...while waiting for bunnies


...we made more new bunny plans. I really love to have bunnies born during the astrological sign of Scorpio. Some of my best rabbits have been Scorpios, and my best doe ever was born on Halloween. Last year we had dreadful luck during this time, but we will try again. Neo got clipped on Monday. Gretchen got clipped on Tuesday, and spent some time with Neo. These two have the silkiest coat textures and so I am very hopeful about their offspring.

Things did not go as clearly as I had wanted. Sometimes bucks do not do what they are "supposed to", and does appear less than willing. But, I have been surprised by litters when I was unsure if the match had been consummated. So, this was, yet again, an instance where I cannot say for sure that bunnies had been made, although there was ample opportunity for it to happen. And it may have. Hmmm.

So, I mark the calendar for 17 days from now to see if a nest is being made by the doe (generally a false pregnancy), and again for 32 days in hopeful prospect of a new litter.

This is the last breeding for 2004. I gave everyone in the barn the word that the bunnymaking shop is closed until March. This is an EXCELLENT time to treat aggressively for fur mites, and I have started already. As soon as Neo was back from his date, he got a dose of Ivermectin. Although his last clipping looked mite free, I will repeat this in 30 days, as he had a dreadful case of them this past summer and I want to be extra sure we get all the critters.