Lost half the herd today

[Beekissed]

Losing animals is always difficult, but it helps me to think of it in terms of culling for more resilient stock. Do you really want to have a herd based on animals that barely tolerate living conditions?

I lean towards this way of thinking also. Though it's hard to lose stock, it's also a starting point for changing things in how you do so and what kind of stock you want to raise.

In the summer we moved our meat rabbits out to an open air situation and established fans, gave them frozen water bottles to lie on, provided shade and didn't breed them during the summer months, much like everyone else describes.

If I had to do rabbits all over again, I'd be raising them in tractors and moving them to fresh graze a few times a day, but I think I'd also provide them a den situation during the hottest months. A wild rabbit will den up during the heat of the day and come out to feed at night, so being able to provide that situation for rabbits would be my goal.

 

[baymule]

If you give them plastic bottles with frozen ice, bear in mind that they will nibble on them. This will put holes in the bottles and then you can't use them again. That's why I suggested filling plastic bowls and popping the ice out. yeah, it'll be a little wet, but you can refill the bowls and have more ice.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Thanks for all the help. It never crossed my mind that they might stroke on me. My set up much better than the other guys around me. I just never thought exposure would be an issue.

 

[sumi]

Yeah, it's an awful feeling when animals or birds in our care dies and we feel we could've prevented it somehow But looking at your set-up, you are clearly taking good care of them and the weather was out of your control..

 

[Farmfresh]

Look at your local tile shop or Habitat for Humanity for cheap marble remnants. A marble slab will pull heat away from the animal as well as give them someplace flat to sit which relieves hock issues on wire cage floors. Marble is also close grained so it won't absorb urine the way a masonry block can. Basically the same properties that makes marble ideal for rolling dough also makes it ideal for rabbits.

 

[Mini Horses]

He set up an awesome air flow for them. It's in his homestead thread. If you raise rabbits you'd like this.

 

[the funny farm6]

I {like others have said} have always frozen soda bottles and I have done the tiles, but they don't last long and have to be switched out more often. another thing I do is to freeze gallon ice cream buckets and set them in front of a fan blowing toward the rabbits. works kinda like an air conditioner. it is always hard to loose good stock.