Dinner rabbits, Journal

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Got new weights today, but scale isn't accurate. May need a perfectly flat & level place for it to sit.
They don't make hanging scales that are meant for under 20#, so gotta make this thing work.

 

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Nov 11th-
And weight dates are off.
Had zero time yesterday.
Then it's storming today, so wet, cold then hot n muggy, dark all day even with lights.

So, weights will be tomorrow, for 7 of the 8 litters!

Gotta also wean Grumpy's kits, as they're 7wks & 2 days old.

Busy day tomorrow. I don't expect any of the butcher kits to be a bit over 5# this week, but the two keepers should be at least 5# tomorrow. I want them a bit over because feed & water in the digestive tract takes up a bit of weight.


Nov 12th-
Got weights, but when I started on the heaviest litter, I noticed scale was way off. 3# when it should of been mid to high 4s!
Ugh. Now idk if everyone's weight is accurate or if I have to redo it.

I've bought several different hanging digital scales, they all fail in 6-12mo! Kept in the house, clean, fresh batteries, but still die. Idk if it's worth it to try the $50+ ones or not. I hate these table scales.

Redid weights on two litters. But first, I built a shelf, the most level thing in the barn.
I need a shorter stand for the clear bowl.




Previous week's weigh-ins vs newest of today. They make more sense now.


Not going to redo the other litter weights. Will just wait for next week.

SF of 10-



Mutty's kits-



Grumpy's kits-

 

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Oldest kits-

Nov 15th-

"Rex bucks."

Things started to sound scammy, so this is a no-go.


Still waiting on SF breeder.
And waiting on a few different Rex breeders, through FB as well, for what they may have available in several weeks.


In other news. May have a home for the choc mini rex doe, finally! Sure hope they show up & take her!



Nov 16th-
Swapped cages, Grumpy with the smaller black SF half sister. She's due Saturday.

Need a nice day to cut up and join cages for more 2×4ft pens so i can stop swapping cages.



Nov 18th-
Swapped smaller SF's nest for a metal walled one, as she was ripping the cardboard off.

Saw 24" pans at TSC and decided to see if they'll fit. They did! Just need 18 more of them....Last two stackers are about an inch too narrow to fit them, so I'll have to find the weird white trays the company uses or something else. Just missing one of those. They're Pointer Hill cages.

Also, decided to get bread pans for water vs the bowls. We'll see which work best.



Amber's kits, always keeping themselves in a cloud!

 

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Nov 19th-
I wonder if the freezing temps & being "out of water" has affected some.
Sexed most of them, too.
Two of the broken black does are pretty similar in size, looks like I'll be posing them again and deciding if I still like the slightly darker one.
One buck is ready for freezer! He's black, the one that has a terrible shape and always does bizarre things when trying to pose him.


Gotta remember to weigh her kits first. She bit me because I smelled like others.





Nov 20th-
Keep filling smaller SF's cage with hay. She made a little hole in the hay in the nest, but not seeing any real pregnancy behaviors. Added fur to the hole and waiting again. Hoping they don't freeze...20s each night last week & this week.




Nov 21st-
I don't think she's pregnant.
Grumpy is due Friday. Will swap them back if the other doesn't kindle soon.

Sold the mini choc doe, finally!

Looks like I'll have to butcher Wednesday. But warm, so I'll have to get some cages joined that day, too.



Nov 22nd-
Grumpy's kits that I'm listing.
I'll keep watching how the other three grow and pick the best doe.




Still nothing from the smaller SF doe. Going to list her. Trying to stay much more serious about culling & only keeping the best.

The pedigreed buck seems to have a partial s.p. Another con on his list. Will definitely replace him once I find a new one.

 

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Nov 23rd-
SF had kits all over the place, ate them, no fur, no nest, frozen as stone, so didn't try to revive the least eaten one. Have someone interested in her, so going to go through with it if they still want her.

Sold 7 kits!
Only have 2 left of the older litter to butcher today. Blue buck and broken black doe. She's the other I was debating on which is best. She seems to have a slightly worse topline, so she's going.
All four of the 2nd litter sold. The 3 does I kept, I'll watch their growth & shape.

I think I'm going to turn one of those 5ft cages into a holding cage for sale buns...because there wasn't much room today.



2nd litter, 3 does to watch. Black might win.





Amber's kits-
Cleaned out their nest after pics. Same with the big litter of SF.



The 2 others from the 1st litter are now in the freezer.

 

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Nov 26th-
Quick recap before I get confused & lost.

11's kits are 12wks, 2 days. A buck & doe were kept, buck n doe sent to freezer, rest sold.

Grumpy's kits are 9wks, 3 days. Three does were kept to watch, rest sold.

14's kits are 7wks, 4 days. A buck & doe, kept back to compare to next litter. Weaning today.

Lynx's kits are 7wks, 2 days. Weaning today. 5 does, 1 buck.

Mutty's kits 5wks, 2 days.

Larger SF/64's kits 4wks, 3 days. Started leaving nest a week ago.

Amber's kits 3wks, 2 days. Started leaving nest yesterday.


Grumpy due Nov 25th, yesterday.
11 due Nov 29th.
Lynx due Dec 5th.
14 due Dec 5th.

Going to list Mutty as available in 2wks.
Will breed 64 today.
Will breed Amber in a week.



Mutty's


Pedigreed sf


Amber's


Rex/nz buck


Pedigreed SF buck


I can't find my needle nose pliers. Need them to pry the clamps off the cages to join them.

 

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Nov 26th-
Everyone got hay today.


The only chocolate sf, a doe.



The Rex are so small.

 

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Nov 26th-

10 kits! Hardly fit!


Two of Lynx's kits.

 

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Nov 26th-
Amber's kits-

 

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Nov 26th-
And weights on everyone except the first litter kits, need a bigger scale for them!
Mutty's kits shot up in size.
64's kits aren't paired up, just random, as I haven't marked them to tell them apart. But I did get genders on them.