Day 2: Peepee Success!

The babies are hanging on. Neither really have big ping pong bellies but they are both fed enough to were when they are full, they will refuse the milk. I think the highlight of my day was when I got peed on by them both after stimulating them with a q-tip. This last feeding didn't require any stimulation, the little one soaked a spot in the towel! :-D Why am I so excited about that? Well it means two things, they are hydrated and I am doing my job at keeping them fed.;-)

Babies snuggly in the house. My view at 12:00am-Lol!


Time to wake up, let's eat...


Dinner set up, bowel of warm-hot water with a med. cup of milk staying warm in the middle, q-tips in the hot water to stimulate after eating and the butter knife....well, don't be shocked but its what I use to feed them. Forcing milk or sticking a big bottle nipple in their mouths will only aspirate them so you have to hold the butter knife up to their lips and then when they smell the milk they go for it. This way I know they won't aspirate and nothing is forced. They get their fill and yes it is much more time consuming. won't be long and I can switch to a nipple but for now since they are so tiny, I'd rather be safe than sorry.



A happy and full baby this morning...look at that milkstache!

RIP Diamond :-(

I lost Diamond today. She was in so much pain and had stopped eating since Saturday. It was only humane to end her suffering and after doing an autopsy of sorts it was apparent that it was the right decision. I did do a c-section to get the babies out and now I have 2 live babies with no mother and no foster. Life looks bleak for them at this point. Thankfully I had extra hair to keep them comfortable. Rest in Peace my sweet girl, I will do my best to take care of your little ones...


These are some autopsy images, I am warning, they are *Graphic*. Her bowel was severely distended and treatment was unsuccessful.
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5

Purina vs. Manna Pro

For the past 3 months I have had to switch to Purina Show due to the TSC store doing a poor job of keeping fresh feed. Today I've had enough. It's ridiculous how poor of a quality the Purina feeds are. Sorry if you feed it, your mill may do a fabulous job but the mill the feed store gets it from is just horrible. So much fines/dust and its so dry, it will crumble like sand in your hand. So back to Manna Pro we are. I'm going to finish the bag I have and then talk to Tractor Supply and BEG BEG them to keep fresh feed for me. I saw bags that were a year old on the shelf that they are still trying to sell. I have called the Manna Pro company and complained but all they did was send me coupons. :-/ There is a new guy at the store in the feed dept. so I'm hoping to convince him that I really need feed that is 3 months old or less-ideally speaking.


Unacceptable...and this was milled 2 weeks ago!! Not happy with you Purina!


On a good note, Diamond is definitely big time prego and due tomorrow. They were really moving around tonight. These babies are Lec's, the little buck I lost last week. May his legacy live on.

Here's Aviva in the lime light this evening. Since I don't have cute little ones to play with, she'll have to do for my Christmas picture. ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for than to list it here, however, to sum it up...I am so thankful to be blessed with a wonderful, healthy family, good friends and a fun hobby. Enjoy today and may God richly bless you and yours this holiday season!

Bad week but it may end well!

This has been a bad bunny week for us. I lost Lec on Saturday and then on Monday, Cuz (BOJ 57) began showing signs of GI stasis with jelly stool. So he has been monitored closely, yogurt given, lots of hay and oats. This morning he seems to be doing much better, ate and drank fairly good. I hope and pray this continues and he fully recovers, I can't loose another one.

Diamond surprised me this morning, she aborted the last time she was due and when I palpated this last time I didn't feel anything. I checked her this morning and there is a live baby in there! I just feel one and its a small one(hopefully it won't be a peanut or a double dwarf gene baby as they don't live). We'll see, I'm just excited at the possibility of having babies in my barn again! I haven't had a litter since September and its almost December. So Diamond's due Sunday...and Elsa is due next Sunday(the 4th). Let's have some healthy litters girls! :-)

Diamond happy to have a nestbox this morning...




Cuz being closely watched, he's doing much better, keep it up little fella.

EC tumor :-(

Well we had a major setback to my little herd today. I'm so sad but my buck, Lec will have to be put down. He was going to be headed to his new home this weekend so I did a thorough look over and was stunned at what I saw in his eyes. Tiny tumors in both eyes which is a result from E. cuniculi infection in his spinal tract-this can go to the brain and cause neuro symptoms. The disease is spread through spores in the urine so it is vital to remove him from the herd and disinfect his cage/drop pan. Sadly my doe, Diamond was exposed to him so I am concerned for her health now too. My whole herd is in jepardy as this buck came to me already with the infection, just asymptomatic. I change drop pans every other day and if I had known I would use gloves and do his last but I didn't know so its uncertain where I have touched and what came in contact at this point.

Please pray for my little buns!





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Show time will have to wait

Ugh. Just mention going to a show to your bunnies and watch them molt their coats out. Haha. Oh well, with the expenses and busyness of the Christmas holidays it is probably best to wait until January anyway.

A molty XEO:


A very pregnant Elsa:


A curious Amelia..."Was that lightning? I swear I just saw a flash!"


The diva Aviva..."See...Mom thinks I'm fancy"


Charlie checkin it out..."Whoa, there's a drop off"


The little squirts I have left, the other two have found wonderful homes, I wish their new owners all the best!

Sale bunnies!

It's almost time for the Cleburne show and I will have several for sale. Everything below will be available. Just pics this time but will have more info/pics on the sales page in a few weeks.





Babies....let me just say I cannot pose these guys they are the most stubborn and feistiest little babies. I've never had this much trouble working with little ones and they are worked with daily. Whew!
See?! LOL




Ok, I gave up.

Dwarf Hotots-a high strung breed

Hmm...I'm starting to believe that statement is indeed true.

My buns are very active and have their own personalities and attitudes. They aren't mean or viscous but will grunt or act spastic most of the time. Gnawing wire, thumping, bolting around the cages, flipping the feeders off/tossing them around, ripping the rest pads off, climbing the wire, jumping off the walls, hang from the top ceiling wire by their teeth...and then I had to catch two mid-air as they fly off the grooming table. I feel like I'm raising Brits!! O_o Attitudes can range from cowered down to nipping if you try to pose them and two of my does you have to hold their heads down, pour the feed and then release. They are very mean when they are *hungry* and if you don't hold them back, you Will get bit. *sigh* So there's my rant/observation/whatnot. I love this breed and while I'm sure there are exceptions, I definitely won't deny they aren't a high strung breed most of the time.

Induction pics

So the convention buns need pics for the website and only one cooperated and its not the one with her head turned. Haha...lets just say it was a fluke shot of Amelia...that girl is FAST.

Percy's Elsa:


The Hill's Amelia:


BOJ's 57- yes he's the good boy in the bunch ;-):

Updates

Well the new convention buns are settled and life is grand. The babies are growing up an I'm already wanting more. Two of them will be going to a youth breeder next month and one of the bucks will be for sale. I like the type on them but it seems that the shoulders are just a tad bit narrow on a few. Growing them out will probably be the best thing to do, right now I'm looking at keeping a doe but they all will be shown soon.


Ah....the wrecking crew....these two aren't mean, but they sure do like to get on my nerves at times. The doe (on the left) like to toss her feeder around and usually right after she gets fed. She will attack anything in her cage except people. She hates toys, chews, yeah even hay. Muffy or XEO on the other hand is just a butt to handle. He refuses to be posed, you just can't do it. No ifs ands or butts. These two like to push my buttons but I wouldn't have it any other way! LOL


3 Does are bred, Diamond was palp. positive this morning, hoping for some black friday babies this month! The other two are due December 4th. Can't believe its almost December already!!
This is Percy's Elsa...I've learned she likes to be the one in charge, she old and set in her ways. I respect that Elsa :-)


Last but not least, Cuz to wish you a great day! He was such a scaredy cat when I first got him now he comes for head rubs. I love it when I gain their trust.

Convention bunnies!!

My new buns arrived last night and I just love them all. Here's some pictures!

BOJ's 57- love his head and tiny ears! He is related to almost all of my stock and his lines cross well with what I have. Can't wait to see what he produces.




The Hill's Amelia- She's so cute! She is a tad bit long but wow she is super smooth and rounded. Will be an excellent candidate for a brood doe. Placed 11th out of 47 in the Jr. doe class.



Percy's Elsa- Older gal who is just a breeder, she is XEO's grandmother and there is no denying it-they look just alike in the face. Hoping to get her bred soon and maybe she'll fix my Narrow Shoulder problem....ROFL!