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.

This is what can happen.......

........ when you don't follow proper procedures or use common sense.

Actually this is after 4 days of healing; it had been much worse. This one got me good and I had to run to the house to get it, and other bad scratches, bandaged before I could go back out and finish. It just would not stop bleeding. Thankfully, we both had had life-time tetanus shots.

I "most" always wear at least long sleeves ( can't stand gloves) when loading fryers to go to market. This day was hot (95*) and muggy and I was only moving a few jr. does into new cages to space them out. Should have known better. Common sense should have told me they , like humans, don't like messed with either, when it is so hot, and I should have had them seperated a week ago, before the heat hit so hard. But, there I was, at the hottest part of the day.... you get the picture.

So.... new rules for this rabbitry ....

1. I don't care how hot it is, always wear long sleeves when moving rabbits.

2. Whenever possible, move rabbits early in the day.

3. Plan ahead (thats a no-brainer! and not actually a new rule.... just a forgotten one)

On the up-side, one of the new jr.does had her 1st litter today! Came through it just fine, with 8 nice fat little babies!