Complicated

At what point, exactly, did raising rabbits become so complex? The old saying "multiplying like rabbits" is a complete and utter misnomer, as anyone that has raised rabbits for show can attest. In spite of my dismal record for litters this season, I keep pushing through, hoping that eventually something will work in my favor for a change. However, it is beginning to appear that my herd is determined to make me see every single reason I came close to letting them all go not very long before. I've had deformities in litters, which actually is extremely rare. I've had does killing their babies, babies freezing to death from exposure, weanling enteritis, and now an orphaned litter. The only way I know to survive these hiccups is to maintain a tough exterior in dealing with the rabbits.

I've been raising these animals for many many years, and the one thing I can truly say I've learned is to not allow myself to become attached to any youngster less than 3-4 weeks of age. I don't name them, I don't tattoo them, I barely handle them. The reason is because very young rabbits tend to have a fairly high morbidity rate. Or as someone else once put it to me, "they love to die," which is not conducive to a close relationship with your adorable baby rabbits! Some tell me I'm cold-hearted. I dare them to keep in this hobby for as long as I have with as tender a heart as I once had, and not develop a tough exterior. It is extremely rare that I develop a true attachment for my charges. They are livestock first to me,and it is only the very rare and special charge that moves into the category of 'pet'. Anything else, for me, would eventually result in heartache.

In all these years, I can count just 4 show/breeding rabbits that have managed to attain the 'pet' distinction. Ebony, a black Holland Lop, who was my first; Bill, a blue Holland Lop; Pooky, a black GC Havana that won a BIS and produced offspring that placed very well at the national level; and Evan, a current resident, GC chinchilla Mini-rex buck, who is still leaving his mark on the herd.