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Top 10 Reasons Why We Are Not Getting Out Of Rabbits! |
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| Name on the Pedigree? | |
| Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark | |
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VBF Show Schedule |
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| Warming Cold Babies | |
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The Way I Ivomec by Joy Kretzer |
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Letters to Corey |
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Herbs for Weepy Eye |
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Tums for birthing? |
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Think you know everything? |
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Bunny Funny |
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Manure & Compost |
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Hyper Bunny? |
| 10. What would we do with three
barns full of cages?
9. Where would breeders get Petrus feed in our area? Petrus (800) 259-1801 8. When would we have a chance to see all our friends at the rabbit shows? 7. How would we spend our free time on Saturdays? 6. Who would answer all the important inquiries we receive about rabbits? 5. Corey would be out of a job! 4. Our children would be sick of seeing us at their homes. 3. What would we do with all the bunny shirts & stepping-stones? 2. What would we feed all the red wiggler worms? And the number one reason 1. Ken would have nothing to do except to go fishing! |
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*New at VBF*
VBF Hours Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8 am till 5 pm Most Saturday’s we’ll see you at the rabbit shows |
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We would again like to thank
all the people who have contributed to our newsletter. If
you have an article or subject that you think would be of interest to
the rest of our customers, please submit it to Pat at bunnies@bunnyrabbit.com
for her consideration. |
Whose Name Goes On The Pedigree?
When you first start raising rabbits, most people can’t wait to have a pedigree with their name on it. They look on the pedigrees from the rabbits they have purchased and they see Vanecek’s Les or Zimmerman’s ZQ39 or Jill’s Charles. You can name the rabbits you breed and raise whatever you want and you can tattoo the rabbits you breed and raise whatever you want. Some people like to tattoo names, like me while others have their own numbering system. Some folks will put their last name before the rabbits name, showing that it was bred by them. Others will put their first name and some will use their rabbitry name or rabbitry initials. You have to choose which one you want to use whenever you start tattooing babies you have bred.
When you purchase a rabbit from someone they may not name
the rabbit. They will just put their name or rabbitry name and then a blank;
under Name for the rabbit.
Example: Vanecek’s ________. They are leaving you the option of naming the
rabbit whatever you want. Some people never name their rabbits they just refer
to them by their tattooed ear number.
When you are writing pedigrees for babies out of a rabbit you have purchased, it is your obligation to keep the original breeders name on the pedigree in front of the name of the rabbit you purchased. You should also keep all other names that appear on the pedigree in their entirety.
If you buy a doe that is already bred, then it is a
decision that needs to be made by the seller and you. Some sellers will require
that you keep their rabbitry name on all the babies since they bred the doe.
Some sellers will allow the purchaser to use their name since they decided which
rabbits to keep out of the litter. It is a courtesy to ask the person, who was
nice enough to sell you a bred doe.
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Production Tip I always check the genitals on both rabbits before breeding. This way I rule out any possibility of disease, plus I can be sure that the vent area on the doe is red and she is ready to breed. |
| Everything I need to know, I
learned from Noah's Ark… One: Don't miss the boat. Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. Six: Build your future on high ground. Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. Nine: When you're stressed, float a while. Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. |
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Vanecek Bunny Farm |
Everything's Always Hopping at the Bunny Farm! |
| Date: Tue, 3 Apr 01 From: DenScout@aol.com
Subject: Warming cold kits Since the discussion has come around to rewarming kits that have gotten cold, here's my method. I fill a baggie with warm water (actually pretty hot) water. The zip lock baggies don't leak. Then I put that in a deep bowl or basket and cover it with a washcloth. The kits are put on this "water bed" and covered with another washcloth and they are tucked in around the sides with the top cloth. This gets them to nestling and warming each other. Cold stress is a great drain on the kits fuel reserves. To come back after a severe chill, they need more energy to function. Don't return them to the nest till they are fully warmed. This may take a couple of hours. If the kits are to be returned to a cold nest--I'll get another baggie of hot water, and put in into the nest for about 15 minutes to warm up the nest. Then the baggie comes out and the kits go in. I'll keep the nest in the house for about an hour, and check to make sure they maintain their heat. Then I'll return them to mom for nursing. Usually it takes me about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to rewarm a litter. If there's any chance that the nest will get chilled again, I'll remove them from mom after nursing. This takes a bit more work, but I've saved quite a few kits this way. Elaine |
Hello all of you! After finally taking the advice of my friend Pat, I have decided to finally sit down and write about the way I Ivomec my Hollands.
Ivomecing and cutting toenails are the two things I hate most about my rabbit chores. I find it is very time consuming, and hard to do. Trying to hold my rabbit on it’s back, keep it steady, and slowly drip the drops of Ivomec in it’s mouth, in hopes it all gets licked up and swallowed.
I decided one night when I could not sleep to find another way to make it easier to Ivomec my Hollands, and this is what I came up with and it seems to work very well.
I feed calf-manna to my Hollands everyday along with 15% Petrus feed and “all you can eat” fresh coastal hay. Well, when I dump the calf-manna in their feeders… they just go crazy and eat it up right away. Those of you who feed Doc’s enhancer or etc…. have the same experience.
What I do is simple……. I extend my feeding time by about 5 hours, to insure they are really, really hungry, and have no feed leftover from the previous day. I then walk around and drip the correct amount of Ivomec onto the proper amount of calf-manna in its little measuring spoon. I allow a few seconds for the calf-manna to suck up the Ivomec, and then I dump it in. The rabbits quickly eat every little last bit of the calf-manna right up. DONE! There it is. I have
Ivomeced. It has gone right into their system, and I did not have to put either one of us through anything but happiness.
I have been using this method for almost a year now, and it had worked out just great. I even find myself Ivomecing more often, due to how easy it is now. I hope this helps those of you out there that hate Ivomecing just as much as I do.
Remember, you can use it on anything that will suck the Ivomec up, and that the rabbits will eat right away. Good luck and if you have any questions…. Feel free to ask me.
-Joy Kretzer
The Holland Hut
hollandhut@indian-creek.net
Letters to Corey!
Dear Corey,
What breed of rabbit makes the best house pet?
My preference leans toward the Holland Lop. They stay small, come in many colors and have friendly temperaments. (My people told me to write that.) Most any breed of rabbit can become a great pet. Calm, friendly rabbits usually come from calm, friendly mothers. It’s important to know where a rabbit comes from and how it was raised so you will know what it will look like as an adult & what it’s growing environment was like. I’m an orphan myself, so my people had no idea that I would turn into a 95 pound animal.
Dear Corey,
Do rabbits need their nails clipped?
Yes. Usually about 4 times a year. My people turn the bunnies paws up when trimming their nails. They also have the opportunity to examine other important areas of the bunnies at this time. Be careful not to cut into the quick. (the pink area which is the blood vessels and nerves that supply the toenail) My paw nails stay manicured by running around on our cement driveway.
Dear Corey,
How often should I treat my rabbits for coccidiosis?
4 times a year.
Dear Corey,
How often should I treat my rabbits with Ivomec?
4 times a year. When using .27% swine solution, orally administer 3 drops per pound or 1/2 cc per 10 pound rabbit. And according to my K-9 calculations that’s 1/4 cc for a 5 pound rabbit. You use Ivomec to treat worms, ear mites and other parasites which can harm or even kill rabbits. Remember to treat any new rabbits added to your herd ASAP.
Have a question? Ask Corey.
Send questions to Corey @ 51 Sun
Valley Drive, Spring Branch TX 78070.
Or you can email him at bunnies@bunnyrabbit.com
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HERBAL DISCUSSION |
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| From: "DEBRA L
HOLDREN" <espothaven@prodigy.net>
Subject: Herbal/safe alternatives for Weepy Eye in Bunnies CONJUNCTIVITIS/WEEPY EYES Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the eyeball called the conjunctiva. Key symptoms of conjunctivitis is increased sensitivity to light which will cause squinting of the rabbits eyes or frequently keeping them closed. It is also painful with soreness or swelling with discharge that may be watery or contain pus. Agrimony (Agrimonia spp.) Use a weak infusion for conjunctivitis Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile & Matricaria recutita) Dissolve 5-10 drops of tincture in warm water, use for conjunctivitis or strained eyes Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) Make an infusion and wash the eyes and add a few drops into the eyes after the wash. It is for sore and inflamed eyes so can't say if it will work as i have never tried it. You could also try to add some of the infusion into the rabbits water. Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) Use a cooled and strained infusion for conjunctivits and other eye problems Walnut leaves (Juglans spp.) Use a strained infusion or 5 drops of tincture in 20ml of warm water for conjunctivitis Motherwort (Leonurus spp.) Use a weak decoction for conjunctivitis, sore or tired eyes Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) Use 5-10 drops of tincture in 20ml water or a well-strained infusion for conjunctivitis Colloidal Silver "I have tried Echinacea and it has worked for me but only for a short time. The buck had weepy eye for quite some time though, so it was probably too late." |
| Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 From: "Micki Klepps"
<micki@showbunny.com>
Wintergreen: Medicinal Uses Like so many other Native American plants, wintergreen gained its herbal status through its medicinal use by native North Americans of several tribes. They chewed the fresh leaves to relieve tender gums, upset stomach and diarrhea, and drank the leaf tea as a remedy for colds, fever, rheumatism and gastrointestinal and kidney problems. Some tribes also chewed the leaves or berries to improve the efficiency of their breathing during strenuous or lengthy exertion. Early white settlers drank the leaf tea for many of the same reasons, and also as a diuretic and to increase a mother’s milk supply or bring on a delayed menstrual period. Many parents also made their children chew on wintergreen roots for several weeks every spring in hopes of preventing tooth decay, and a poultice of the crushed leaves or a strong leaf decoction was applied to relieve muscle aches and inflammations. Wintergreen’s effectiveness against pain is due to the action of methyl salicylate, which constitutes about 99 percent of wintergreen’s essential oil. This compound is similar to aspirin (acetyl-salicylic acid) and, when digested, acts almost exactly like it. A tea made from wintergreen leaves can help ease a fever and take the edge off a headache. However, any caution that applies to aspirin also applies to wintergreen tea. Because of the danger of Reye syndrome, don’t give wintergreen in any form to children or teenagers who are ill with chickenpox or flu. Adults who are pregnant, have ulcers or other stomach problems, or are taking aspirin or anticoagulants should not take wintergreen internally. Others should use wintergreen tea only in moderation and stop drinking it if they experience nausea, vomiting or ringing in their ears. A relatively safe poultice for bruises, sprains and joint pain can be made by simmering a couple of handfuls of wintergreen leaves in a pint of water for 15 minutes, allowing the brew to cool, then soaking a cloth in it. Leave the poultice on for only a few minutes as it may irritate the skin, reapply in a few hours as needed.. Leave the poultice on for only a few minutes as it may irritate the skin, reapply in a few hours as needed. |
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Congratulations to Katlin and Casey Pendleton! They won Grand Champion Meatpen with Californians at the Lamar County Youth Show |
TUMS to help with baby delivery??
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 From: DenScout@aol.com Subject: Re: TUMS
Pat, the reason the Tums works is because it's calcium. To continue or induce
labor you need oxytocin in the blood stream. When the doe starts labor, her
body will produce this. BUT, you also need calcium. Calcium is one of those
things that the body needs for a signal to travel down a nerve. If your
calcium is low, the signals get interrupeted or are very weak. Thus, in a doe
that is seen to be tiring from labor--her calcium is probably low. You could
shoot her up with all sorts or oxytocin, but do nothing for her. Give her the
Tums, and the added calcium, and her labor strengthens.
Granted, Tums is going to be slower acting than what the vet uses. The vets
give calcium gluconate along with oxytocin--and the monitor VERY carefully,
so they don't overstimulate and rupture the uterus.
But, for home use, Tums should be fairly safe. Any excess calcium will just
be eliminated from the body. The doe shouldn't produce any oxytocin til her
time is due. And if you aren't injecting anything, you won't run into uterine
trouble. But, I have a hard time chewing up those things--hope the does like
it better than I do!! Elaine
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 From:nadurra@aol.com
Tums & Kindling
I give 2 Tums broken up into pieces to my holland does on
their due dates
if they haven't already kindled. Helps labor.
Good luck!
Deborah Breikss
Nadurra Holland Lops and Collies
> Hi, if i was going to give my mother to be a tums, when would i give it to
her and how many? And if it's any help i have a holland lop (Lynx).
Thanx, Nicole
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Think you know everything? 1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. 2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. 3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. 4. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. 5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. 6. There are more chickens than people in the world. 7. Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey. 8. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched," 9. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag. 10. All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20. 11. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. 12. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt." 13. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. 14. Almonds are a member of the peach family. 15. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance. 16. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. 17. There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. 18. Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo, de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula" 19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. 20. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. 21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. 22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10. 23. Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer. 24. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." 25. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours. 26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. 27. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. 28. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. 29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.> 30. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. 31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. 32. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister. 33. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. 34. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. 35. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand. ..now you know everything…..You could be a TEENAGER |
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bunnies@bunnyrabbit.com |
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offer good thru 6-30-01 NEW* 4“ E Z Feeder reg-$5 |
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If you would like to pick up something at a show, just
give us a call or email us and let us know. We will be happy to deliver
anything to a show for you. (except feed). |
Vanecek Bunny Farm |
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BUNNY FUNNY by Kathy MoerbeThis one Pal doe was not nursing her litter long enough, so each night Garry cradles her on her back & I put babies on her, 2 at a time. There's 8 to do. Well, the 3rd evening this week.... I put baby #5 on her, intending to start emptying the other row of nipples. Boooom! Doe kicks baby out of my hand onto table. OK.... put baby back. Boooom! Doe kicks baby off again. You'd think I'd learn by now that nipple is tender. But no, I put baby back on same nipple 3rd time. Booooom! (1) Only this time doe punts baby up, up!! (2) I look up to see baby caught between a rafter board and a carrier hanging up there. (3) Baby wiggles and falls (4) I catch baby in mid-air and in one smooth motion, latch baby on a DIFFERENT nipple and it continues nursing until it's fat as a tick. And that's the truth. LOL -----Kathy |
| Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 19:23:40 -0700 From: "havafox" <havafox@uslink.net> Subject: hutch burn & sore hocks The best thing in the world I have found for both of these problems is Monostat7 (a woman's cure all) this has worked very quickly on my friend's mini rex with sore hocks, and is a natural on hutchburn. Good luck Susan |
Date:19Mar01"Corbett,Judi" CorbettJ@computer-products.com Subject: Manure and Compost Pretty easy to remember which manures are hot and which are not. Hot manures are wet, horse, cow, chicken, etc... Cold manures are dry, goat, sheep and rabbit. These manures do not increase in heat when they break down and do not burn plants, composting worms, etc... Now added water, urine, etc... can make them a hotter manure, but odds are, if you are applying them to plants they are not moist enough to burn when they break down. Any dry manure, such as the ones listed above can be safely applied to plants with out causing any damage to them. Judi Corbett Harlequins - Japanese & Magpies, New Zealands-White, Blue & Black, and Californians: http://diju.tripod.com/Rabbit/main.html |
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Bunny |
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Q: What kind of books do rabbits read?
A: The ones with “Hoppy Endings”! Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs Bunny |
Subject: Rescue Remedy question?
Deb, So is Calming Essence or Rescue Remedy what you would use for a hyper rabbit that jumps off the table & over your shoulder? How much would you use for a 3 1/2 pound Holland Lop doe? Thanks, Pat
From: Foxnspots77@cs.com
Subject: Calming Essence usage
Hi, Pat! Yes, it works well for over excited rabbits. Now, my english spots are supposed to do that, so I don't give it to them, unless they are showing signs of stress. However, a dwarf would get probably only 1 drop, to start, and I would give that drop on her lip. If she is still over active, then you could give her another drop of it. It it's easier for you, you can also just rub in on the inside of her ear.
I don't really know all the facts about it, other than it really DOES work! I used it on my family for several years before using it on my animals. I used it a LOT at shows, when I was teaching teenagers the manners involved in showing rabbits. I had some mighty hyper kids! They would get overly excited and that would make the rabbits upset. So, with the parents permission (ALWAYS), I would give them 4 drops of Calming Essence and the difference was amazing! Oh, and YES, I took it too!!
It is NOT addictive and will not counter any medications, but I suppose you would want to be sure they didn't have any known allergies, and remember there IS a trace of alcohol in there (I think it's actually Rum in the Calming Essence).
Rescue Remedy is normally a lot easier to find, though, and most people have the same results with it. So, either one would work. Good luck! Deb Holdren
