eats her young only eats dead ones. She's just confusing the normal clean-up of the nest box or trying to protect her nest from predators.

Sorry, but I've found them half-eaten and still alive. That made me discard my easier-to-live-with explanation that they were probably born dead.

Why do does do this? I think someone told them about teenagers.

But in reality, they may do it because they are misinterpreting their hormonal and instinctual signals. They may be frightened or disturbed and think that they must get rid of anything that might attract predators.

I cannot be convinced it is because they like doing it.

If you have a doe that eats her young, the first question to ask yourself is whether she's really worth the hassle of trying to get kits from. If she's not, cull her (do not sell her as a breeder without disclosing her past behaviors).

If she is really, really worth it, you might consider using oxytocin to induce labor so that you can be there to whisk away the babies to a waiting foster mother. Those situations are often difficult to work out unless you have some luck or a very large barn. But you can breed several does a day or two before Miss Cannibal so that they are ready to nurse when she delivers.

Or, you can just continue to breed her and hope that she grows out of it.

I just had a doe who had 7 babies in her nest box that were covered with fur. They were all dead - we had a really cold night. But I was thrilled because she hadn't eaten so much as an ear. I can't say the same for her first two litters. Perhaps she just needed to fine tune what those instincts were telling her. Perhaps she's just calmer now that she's been through it before. Maybe 7 kept her too busy to start eating them before the nest was full of babies. I don't know. I just hope it bodes well for the future and I expect that it does.

I got a phone call the othe rday about a litter where half had been eaten. I allow kits that have been severely damaged to die rather than try to save them. That's too much suffering, in my estimation.

But a mother like that has earned 100% supervision. I suggested that the remaining kits, who could not be fostered since there was no other doe available, be raised on the shelf. Nursing would then be done while the breeder watches.

I would not let one instance of cannibalism deter me from breeding a nice doe. I would think very hard about breeding a doe again who eats her young twice. And if I get cannibalism in a second generation, that would be the end of that.

Cannibalism is rare. I've had only a few instances of it in my barn. Only one doe has repeated it. But with a third place at Convention and being one of the nicest does I've produced, she was worth seeing if she would grow out of it. She did. Thank goodness.

Laurie

Winter Flowers

2008-03-07T11:09:00.002-05:00

Last evening, Andrew and I danced with a group for an assisted-living facility near us. We really enjoy getting together with the dancers from our very first class and sharing our hobby with those who appreciate it. It's a lot of fun.

We were late. I couldn't help but notice on our way there, despite my distracted state, the beautiful winter flowers that are beginning to bloom: bright-faced pansies, jonquils and daffodils in a row, crocus, snowdrops, and forsythia. Okay, I didn't see any snowdrops, but I imagined there must be some.

I thought about our path from home to the assisted-living facility. It's our major pathway to town. During the summer, the road is covered with flowers. I have to say it's a beautiful drive to town in any season.

Honestly, though, during the summer, I can't say that I fawn over each and every flower like I do in the late winter.

In March, it has been months since we've seen live flowers besides potted pointsettias. It's a delight to see the flowers popping up and to know that they mean more are right around the corner. Soon spring will be here.

Yes, even when I'm dressed to dance and enjoying flowers, I'm still thinking about rabbits. And those flowers remind me of the very first successes we have in rabbits. Those successes can be buying our first rabbit, producing our first live litter, placing our first rabbit, earning our first leg, and on and on.

Just like those first flowers are so much more special than even more flowers later on, those "firsts" are thrilling, important, and worth celebrating.

The seasons don't arrive on the same days for everyone. I'm sure that many miles south of us, the flowers have been out for a while (or never went away). Many miles north of us, they are still waiting for their first flowers to come out.

If you are experiencing your first flowers, first wins, first babies, or any other first, take the time to celebrate it. Don't worry that other people with more wins, more babies, more rabbits, or more flowers will think you are silly. If they do, they've just forgotten what it is like.

For those of us who have lots of "firsts" under our belts, we can still enjoy the excitement of firsts by sharing in the joy of others. Please never, ever belittle an accomplishment. Try to remember how it felt the first time you reached into a nest box and felt warm, live babies. Or remember the first time your rabbit was on the Best In Show table and you heard your breed called out.

It would be a shame to save all of your celebration and excitement only for winning Best In Show at Convention. I believe there are a few people who do come away from Convention with a Best of Breed and are still not happy because they didn't get the Best In Show.

It is also a shame to have your parade rained on by comments like "you didn't produce that rabbit," "it's just a junior leg," "when you can do that against some real competition, it will mean something," "that judge doesn't know our breed very well or he wouldn't have picked your rabbit, " and so forth.

How much nice it would be just to respond, "Congratulations! You must be thrilled."

Laurie