Has it really been a whole week since I've written a blog? Time flies!
I filled in at my old work for a couple of days last week, and then again tomorrow as well. This next week is going to be absolutely insane!
Tomorrow I'm filling in until 5:30pm. Tuesday it looks like Cristina and I are going to work in Cow Bay or at least I will be. Wednesday we are in Campbell River doing a whole bunch of rabbit deliveries(Mini lops and Mini rex!) and a couple of cages as well. Then, Thursday I'm not sure what is happening during the day yet or Friday(I'm sure that will be filled up quickly as well) but we will be going to the light up on Thursday night and Friday night the family is invited to our Aunt's and Uncles for dinner. Then Saturday is the Rabbits BC meeting -- my old work wants me to work in the morning if possible as it is Santa Photos for the pets... However I haven't decided yet because I wanted to do a couple of rabbits myself this year!(take them in for santa photos) then be in Victoria for 1:00..... Not sure what is on for next Sunday........ crazy!
We did a whole bunch of breeding yesterday! I bred 6 Jersey woolie does! : ) 4 were very ready, 2 were not.. Going to keep retrying those 2! We also bred 2 fuzzy lops and 2 mini lops!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
A very busy weekend
I really wanted to go to the Christmas Chaos this weekend, but it was too insane to even think about going.
Friday night we were invited to our Aunt's and Uncles for pizza and a movie. We both stayed up late, and got up late Saturday morning(late for us anyway 9-9:30). Saturday flew by and yesterday we had 5 different sets of people coming to the barn for various things.
Tamashanter Rabbitry came to get their 2 Mini lops, and Holland buck back. They oohed and ahhed over all the babies(we have lots out their!).
Electric Bunny Rabbitry came- of which, Andrea kindly did a Bunny photo shoot for Christmas photos!! The pictures turned out beautifully and we can't wait to get the Christmas cards back that we made today with them : ) Thank you Andrea!! We also will put the pics up on the website closer to Christmas.
Then, we had a breeder on Saltspring Island come to buy mini rex.. She only wanted 3 but left with 4, lol!
We had someone come to look at Mini rex and picked out a jr red buck from one litter, as a future show buck for them : ) He will be going to live with them in December sometime.
And then we had someone come to look at some cages, of which they purchased 7 and came and picked them up today. So it was a very busy weekend!
Last night Andrea came back to the house for dinner, and we all started baking at 10pm. We finished at 11:30 and Andrea left shortly after. Then, Cristina and I didn't go to bed until after 1 which is really late for us.. So we totally overslept this morning- which didn't help classes! And weren't up until almost 10am(within 10 mins of each other because my room is next to hers and I'm usually half asleep tripping over dogs(stubbing toes, crashing into things, lol)(ack!)
We had to be in Victoria by Noon or 12:30(which we made, just) as we had 3 stops to make, and had to have the car back for 3.. Which we also made, just.. However, our mom had already gotten a ride to work(she can't drive the truck because it is standard and a pain in the arse to shift(straight 6 shifting or something, lol) so we headed to the barn.
Cristina and I both agreed if at all possible we are going to do that more often- have everyone come in one day, one afternoon. It is busy, and jammed packed but it is so much easier then every evening, or afternoon etc.
I got my 3 new Jersey woolies today from Ingrid, all the bloodlines I'm working with Leapin. A beautiful chin doe, a really nice pointed white doe, and a gorgeous black buck! I plan to do breedings ASAP! So I will be having some litters by Christmas : )
Friday night we were invited to our Aunt's and Uncles for pizza and a movie. We both stayed up late, and got up late Saturday morning(late for us anyway 9-9:30). Saturday flew by and yesterday we had 5 different sets of people coming to the barn for various things.
Tamashanter Rabbitry came to get their 2 Mini lops, and Holland buck back. They oohed and ahhed over all the babies(we have lots out their!).
Electric Bunny Rabbitry came- of which, Andrea kindly did a Bunny photo shoot for Christmas photos!! The pictures turned out beautifully and we can't wait to get the Christmas cards back that we made today with them : ) Thank you Andrea!! We also will put the pics up on the website closer to Christmas.
Then, we had a breeder on Saltspring Island come to buy mini rex.. She only wanted 3 but left with 4, lol!
We had someone come to look at Mini rex and picked out a jr red buck from one litter, as a future show buck for them : ) He will be going to live with them in December sometime.
And then we had someone come to look at some cages, of which they purchased 7 and came and picked them up today. So it was a very busy weekend!
Last night Andrea came back to the house for dinner, and we all started baking at 10pm. We finished at 11:30 and Andrea left shortly after. Then, Cristina and I didn't go to bed until after 1 which is really late for us.. So we totally overslept this morning- which didn't help classes! And weren't up until almost 10am(within 10 mins of each other because my room is next to hers and I'm usually half asleep tripping over dogs(stubbing toes, crashing into things, lol)(ack!)
We had to be in Victoria by Noon or 12:30(which we made, just) as we had 3 stops to make, and had to have the car back for 3.. Which we also made, just.. However, our mom had already gotten a ride to work(she can't drive the truck because it is standard and a pain in the arse to shift(straight 6 shifting or something, lol) so we headed to the barn.
Cristina and I both agreed if at all possible we are going to do that more often- have everyone come in one day, one afternoon. It is busy, and jammed packed but it is so much easier then every evening, or afternoon etc.
I got my 3 new Jersey woolies today from Ingrid, all the bloodlines I'm working with Leapin. A beautiful chin doe, a really nice pointed white doe, and a gorgeous black buck! I plan to do breedings ASAP! So I will be having some litters by Christmas : )
Friday, November 16, 2007
Shows are all over for 2007 for our rabbitry
We've finished our showing for 2007 here at Sunny Brook Rabbitry. We've had:
3 Best in Show's
2 RIS's(one 1st runner up) I think that counts the same?
Many BOB's/BOS's, 1sts etc.
Probably our highest compliment at the shows was ARBA Judge Joey Shults comment:
"My compliments to the breeder on this buck" to GC Sunny's As You like it(ML)
We have one more show we can attend, but have chosen not too as it is only a single show and just not worth the cost of ferry, gas, entries, motel etc to go.
I just heard exciting news that we will have another JW breeder coming up for our show in February here on the Island! : )
At this rate, I'm only going to have bucks to show, lol!
Well I'm on a "writers block" and I don't know what to write about.... hopefully something will inspire me!
3 Best in Show's
2 RIS's(one 1st runner up) I think that counts the same?
Many BOB's/BOS's, 1sts etc.
Probably our highest compliment at the shows was ARBA Judge Joey Shults comment:
"My compliments to the breeder on this buck" to GC Sunny's As You like it(ML)
We have one more show we can attend, but have chosen not too as it is only a single show and just not worth the cost of ferry, gas, entries, motel etc to go.
I just heard exciting news that we will have another JW breeder coming up for our show in February here on the Island! : )
At this rate, I'm only going to have bucks to show, lol!
Well I'm on a "writers block" and I don't know what to write about.... hopefully something will inspire me!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
My herd goals
My goals for 2008 are as follows, in the Jerseys.
O/T for one sec!The Jersey's are all that I will be raising after this! I have my 2 pet cavies "A little RNR and Mosaic" but all my Mini rex are sold except some babies which are mainly all spoken for now. I still have the hollands... if anyone is interested in a holland for a pet or breeding animals.... : ) Anyway back on track!
My breeding goals are:
To keep consistently producing the short round, typey bodies that seem to be predominant in the "Leapin" bloodline. Work on legnth, shape, and substance to ear which seems to be a fault in the line. I plan to do some major linebreeding with RH's Tonka and GC Jentle's Hero, and Leapin' Munchkin. I think those are the 3 best in the entire herd, and I want to work on their excellent qualities!
I am really looking forward to Jersey babies in 2008. Because of the feed problem I still haven't bred anyone. Well, that isn't true. I bred Jetta and Maggie, or at least tried to the other day but didn't have much luck with Maggie. Jetta and Black Prince connected once, and Maggie and Hero were a no go. I need to check does and maybe do some breeding this week! Everyone is bouncing back into condition. I'd also like to move most everyone into the main barn after the mini rex go as well so I can work on the lower barn this winter and get pans made for it etc(pans need to be replaced).
Anyway those are my major goals for 2008. I know that Laura only had 30 holes between the 2 and at one point 3 breeds so I am wanting to keep a few more does. I am keeping a whole bunch of jr does, a few jr bucks(a buck herd I tell ya!) and the one litter I do have out there(5 blacks). I really like 2 does and a buck so I will probably grow all 3 out : )
I think the one doe I will breed shortly is Leapin Ginger Rogers. Rebreed Maggie, and maybe Tikki and Mona Lisa.
I am getting a trio of Jerseys from Ingrid. We are doing a trade. I'm getting a REG black buck, a REG Pointed White doe, and a chin doe. The chin doe is going into the agouti program obviously. I have a nice start there.
The agouti program has a Chestnut Jr doe bred by the Uptagraffts all Ayers and Brian Hartzell lines! A very nice opal buck from Just Hoppin lines, the new Chin doe, a black doe who will eventually go into that line as she is out of the opal buck. I've bred her to Prince for now though as he has the depth she is needing. And I think that is it for the agouti program, just the 4 for now.
I'm glad to get the other pointed white doe! Really want to work on a pointed white program!
Hopefully my next post will have some does that are bred... : ) The mini rex and Mini lops are sure breeding well this winter... We have over 60 babies out there right now between those 2 breeds!
I might breed Mara too.. maybe I can find 5 to breed.. that would be nice! As I said I'm keeping lots of replacement does as well, as long as they have better type or traits then parents that I'm working on. There is one doe out there that I'm not sure I want to keep but am growing her out anyway.
I want a competitive herd like Laura! I do plan to have around 25 senior does, 10 senior bucks, and the rest Jr holes....
O/T for one sec!The Jersey's are all that I will be raising after this! I have my 2 pet cavies "A little RNR and Mosaic" but all my Mini rex are sold except some babies which are mainly all spoken for now. I still have the hollands... if anyone is interested in a holland for a pet or breeding animals.... : ) Anyway back on track!
My breeding goals are:
To keep consistently producing the short round, typey bodies that seem to be predominant in the "Leapin" bloodline. Work on legnth, shape, and substance to ear which seems to be a fault in the line. I plan to do some major linebreeding with RH's Tonka and GC Jentle's Hero, and Leapin' Munchkin. I think those are the 3 best in the entire herd, and I want to work on their excellent qualities!
I am really looking forward to Jersey babies in 2008. Because of the feed problem I still haven't bred anyone. Well, that isn't true. I bred Jetta and Maggie, or at least tried to the other day but didn't have much luck with Maggie. Jetta and Black Prince connected once, and Maggie and Hero were a no go. I need to check does and maybe do some breeding this week! Everyone is bouncing back into condition. I'd also like to move most everyone into the main barn after the mini rex go as well so I can work on the lower barn this winter and get pans made for it etc(pans need to be replaced).
Anyway those are my major goals for 2008. I know that Laura only had 30 holes between the 2 and at one point 3 breeds so I am wanting to keep a few more does. I am keeping a whole bunch of jr does, a few jr bucks(a buck herd I tell ya!) and the one litter I do have out there(5 blacks). I really like 2 does and a buck so I will probably grow all 3 out : )
I think the one doe I will breed shortly is Leapin Ginger Rogers. Rebreed Maggie, and maybe Tikki and Mona Lisa.
I am getting a trio of Jerseys from Ingrid. We are doing a trade. I'm getting a REG black buck, a REG Pointed White doe, and a chin doe. The chin doe is going into the agouti program obviously. I have a nice start there.
The agouti program has a Chestnut Jr doe bred by the Uptagraffts all Ayers and Brian Hartzell lines! A very nice opal buck from Just Hoppin lines, the new Chin doe, a black doe who will eventually go into that line as she is out of the opal buck. I've bred her to Prince for now though as he has the depth she is needing. And I think that is it for the agouti program, just the 4 for now.
I'm glad to get the other pointed white doe! Really want to work on a pointed white program!
Hopefully my next post will have some does that are bred... : ) The mini rex and Mini lops are sure breeding well this winter... We have over 60 babies out there right now between those 2 breeds!
I might breed Mara too.. maybe I can find 5 to breed.. that would be nice! As I said I'm keeping lots of replacement does as well, as long as they have better type or traits then parents that I'm working on. There is one doe out there that I'm not sure I want to keep but am growing her out anyway.
I want a competitive herd like Laura! I do plan to have around 25 senior does, 10 senior bucks, and the rest Jr holes....
Friday, November 9, 2007
More uplifting blog!
So my last blog I was really worried and very overwhelmed. This blog is a little more uplifting.
We got 80% of the rabbits back on track and eating, and then up to 90%.
As of yesterday we had 2 rabbits we were very worried about. So, we made a vet appt for the 2 rabbits at Prevost Vet Clinic with 1 of their 2 rabbit vets. Things went well-- temperature on both rabbits was normal, she couldn't feel any blockages or anything abnormal besides both were bloated and a bit gassy.(she also felt this would be a feed problem, not water).
We had been feeding them pumpkin so they wouldn't be blocked and she told us to keep up with that, and the pineapple juice. Lots of hay which they are getting(alfalfa, orchard grass and straw) and keep trying to get them to eat pellets. Well, as of last night neither rabbit would eat pellets and were drinking very little water, however neither were dehydrated. We've completely switched them over to a local feed 16%(Shar Kare) which another local breeder feeds her Mini lops and hasn't had any problems so we will feed this feed for now. We may end up mixing with another 16% brand down the road(Nature's Mix) but we will see.
The entire "main" barn is back up and eating except "Ada" who we took to the vet yesterday. Cezanne(mini rex) is not eating great but she is eating. We tried a mix of Martens and Shar Kare thinking the rabbits would love the expensive "pet" food which is an extruded feed that only comes in biggest I think 10kg bags(unless you want the "imitation" which is a 20kg bag but.... This food is $7 for a small bag(2 ice cream pails of feed max per bag you can get) or $15 for the 10kg and $30-35 for the imitation feed! Not exactly cheap to feed 120 rabbits.. Anyway.. the rabbits DID NOT like it!
The mini rex never really went off feed besides Cezanne and Fireball. Fireball went back on feed right away but Cezanne has been extra picky... She loves the bread, bananas and parsley and all the "extras" she has been getting.
The lower barn "Jersey & Fuzzy barn" has been a bit more difficult... Starting at the front left side- well basically this entire barn was not eating like the main barn but instead of only 2 days like the main barn it took them 5 to get even touching pellets again.. sigh.. Prince is eating again same with BlackBerry Billy, Mini lop X 2 never went off feed in this barn(one day but after that back to eating). One jersey doe finally ate her full feed today! Yeah! 2 of them were eating totally fine and didn't touch pellets last night at all.. sigh.. but had ate orchard grass and alfalfa so may have just filled up on that. Tonight they were eating so that is a good sign. I got Mara eating- really worried about her as she wasn't eating at all but she is back on track, and the jr bucks are all on track. All the fuzzies are on track(eating just fine!). One fuzzy jr doe has not been eating that great for the past 2 nights but did eat hay and flatted barley tonight so I think she is going to be back on track- got gas drops and pumpkin today as well.
Other side of that barn almost all in the first half are eating except Butch(went to the vet), and then next half all are eating except a jr sable point buck and jr smoke pearl buck- really fighting with those 2 they just don't want to eat pellets(sigh), and an old JW buck(Cyclone) is eating just not great, an opal buck, and one more sable point buck "Munchkin" but all are eating just not a lot.. So it is all looking up! WHEW! However, they are consuming a ton of hay of the 3 kinds so things are definitely looking better.
It is a huge pressure off our shoulders slowly getting them eating. I don't think we could have worried anymore!
So now it is basically to keep them eating(we still don't know why they suddenly went of feed?). The feed company has been great and pulled samples to test and didn't find anything wrong with the feed. A friend (only person we've found that has the same batch #) fed it to her cals and so far no problems). We hadn't changed anything else so we just don't know what caused it. Municipality says no changes in the water, and we did bottled water and Chemainus water and that didn't change anything.
The rabbits all did lose condition because of this, however being on feed again for the past 2-3 days they will come back up to condition shortly.(they went onto Shar Kare feed last Saturday(this has been going on for over a week now) but none of them were really back on feed until Wednesday and Thursday this week. Something tasted funny to them or something because they just wouldn't even touch the pellets(Shar Kare). We've also given some alfalfa pellets but most of the "little guys" find them to big and won't eat them. However, the mini lops are eating a few. We still don't know as I've said before why they are suddenly back on track and eating- when they wouldn't touch the Shar Kare pellets from last Saturday when we bought them, to this Wednesday and Thursday(same batch) but whatever bugged them seems to have corrected? We didn't lose any rabbits(touch wood) however a couple of the weaned mini lop babies lost a lot of weight. All were treated for Cocci and off treatment around the 22nd of October, Jerseys were almost finished Cocci treatment but were pulled off it because of this last week. They will need to go back on it once they are back on track. For now I'm not worrying about that with them! I just want to make sure the fuzz balls are eating and okay!
Kim & Cristina
Thanks to everyone that sent advice, phoned and offered all your help and guidance! It is really great having such awesome friends!
We got 80% of the rabbits back on track and eating, and then up to 90%.
As of yesterday we had 2 rabbits we were very worried about. So, we made a vet appt for the 2 rabbits at Prevost Vet Clinic with 1 of their 2 rabbit vets. Things went well-- temperature on both rabbits was normal, she couldn't feel any blockages or anything abnormal besides both were bloated and a bit gassy.(she also felt this would be a feed problem, not water).
We had been feeding them pumpkin so they wouldn't be blocked and she told us to keep up with that, and the pineapple juice. Lots of hay which they are getting(alfalfa, orchard grass and straw) and keep trying to get them to eat pellets. Well, as of last night neither rabbit would eat pellets and were drinking very little water, however neither were dehydrated. We've completely switched them over to a local feed 16%(Shar Kare) which another local breeder feeds her Mini lops and hasn't had any problems so we will feed this feed for now. We may end up mixing with another 16% brand down the road(Nature's Mix) but we will see.
The entire "main" barn is back up and eating except "Ada" who we took to the vet yesterday. Cezanne(mini rex) is not eating great but she is eating. We tried a mix of Martens and Shar Kare thinking the rabbits would love the expensive "pet" food which is an extruded feed that only comes in biggest I think 10kg bags(unless you want the "imitation" which is a 20kg bag but.... This food is $7 for a small bag(2 ice cream pails of feed max per bag you can get) or $15 for the 10kg and $30-35 for the imitation feed! Not exactly cheap to feed 120 rabbits.. Anyway.. the rabbits DID NOT like it!
The mini rex never really went off feed besides Cezanne and Fireball. Fireball went back on feed right away but Cezanne has been extra picky... She loves the bread, bananas and parsley and all the "extras" she has been getting.
The lower barn "Jersey & Fuzzy barn" has been a bit more difficult... Starting at the front left side- well basically this entire barn was not eating like the main barn but instead of only 2 days like the main barn it took them 5 to get even touching pellets again.. sigh.. Prince is eating again same with BlackBerry Billy, Mini lop X 2 never went off feed in this barn(one day but after that back to eating). One jersey doe finally ate her full feed today! Yeah! 2 of them were eating totally fine and didn't touch pellets last night at all.. sigh.. but had ate orchard grass and alfalfa so may have just filled up on that. Tonight they were eating so that is a good sign. I got Mara eating- really worried about her as she wasn't eating at all but she is back on track, and the jr bucks are all on track. All the fuzzies are on track(eating just fine!). One fuzzy jr doe has not been eating that great for the past 2 nights but did eat hay and flatted barley tonight so I think she is going to be back on track- got gas drops and pumpkin today as well.
Other side of that barn almost all in the first half are eating except Butch(went to the vet), and then next half all are eating except a jr sable point buck and jr smoke pearl buck- really fighting with those 2 they just don't want to eat pellets(sigh), and an old JW buck(Cyclone) is eating just not great, an opal buck, and one more sable point buck "Munchkin" but all are eating just not a lot.. So it is all looking up! WHEW! However, they are consuming a ton of hay of the 3 kinds so things are definitely looking better.
It is a huge pressure off our shoulders slowly getting them eating. I don't think we could have worried anymore!
So now it is basically to keep them eating(we still don't know why they suddenly went of feed?). The feed company has been great and pulled samples to test and didn't find anything wrong with the feed. A friend (only person we've found that has the same batch #) fed it to her cals and so far no problems). We hadn't changed anything else so we just don't know what caused it. Municipality says no changes in the water, and we did bottled water and Chemainus water and that didn't change anything.
The rabbits all did lose condition because of this, however being on feed again for the past 2-3 days they will come back up to condition shortly.(they went onto Shar Kare feed last Saturday(this has been going on for over a week now) but none of them were really back on feed until Wednesday and Thursday this week. Something tasted funny to them or something because they just wouldn't even touch the pellets(Shar Kare). We've also given some alfalfa pellets but most of the "little guys" find them to big and won't eat them. However, the mini lops are eating a few. We still don't know as I've said before why they are suddenly back on track and eating- when they wouldn't touch the Shar Kare pellets from last Saturday when we bought them, to this Wednesday and Thursday(same batch) but whatever bugged them seems to have corrected? We didn't lose any rabbits(touch wood) however a couple of the weaned mini lop babies lost a lot of weight. All were treated for Cocci and off treatment around the 22nd of October, Jerseys were almost finished Cocci treatment but were pulled off it because of this last week. They will need to go back on it once they are back on track. For now I'm not worrying about that with them! I just want to make sure the fuzz balls are eating and okay!
Kim & Cristina
Thanks to everyone that sent advice, phoned and offered all your help and guidance! It is really great having such awesome friends!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Frustrating feed problems!
Very frustrated with the feed right now. Especially since everyone else I've talked to didn't get the same batch we did, except one other breeder thought they had fed it a few weeks ago with no problems-- but didn't know for sure.
Not one other person is on the same batch # right now.
120 rabbits would not eat at all! (besides hay, parsley etc) just not the feed! At first because they didn't eat they weren't drinking very well either so we thought it could be the water. We called the municipality(I did) and they said nothing had changed, no chlorination had happened etc. So we bought 5 jugs(5 gal ) of bottled water. The rabbits did not eat that night either(after the water change).
So the 3rd night we fed only old fashioned rolled oats and lots of hay, and changed water again this time to Chemainus water. They ate the oats and the hay, and drank some water but when we tried the best eaters with a little food(keep in mind we have a lot of litters right now too and didn't/don't want to wait long) and those great eaters didn't eat the feed either. So.. We bought a bag of 16% shar Kare which they all started eating right away(normally feeding 18% Otter).
We bought another bag of Shar Kare yesterday and they were eating that, and drinking has started up again too(without the feed(not eating) they weren't of course getting the salt which makes them thirsty so the drinking subsided. Which makes sense!
Finally something makes sense!
So now if they keep eating the 16% Shar Kare we will go that route. We have no other options on the Island besides Proform which we tried last spring(they didn't like it) when the same thing happened- at first no one else on the Island noticed there rabbits having problems and then babies started dying for other rabbitries, rabbits off feed and what not. Although some rabbitries had no problems whatsoever with the feed. I'm thinking they had to have missed that batch us up here got though because everyone else on that batch had problems. Other option would be Buckerfields but it is supposed to be quite a bit like the Proform.. We might go that route and mix the two which would be a royal pain but....
Luckily because we know which rabbits clean all their pellets and lick the dust we knew something wasn't right. We didn't lose any babies or adults or anything because we caught it on the 2nd day(just like this time).
Anyway, they've been eating 18% Otter since early July and loving it. The last batch they ate just fine. 7333? This batch 7411 they will NOT eat.(120 of them).
So of course with this happening the jerseys who seem to be finicky to begin with lost a bit of condition so won't be bred yet(grr!) really wanting to get some breeding done before it gets cold! And the fuzzy and a couple of the mini lops won't be bred either.. Not until we figure it out! Although we have it pegged onto that batch of feed. Will send that feed away for testing. So far this batch of Shar Kare 7333 they are eating just fine. We gave all the ones not drinking very well yet crocks as well. Will head into the farm early to check on everyone.
As long as we have this pegged everything should be just fine.
Not one other person is on the same batch # right now.
120 rabbits would not eat at all! (besides hay, parsley etc) just not the feed! At first because they didn't eat they weren't drinking very well either so we thought it could be the water. We called the municipality(I did) and they said nothing had changed, no chlorination had happened etc. So we bought 5 jugs(5 gal ) of bottled water. The rabbits did not eat that night either(after the water change).
So the 3rd night we fed only old fashioned rolled oats and lots of hay, and changed water again this time to Chemainus water. They ate the oats and the hay, and drank some water but when we tried the best eaters with a little food(keep in mind we have a lot of litters right now too and didn't/don't want to wait long) and those great eaters didn't eat the feed either. So.. We bought a bag of 16% shar Kare which they all started eating right away(normally feeding 18% Otter).
We bought another bag of Shar Kare yesterday and they were eating that, and drinking has started up again too(without the feed(not eating) they weren't of course getting the salt which makes them thirsty so the drinking subsided. Which makes sense!
Finally something makes sense!
So now if they keep eating the 16% Shar Kare we will go that route. We have no other options on the Island besides Proform which we tried last spring(they didn't like it) when the same thing happened- at first no one else on the Island noticed there rabbits having problems and then babies started dying for other rabbitries, rabbits off feed and what not. Although some rabbitries had no problems whatsoever with the feed. I'm thinking they had to have missed that batch us up here got though because everyone else on that batch had problems. Other option would be Buckerfields but it is supposed to be quite a bit like the Proform.. We might go that route and mix the two which would be a royal pain but....
Luckily because we know which rabbits clean all their pellets and lick the dust we knew something wasn't right. We didn't lose any babies or adults or anything because we caught it on the 2nd day(just like this time).
Anyway, they've been eating 18% Otter since early July and loving it. The last batch they ate just fine. 7333? This batch 7411 they will NOT eat.(120 of them).
So of course with this happening the jerseys who seem to be finicky to begin with lost a bit of condition so won't be bred yet(grr!) really wanting to get some breeding done before it gets cold! And the fuzzy and a couple of the mini lops won't be bred either.. Not until we figure it out! Although we have it pegged onto that batch of feed. Will send that feed away for testing. So far this batch of Shar Kare 7333 they are eating just fine. We gave all the ones not drinking very well yet crocks as well. Will head into the farm early to check on everyone.
As long as we have this pegged everything should be just fine.
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