• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

Advice Needed

My 11 year old daughter has kept rabbit's for over 5 years. Her first was a flop eared female we adopted from a neighbour who no longer wanted her. We had her for 4 years before she died from a spinal arthritic condition whilst under treatment.

We decided that we would like to keep more and as we have a large lawned fenced and secure back garden in which rabbits can roam during the day, we adopted three 13 month old sisters from our local animal sanctuary having been thoroughly vetted. However all three died within 36 hours one weekend in August of VHD. We had only had them for 10 months and they were supposed to have been inoculated by the sanctuary, but thats another story.

This weekend my daughter has been offered four ten week old rabbits from a local council park that keeps small animals (they are from the same litter). I intend to ensure that these were inoculated for VHD before they come near our property but am not sure if they are too young for this?

Also their sexes are unknown. I have looked at the excellent post regarding how to sex rabbits and know from other parts of this forum that bucks can be neutered after four months and doe's spayed after six months. But are they likely to breed before then?

Whilst we have a reasonably large shed with 3 large interconnected hutches within, it would be difficult for us to keep the sexes apart.

Both these questions are very important as my daughter was distraught after both deaths and want to ensure I cover all bases before making a commitment.
 
Ohill would be best to answer this as she's had vhd. Phil whare are you? :lol:
 
Hiya, the babies can have the VHD vaccine from 12weeks old/3 months, they can have the vaccine before this must must have another dose 3 months later to give them enough immunity. You will need to keep the sexes apart as they can breed at a very young age XX
 
jabs

The VHD jab is only needed yearly at 10 weeks of age and the myxi jab can be given six-monthly if you are in a high risk area.

In high risk situations for VHD the intial jab can be given earlier than 6 weeks old and can be given in two doses.

Just read the leaflet called "The benefits of vaccination" and I read the information from there.

Clare
 
Your vet will be able to sex the rabbits ,but carnt the place there coming from do that?. At three mths it should be easy for you to tell as there testicals will be dropping and you can whip them off to the vets. val
 
VHD can remain in the environment (hutches/sheds/soil) for several months. So would suggest the baby buns are vaccinated BEFORE coming onto your property and that the hutches you had for your previous buns (RIP) are replaced. Some people recommend just thorough disinfection of contaminated hutches but after a major outbreak of disease I would advise burning the old hutches and replacing them. A vet should be able to sex the baby buns for you. Jane and Buns xx
 
Back
Top