Ms. Research

[aggieterpkatie]

Good for DH and tell Kreacher to pick on someone his own size. I have to admit, I'm intimidated by my big buck. He's an Am. Chin/Silver Fox cross and he has "growled" and lunged at me more than once. I'm getting braver, but I'm still askeered of him. I can handle large animals no problem, but when a bunny growls I get nervous.

It is intimidating with a smaller animal. Especially with their faces and to hear growls from that cute little face. Understand completely. But glad you are persistent with him. They do sense when you are nervous. Just like a dog. They read your emotions like a book. When they feel your weak, they will test. I just believe that "test period over" thump on the nose. You have to. You can't let them rule you. You might try just visiting and what I mean by visiting is, don't touch him, just arrange his crate or stick your head in for a little while. Do this for about ten/fifteen minutes. I see a difference in their attitude toward me when I did this. I did this with all my rabbits. I visited at least 3 times a week. Since my two (Dobby and Kreacher) were young when we got them, it was just routine. But I saw a major difference when i did this with Willard who we got just recently and he is older. Not much older than my two but he didn't grow up here. It worked. he is now coming to me to see what I'm doing. Not fretful any more. Just curious. Before he used to run and thump to tell me to get lost. Now no more. Only thumps now when I pick him up. And that's it. No struggle.

But glad to hear you are getting braver. Try visiting. Maybe that will take the growl out. I think it's more some rabbits need to know what you are doing. My observations of bunnies has led me to believe that as soon as you open their crates up they are in defense mode. Visiting takes the guessing out of the bunny which then alleviates the defense mode.

Try it. Let me know how it works out. And stay strong. I know it's unnerving to hear a sweet rabbit growl or lunge at you.

K

That's a good idea! It probably doesn't help that most days I just open his cage long enough to give him food and water, although I do pet him while he's eating (well, until he moves away). I'll try to "hang out" in his cage for a while a few times a week and see how he handles it. Or more importantly, how I handle it. LOL.

 

[autumnprairie]

K, I wanted to say thanks on the incite of rabbit behavior . I never really knew that much about them but reading your journal has showed me that they too show you there moods and what they want if you but listen.

 

[redtailgal]

Ms Research, ask your DH if he'd like to come and clean Elroys cage for me?

Elroy hahas started greeting us as though we were fellow lizards..........with a soft bite to our fingers. Wouldn't be a problem, except iguanas have 160 teeth, similar to a mako shark and extremely sharp (the have been known to bite a finger to the bone or even bite off the tip of a nose).

Thing is, he is being friendly, so I can't thump him!

Good for hubby for standing his ground.

and Good for hubby for cleaning cages. While he is here, maybe he can teach my hubby to do that!

 

[Ms. Research]

Ms Research, ask your DH if he'd like to come and clean Elroys cage for me?

Elroy hahas started greeting us as though we were fellow lizards..........with a soft bite to our fingers. Wouldn't be a problem, except iguanas have 160 teeth, similar to a mako shark and extremely sharp (the have been known to bite a finger to the bone or even bite off the tip of a nose).

Thing is, he is being friendly, so I can't thump him!

Good for hubby for standing his ground.

and Good for hubby for cleaning cages. While he is here, maybe he can teach my hubby to do that!

When do you want us? And what's for dinner? How's the weather? lol

No can't thump Elroy on the nose if that's the way iguanas greet. Mix messages.

Regarding your DH not cleaning Elroy's cage, isn't Elroy mad at your DH? Isn't Elroy vying for your affections alone 10 fold and wants your DH gone? Is that the issue between your DH and Elroy? And now you want your DH to clean Elroy's cage now? You just want to film it and laugh. That's not nice. lol. Great idea to get back at your DH, but it's not nice. lol

Gee the things we do for love. Especially iquana love. Remember "Muskrat Love". Now we know what "Iguana Love" is.

All kidding aside, I have seen specials where reptiles are very territorial and they don't kid around. Like you said "Mako Shark" teeth. Need to take this in stride. Baby steps is the way. Your DH has to start somewhere. I wonder if visiting like we do with our rabbits to calm them down would help. Maybe it will kind of wash away some of Elroy's misgivings of your DH. I know how much Elroy is connecting to you now and you need to let him know your DH is friendly and won't harm you or Elroy.

K

 

[Ms. Research]

Happy New Year! Hoping 2012 is Happy and Healthy for all!

2011 brought us Dobby, Kreacher and Willard. One of the Best things that happened in 2011.

Looking forward to what 2012 brings. Hopefully more rabbits. Girls and an intact buck for breeding. I think that I'm seriously thinking on getting does at 8 weeks, just like my boys. I know they aren't proven and could turn out to be "duds", but I think I want to see how my does that I raise will do. I'm not trying to set the world on fire with my breeding program. More slow and steady. As this whole rabbit thing was an experiment to help us, I think I will continue that way of thinking. As it's only my DH and I, along with Jake, getting two unproven does and a buck (how else are you going to make babies) waiting til they mature to breed will not break the bank for us.

Looking forward to the Spring of 2012. This is the year we will be making our garden bigger and also incorporating the rabbit run into it. DH took down the temp we have now. Need to do some tree pruning so that more sunlight can come into the garden. Once the trees have their "hair cut", we can then put back the fencing for our larger garden and rabbit run. Our neighbor took down his garden fence to be able to store his boat so we have his fencing to put with ours.

Also need to start germinating seeds. Instead of buying plants, we want to start from scratch.

We did get our compost started so we will have "rabbit" fertilizer for our garden and flowers in the Spring.

Some concrete plans for 2012. Look forward to seeing how they pan out.

K

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

More bunnies ???

 

[Ms. Research]

More bunnies ???

Yep! DH and I have discussed IN LENGTH (I wanted Lionhead, he wanted Holland) about what we want next.

The boys are pets. Dobby and Kreacher were an idea of DH to help me heal. He knew I missed that nuturing. It's like an adult with an "empty nest" feeling when their adult children leave to find their lives in this World. It's really tough once you have that "nuturing" kick in to stop it. So.... DH thought rabbits. He doesn't even know where the idea came from, but went with it. Blew me away when he first suggested it. But as I trust my DH wholeheartedly, I went with it. Brought these two tiny rabbits home, and it's been the best thing ever for both of us. Plus the added rescue, Willard, well, I have to say healing is happening. And DH's idea has been successful.

Now I want babies. I've been reading all the threads, seeing all the "new life" and I really want to try it. DH wants to as well now. Little leary himself about rabbits at first, but they have really grown on him and he does like to see the successful litters here like I do. But I want to try it our way. I want to raise my does and intact buck then try breeding. If it's a hit, I'll be pleased. If not, more pets or finding homes. I know we can raise sweet rabbits. We have three examples in the living room. I'm also well aware that it's a very "hit or miss" deal with breeding. (really glad I found this forum and all the info lately about rabbit breeding), but DH and I can handle it. Emotionally that is. It was tough even letting my heart attach to these sweet buns at first, because of our HUGE loss.

So YEP more bunnies.

K

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

More bunnies ???

Yep! DH and I have discussed IN LENGTH (I wanted Lionhead, he wanted Holland) about what we want next.

The boys are pets. Dobby and Kreacher were an idea of DH to help me heal. He knew I missed that nuturing. It's like an adult with an "empty nest" feeling when their adult children leave to find their lives in this World. It's really tough once you have that "nuturing" kick in to stop it. So.... DH thought rabbits. He doesn't even know where the idea came from, but went with it. Blew me away when he first suggested it. But as I trust my DH wholeheartedly, I went with it. Brought these two tiny rabbits home, and it's been the best thing ever for both of us. Plus the added rescue, Willard, well, I have to say healing is happening. And DH's idea has been successful.

Now I want babies. I've been reading all the threads, seeing all the "new life" and I really want to try it. DH wants to as well now. Little leary himself about rabbits at first, but they have really grown on him and he does like to see the successful litters here like I do. But I want to try it our way. I want to raise my does and intact buck then try breeding. If it's a hit, I'll be pleased. If not, more pets or finding homes. I know we can raise sweet rabbits. We have three examples in the living room. I'm also well aware that it's a very "hit or miss" deal with breeding. (really glad I found this forum and all the info lately about rabbit breeding), but DH and I can handle it. Emotionally that is. It was tough even letting my heart attach to these sweet buns at first, because of our HUGE loss.

So YEP more bunnies.

K

That is great ! Animals are great help in healing loss .... They just do something to you... Like you said in your signature ...

 

[DKRabbitry]

think that I'm seriously thinking on getting does at 8 weeks, just like my boys. I know they aren't proven and could turn out to be "duds", but I think I want to see how my does that I raise will do.

I like to get my girls as babies... I like getting them all as babies, but that is just me. Something about them growing up here and being used to everything here has always seemed to help.

So glad you are happy with your bunnies and they are helping you as much, if not more, than you helped them. They truly are interesting and personable little creatures. I never realized that till I had some of my own. They are actually a lot like the Goats of the small animal world!

 

[Ms. Research]

think that I'm seriously thinking on getting does at 8 weeks, just like my boys. I know they aren't proven and could turn out to be "duds", but I think I want to see how my does that I raise will do.

I like to get my girls as babies... I like getting them all as babies, but that is just me. Something about them growing up here and being used to everything here has always seemed to help.

So glad you are happy with your bunnies and they are helping you as much, if not more, than you helped them. They truly are interesting and personable little creatures. I never realized that till I had some of my own. They are actually a lot like the Goats of the small animal world!

Thanks for the encouragement. Knowing someone out there feels the same way and has been successful makes me feel a bit more at ease. Truly appreciate it.

100% agreement. I too never realized that till mine came into my life. Three absolutely different individuals that has been a pleasure getting to know. That's the most important part, knowing who they are, IMHO. I know what they are, rabbits, but when you know who they are, that's the key to healthy, happy animals.

K