How often do y’all hold and “pet” your breeding rabbits?

[PingRabbitry]

We have two pregnant does and a buck that I got about 3 weeks ago. I pet them and give them herb treats, rose bush branches, and pine cones. But don’t “hold them” a lot. Should I be taking them out daily and petting/loving on them? I need to clip nails, and don’t want to disturb them too much while pregnant, but also am curious how often I should be holding, checking for ear mites ect. Also, do you treat for ear mites every month or just when you see them?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I just pet them when i feed them. And i only treat for ear mites when i see them i only had to treat twice in four years for ear mites.

 

[Baymule]

A small table in your rabbitry is a good thing to have. Set them on a piece of carpet so their feet don’t slide and they feel secure. Dampen your hands and rub their fur back and forth. This will groom them and get the shedding fur off.

 

[messybun]

Depends on what your rabbits are for. I had pet rabbits, they got held frequently. When they’re younger you have to hold/handle them every day. Then, Once they’re older you don’t have to hold them frequently and they’ll stay pretty tame. I like my rabbits very tame though, and I want to feel safe with them around kids. My last remaining rabbit is virtually bomb proof and I’ve never had to worry about her and little kids. When I had Flemish giants I would train them to fall asleep when I snapped so I could get them under control quickly if need be.
If they’re meat buns then I don’t imagine you want them particularly tame or attached. If that’s the case then it is totally possible to trim nails and treat them for whatever, even when they aren’t tame lol. I’ve dealt with some evil rabbits, two towels and a waist high table and you can do anything you need.

 

[Grizzlyhackle]

Keep some mineral oil on hand, look in the ears occasionally. You'll know if something is wrong. They'll start shaking their head or scratching at their ears. It's all about what you want to do and what they'll tolerate. Some like being handled, some never do. Leather gloves and a couple of towels for the grouchy ones sure help alot.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I have heard it recommended, and will be following this protocol: to visually inspect my rabbits before each breeding. So grab the buck and give him a once over. No bugs, no genital disease, general good health. Then you would be grabbing the doe to put her in the bucks cage. Give her a once over real quick. You will be taking her out anyway.

This system minimizes extra times you need to take out the does, and ensures only healthy rabbits are breeding. Hope this helps!

 

[Niele da Kine]

Just had a litter of ten born this morning. Each and every one got taken out and held for a bit then put back in. This will happen every other day or so until they're a month old or more. As adults, they get held as they need to be for grooming or shearing. I'm not sure if they actually like being petted, but they'll put up with it. They do prefer ear scritches to nose rubs and they generally prefer to not be picked up. I'm not actually sure if they can even see directly in front of their nose very well. They generally jump if someone touches their nose.

Some of them, however, are more 'needy'. They want to be petted and sulk if they don't get an ear rub. They generally prefer to stay in their space while being petted, but some of them are good with coming out and being held. It all depends on the rabbit as well as how it's raised.

 

[Baymule]

I had a black Satin buck once that loved attention and wanted to be petted every time I walked past his cage. If I didn't stop and pet him, he whirled around and sprayed me with urine. Needless to say, he got moved from the front row by the door to the back corner. LOL

 

[TaylorBug]

Mine arent near as useful as theyre supposed to be I pet mine when I feed and most of them are tame enough to handle when they need to be. My mini Rexes are big babies and my Cals are tolerant at best. But I know of a method of holding where you pinch the base of the ears; this pinches a nerve (its not painful) and makes the animal immobile. I am able to turn over, inspect and trim nails without any squabbles from my most timid guy AS LONG AS I keep a good hold on those ears lol.

 

[Grizzlyhackle]

I got a mixed new zealand silver fox that's a sprayer. Thinking about making him a fryer