My favorite New Zealand is pulling fur!

[Xerocles]

Seriously? 'Cause it's not even similar - I wonder why they missed so badly? Do a google search for New Zealand Red rabbit - red in the NZ is a bright, even shade all over, somewhere between dark orange and brick red. Some breeds, like the Mini Rex, allow a white/cream belly, but even the belly is red on an NZ (the MR baby in my avatar is actually an Amber, not a Red, but it is fairly close to what a Red looks like)

Ok, so it doesnt matter because all kits are going to be terminal. But this is supposed to be NZ red, broken. Tell me?

 

[Bunnylady]

The base color is Red, yes. White on the face, feet and chest like that is typical of the Broken pattern - it's just a little bit more than you see on what are sometimes called "booted" Brokens. But there also seem to be a lot of white hairs mixed into the colored areas that aren't a typical expression of Broken - possible silvering?

 

[Xerocles]

The base color is Red, yes. White on the face, feet and chest like that is typical of the Broken pattern - it's just a little bit more than you see on what are sometimes called "booted" Brokens. But there also seem to be a lot of white hairs mixed into the colored areas that aren't a typical expression of Broken - possible silvering?

You got me. 6 weeks ago, when someone referred to a broken rabbit, I was envisioning vets and casts. I got her cause I wanted a NZ in my terminal breeding program. Kits will be Cali X NZ. They will be called "lunch".

 

[Xerocles]

Ok. You guys got the new kid wondering and worrying. I understood the nest box went in on day 28, to avoid it being peed and pooped in. That will be this coming Wednesday. Am I behind the curve already? I did notice today that there were two tiny bits of fur in her cage, kinda clumped at one end like they had been pulled.

So. I decided to go ahead and put the nest box in a day early. Also gave her a handful of hay on the cage floor, just to see. She began to industriously eat it. Apparently it was much tastier than the same hay in her hay rack. But no gathering it in her mouth. But she is fascinated by the nest. In. Rearrange. Out. Rinse. Repeat.
One new tiny bunch of fur on the wire today. If this breeding didn't take and there are no kits come Saturday, (day 31) I am gonna be ONE BUMMED OUT BOY.

 

[Bunnylady]

The rabbit eating the hay isn't an absolute sign that she isn't pregnant, it's more along the lines of, "not today." At the opposite end of the spectrum from my bare naked Wooly was a Harlequin doe that did nothing, absolutely nothing in the way of nest preparation, until mere minutes from the time the kits began arriving. This doe was so disinterested, I thought she must have missed, but I'd had so much bother in getting her bred (this doe insisted on fighting with the buck for a bit before she'd breed, and it took me some time to realize that I had to just grit my teeth, wait her out and hope that nobody got hurt before she was satisfied that the buck was worthy), I gave her a box anyway. By chance, I was in the rabbitry at the time she kindled, and such a flurry of hay gathering and fur pulling you never did see! She was a great mom - one of the ones I had to watch when the kits were tiny, because she was pretty protective - raised good litters with no problems.

Oh, and don't hold too tightly to that 31 days. I've had does that went 32, even 33 days; if they are carrying only one or two babies, they often go 34 or 35 (though the babies are so big at that point, delivering them takes so long, they usually don't survive). I also had a Holland Lop that gave birth on day 30, every time she kindled. I have had does go as early as day 28 when they were carrying huge litters (12 or more). I've had just a few does that gave birth prematurely; of those, the only litter that survived were born on day 27.

 

[Xerocles]

I think my bunny is a little "confused"? I went ahead and put the nest box in this morning. It was a thing of beauty! Nice little tunnel into a hole in the back. Well packed. Wish I had taken a picture. Then an extra handful of hay on the cage floor for her to give it her "personal" touch (which she ate).
The rain finally stopped and I went outside to get some little things done, and of course, stopped by the rabbits. Her cage looks like I am using the deep litter method for my rabbits! She pulled every bit of the hay out of the nest box. She was sitting in the middle of it, contentedly eating hay! RABBITS! Oh well, if she has the babies today, they certainly won't be "on the wire". There's enough hay spread around her cage, I think kits would be quite comfy.

 

[Bunnylady]

Yep, and now, as she moves around the cage, most of the hay will get kicked through the wire and wind up on the ground beneath the cage.

Some does seem to think the box is the last place hay should be - they pull every scrap out and experiment with every other corner in the cage - go ahead, move the box to the one where she piled it, and she will once again un-stuff it and put the hay somewhere else. Sometimes they "get it," sometimes they simply won't; if I have a doe that seems like she just won't use the box when the time comes, I'll do one of two things:

1) put a deep layer of hay throughout her cage (at least 1 "flake" of hay) if the weather is warm

2) put the doe and her nest box in a carrier stuffed with hay, and put the whole arrangement in my hall closet (I call it my "maternity ward"). Most of the time, they put the babies where they belong, but even if they choose another corner, the conditions in the house are mild enough for the litter to survive until I can put them in the nest box.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Ok, so it doesnt matter because all kits are going to be terminal. But this is supposed to be NZ red, broken. Tell me?View attachment 68634

The mom looks a little that. ...at least lighter...I’ll take a picture...I guess I just figured she was the same...

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

You got me. 6 weeks ago, when someone referred to a broken rabbit, I was envisioning vets and casts. I got her cause I wanted a NZ in my terminal breeding program. Kits will be Cali X NZ. They will be called "lunch".

I love the way you talk..you always crack me up...it’s kind of the way I see it..I chose my bunnies because I liked the way they looked, and the info came later...this is a hobby farm. Chris has eaten about 4. He says we’re taking these babies to the auction... rabbits went for $3 at the last auction...I think we’ll just be giving them out to more friends..pretty soon I won’t have friends.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

We gave one to my sister in law. But they already had a very old, mean Rex. We keep teasing to each other that we’re going to take our buck over for a visit!!