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RABBIT HABITS.

I started off with three females and two males four years ago, and it has grown from there.

I have today 18 mating couples, ranging in age I only put two does in at any one time, and I only let them have a maximum of 3 litters each, and only one per year, any more and it would be in my opinion bad rabbit husbandry once they have had three litters, I then transfer the doe into a large outside run with the rest of my adult does . I never house bucks together, as they will fight, so they are all housed separately in hutches on the eves of my garage. The exception to that is the three bucks that are castrated these three are currently in with does.

I have two does currently nursing babies, Antheia who has had three, is on her second litter, she is a wonderful mother, very calm around them and teaches them quickly. Then there is Irwin, whom I named after Steve Irwin she has had eight babies, and again is a really good mother.

Breeding rabbits is now a really big passion of mine, I love watching the little ones grow from tiny, bald like jelly babies, to seeing their fur come in, and discovering what colours they are, and to watching their personalities come out, and in my opinion all baby rabbits have their own unique mannerisms , some are bold trying concentrated food, veggie peelings and a water bottle. Others appear shy and hold back, watching their siblings closely before deciding whether or not to try it all out themselves.
We tend not to interfere with our does once they have kitted, mums are not always happy for humans to interfere with the bringing up of their children, for the first eighteen days of their lives we let mum and babies bond, if we have to interfere, then we make sure we stroke mum first, to get her scent on our hands, then handling the babies is easier, as when they are put back with mum they do not smell strange, I have known mothers eat their babies, if they do not smell correct.

I watched with delight the other day, as Irwin was trying to encourage her little ones to try food and water, nudging them towards the dishes,

Cleanliness is also extremely important to rabbit husbandry and I try and clean out our rabbit hutches and runs at least once a week although with 3 runs and 29 hutches it is not always easy, but we manage it somehow all these tasks from cleaning to cuddles, caring and dedication, goes along way to having healthy, happy rabbits and in the case of babies, happy and healthy enough to be sold to the public, and placed into new homes.

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