Thursday, July 30, 2009

Quieter times

Sometimes I just like to go to the barn and enjoy watching the rabbits eat



....especially when I take them a green leaf. There is something about them munching it down that makes me smile.



Oh! so you think you would like some too? I guess a little taste won't hurt you.



"Move over, brother, quit crowding... save some for me please?"
I don't give the young ones much , just a taste.

This is the quieter, slower time of year for rabbit raisers in the mid-southern states. Breeding has stopped for now. This is the time for cleaning , repairs and changes. Mostly we are cleaning the barn and pens, getting the window covers made for cooler weather, organizing rabbits in the order we want them, making sure the does are gaining in condition, and gearing up for breeding to start again this fall.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

New Followers

This post is for the new followers to my rabbit blog.

Welcome! to Евгений Мосин and Arthurg! I see one of you is from Africa, but I have no other way to contact you and would like to know how you raise your rabbits in Africa. Thank you both for stopping to visit my blog and come back anytime. I try to post helpful information here, and am willing to learn what others do in raising their rabbits.

Visitors and comments always welcome!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Bunny Barometer

I can usually almost tell the temp in the rabbit barn by the way the bunnies are acting....


1. Does sporadically hopping around - under 80*

2. Bunnies sporadically jumping around and over each other - up to 85*

3. Rabbits up and eating - up to 90*

3. Resting quietly -up to 95*

4. Laying down sprauled out - over 95*

5. Panting , nose in air - pushing 100*

The fans and insulation are keeping it cooler this year, but the humidity is what gets to them. This morning was almost 90* outside and a cool 81* inside the barn. Fans are going to keep air moving and humidity down. Bunnies are spaced to 4-5 to a pen where possible, instead of the 8 per pen in cooler weather. Another 6 weeks and we will be through the worst of it. We have decided to stop breeding does until at least mid-August, and then depending on the weather. Heat and humidity can take a toll on does trying to give birth.