happypreso
Alpha Buck
Hi, I have been reading the thread re the rabbit losing her litters and the replies etc and just wanted to maybe add some advice for all/some of the members here to maybe encourage new members and to 'convert' people.
Here is some background info about me (just so you know) when I was a young girl we used to have several rabbits and guinea pigs. I think we had about 4 hutches with 2 rabbits (or one rabbit and 2 guinea pigs) in each. We bred these rabbits and gave the babies away to anyone that wanted them (no homechecks etc). We didn't get them neutered or vax'd (we did used to seperate the boys and girls after one litter so they wasn't constantly breeding) and all the rabbits lead a full and healthy life. None of the rabbits or guinea pigs were even registered at a vets! This was about 20 years ago.
Since having my 2 buns (Aug 2008), I realise how much things have changed. Both Bugs & Star have been vax'd, get checked regularly, have free run of the garden and are really quite spoilt. Yes I did decided to breed them (only the once, the 2nd litter really was an accident!) and it was from this decision of breeding that I found this forum. When the first litter was born, they were all scattered over the hutch. We found 1 baby already dead (from the cold I think) and I wanted to help the other remaining 4 to live (3 survived in the end). I searched the internet for help and this is how I found the forum. I didn't know this forum was mainly posters from rescues etc. I didn't think I had done anything 'wrong' but over the last few months, you people have KINDLY talked some sense into me! Like I say the 2nd litter was a pure accident and there is no way I would breed rabbits again. I ensure that my rabbits have the basic needs and much more (like the right size hutch, toys, lovely expensive hay (!) etc etc) and that is thanks to you lovely people (like the hay expert website - never seen so many different hays!). When my second litter had problems with the eyes - it was you people I turned too and the answers were all here, I dont know (esp with the eye problem) what I would have done without you!
BUT I think you need to calm down (sorry, best words I can think of!) a bit when you get someone posting a thread like the litter problems thread. If I had posted that thread and received them replies, there is no way I would have come back .... and then she/he will carry on doing what they are doing without any help and knowledge. You people know your stuff and are so kind and caring and there are ways you can help people but not by shouting and 'carrying on' like the replies in that post. I have no idea if the post is 'real' or not but surely if it is real then that person needs our help (just like I did). You can change peoples views but you have to talk calmly and understanding people not assuming the worse. (and dont get me wrong, I dont agree with any of what the person said but you dont know the full ins and outs and sometimes it is very hard to explain when writing it down!)
I hope I haven't offended anyone with this post but as a newbie that wasn't aware of the rescues and all the hard work you do and the way you felt about breeding when I joined, I just felt I had to say something.
Here is some background info about me (just so you know) when I was a young girl we used to have several rabbits and guinea pigs. I think we had about 4 hutches with 2 rabbits (or one rabbit and 2 guinea pigs) in each. We bred these rabbits and gave the babies away to anyone that wanted them (no homechecks etc). We didn't get them neutered or vax'd (we did used to seperate the boys and girls after one litter so they wasn't constantly breeding) and all the rabbits lead a full and healthy life. None of the rabbits or guinea pigs were even registered at a vets! This was about 20 years ago.
Since having my 2 buns (Aug 2008), I realise how much things have changed. Both Bugs & Star have been vax'd, get checked regularly, have free run of the garden and are really quite spoilt. Yes I did decided to breed them (only the once, the 2nd litter really was an accident!) and it was from this decision of breeding that I found this forum. When the first litter was born, they were all scattered over the hutch. We found 1 baby already dead (from the cold I think) and I wanted to help the other remaining 4 to live (3 survived in the end). I searched the internet for help and this is how I found the forum. I didn't know this forum was mainly posters from rescues etc. I didn't think I had done anything 'wrong' but over the last few months, you people have KINDLY talked some sense into me! Like I say the 2nd litter was a pure accident and there is no way I would breed rabbits again. I ensure that my rabbits have the basic needs and much more (like the right size hutch, toys, lovely expensive hay (!) etc etc) and that is thanks to you lovely people (like the hay expert website - never seen so many different hays!). When my second litter had problems with the eyes - it was you people I turned too and the answers were all here, I dont know (esp with the eye problem) what I would have done without you!
BUT I think you need to calm down (sorry, best words I can think of!) a bit when you get someone posting a thread like the litter problems thread. If I had posted that thread and received them replies, there is no way I would have come back .... and then she/he will carry on doing what they are doing without any help and knowledge. You people know your stuff and are so kind and caring and there are ways you can help people but not by shouting and 'carrying on' like the replies in that post. I have no idea if the post is 'real' or not but surely if it is real then that person needs our help (just like I did). You can change peoples views but you have to talk calmly and understanding people not assuming the worse. (and dont get me wrong, I dont agree with any of what the person said but you dont know the full ins and outs and sometimes it is very hard to explain when writing it down!)
I hope I haven't offended anyone with this post but as a newbie that wasn't aware of the rescues and all the hard work you do and the way you felt about breeding when I joined, I just felt I had to say something.