Blue Silver Fox

[mysunwolf]

Well, after my doe died I thought I might get out of rabbits, but now I am getting back in the game. I've added a new black Silver Fox doe from our neighbors who we've named Dolly.

My buck Elliot is still doing well. Here's him acting goofy, rubbing his scent all over and making sure his kits next door know who's boss.

This is the doe kit from Elliot's first litter that we are keeping. She is out of our NZ/?/mutt doe, Snow, who has 8+ kits every time and has been an excellent momma from the beginning, as well as being extremely calm (though she doesn't like to be handled much). This broken blue doe is the largest and friendliest of Snow's litter.

In another month I'll post some photos of the new rabbitry setup.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Very nice!

 

[Bossroo]

I'd love to know how you do it!

The health issues here are enteritis and cocci primarily (especially on pasture). We haven't had many ear mite issues or parasites unless they're on deep litter. If I have them on wire, we usually have zero issues, except for this doe Delilah (whose symptoms and insides primarily looked like enteritis).

Your answer is in your post ... " when on wire, have zero issues." I would recommend that you change your animal husbandry practices to what ACTUALLY WORKS in real life .

 

[mysunwolf]

Well, we just had an issue on wire: a bald patch on one of the boys' heads, right on his forehead. The four boys are separated out in their own cage and the one rabbit is the only one who has this. We have had this problem on deep litter and assumed that it was a mite of some sort. I will try to get a photo. We have also thought it might be from fighting as they will lunge at each other every now and then. They have enough room right now and will be slaughtered in two days so I am not too worried, but would hate for this to pass to the breeders.

In happy news, my doe Snow is loving living with her Silver Fox cross daughters. And this morning we bred our pure Silver Fox pair, so really hoping for some nice kits! We'll see, of course.

 

[mysunwolf]

The Silver Fox genetics have already helped my meat rabbit sizes! Usually ours are about 2lbs-2.75lbs. The Silver Fox crosses dressed out at 2.75lbs-3.75lbs! I'm very excited as we've never hit 5lbs in 12 weeks before (believe it or not). Can't wait to see what the purebreds bring.

This was the monster that dressed out at 3.75lbs, almost as big as his momma next door:

I thought he would be mostly fat and not end up weighing much, but he was a full 1lb larger than his largest brother. Body shape was inherited from the mother on all of them and so was very much too long.

Here's the smallest bun who had a bald patch on his head:

Not sure why, but our best guess was fighting among the brothers. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[mysunwolf]

The first litter of pure Silver Foxes arrived, with 6 blacks and 1 blue And finally bred my new big blue doe to my blue buck, so there should be more blues in that litter in 30 days.

 

[BlessedWithGoats]

Congrats @mysunwolf!!! Baby bunnies are so much fun!
Sorry about the doe that you lost!
My dad has Silver Fox rabbits too! He'd like to get a blue one someday!

 

[goatgurl]

congrats on the new bunnies!! can't wait to see what they look like when they are up and hopping around.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats!

 

[mysunwolf]

Whew, we have been so busy that I haven't taken many photos. Here is momma Dolly with her big babies.

And on Friday, our blue doe had 10 kits... and they were all blue!! Can't wait for some photos when they are older.

We are really trying to get out of rabbits this time... really. Hopefully by this winter. Until then, I'll enjoy these little fluffy babies.