just one ear?

[zzGypsy]

ok, so one of my kits from my first 2 litters had an ear fall over two days ago and it's still flopped... he's the only one of 12 kits (two different does, same dad) with a floppy ear, and it's just one ear. he'll be 6 weeks tomorrow...

so... these are new zealand crosses, is this likely to be just a stray lop gene finding it's way to the surface? I've checked the ear, it looks normal, no injuries, inflamation, sore spots, he's not scratching it or shaking it or sensitive about it being touched...

is there something I need to check for to make sure there isn't a problem?

it has been warm here, 80 degrees, but they're out of the sun and have good air circulation, plenty of water.

he's in with his dam and one litter mate (I weaned the litter mates 3 days ago), large cage with plenty of room. these two are due to be moved to the grow-out pen in a few days and if there's something I need to do here, I'll hold off.

I'll post a photo tonight...

 

[terri9630]

When you pet him do you push the ears down? I had one like that a couple of years ago and a judge told me that when you handle the rabbits always lift the ears and never push them flat because it can train them to let them flop over.

 

[secuono]

"Let them flop over" I don't think it works like that. Either the cartilage is made different and the ears connect a bit differently on the head or the cartilage is weak and thus has no strength and stiffness it needs to stay up.

 

[terri9630]

That's what the judge told me and it as worked for two of my does.

 

[zzGypsy]

hm. well either way it's not from petting them... we don't handle them a lot for petting, mostly just for cage cleaning and wellness checking... this one was on my potential breeder list out of this litter, but this 1-ear trick may let it out of that group.