Monday, December 15, 2008
I Should Have Known Better
Tragedy today. I went out the barn to check on the animals and all the baby bunnies expired overnight. I'll spare you the details, but it seemed to be a combination of cold and foul play. The bunny cages are hanging from the ceiling, and I had the horrid realization this morning that since we moved the worm bin under their cages, it has provided much easier access to marauding critters such as skunks and raccoons. It was also 70-some degrees yesterday, but then took a dive to near freezing temperatures overnight. Poor babies. Poor Mama, too. She was always pretty grouchy, but now she's outright hostile, and so confused. We really feel awful. I'm afraid we're never going to get this right. I'm still willing to try again with the rabbits, but I honestly don't know how many more times.
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I remember going through this exact thing for years as a child. We raised about 50 of those critters. For an animal that overpopulates so easy, raising them in captivity can be very frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAt least the momma didn't eat them. I have also seen that happen.
I don't know if you have one or not, but a small wooden box the mother can nest in that has a single opening is very handy. It will foul up though, so consider it disposable.
I seem to remember a particular problem with dogs and other critters standing under the hutch and pulling them through the wire floor a piece at a time.
Nature in all it's true glory is not pretty.
One of our earlier litters was eaten by the mother, but I don't think that was the case this time. Their feet were clearly being picked at from underneath. We do have a wooden nest box that we put in the cage, and that's where they were, but it has a wire floor (to keep it cleaner). I think we'll switch to a solid floor for the nest box. Also, all the mother's pulled out fur that they had been buried under for warmth was gone.
ReplyDeleteI spoke with a woman recently who has had similar problems raising rabbits, and your comment helps as well. It's good to know it's not just us.
So sorry to hear about the buns. I hope you have better luck next time.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear that. they were so beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Poor little bunnies!
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