Sold Rabbits Dead. Your thoughts???

[that's*satyrical]

not nessicairly...
i bougth 2 lops from a lady about an hour and a half away, same climate, they were in outdoor hutches, we feed the same feed, got them home and the next day they both died form heat stress (i had ice bottles and frozen tiles in wiht them, they were in the shade, ect) they were fine one minute and literally gone an hour later...

some bunnies just dont take the stress of the seperation, and stess of the trip, plus the stres of a new place, PLUS the heat well.

op not much you cna do to reduce stress, make sure thier hutches/cages are set up in the shade, and you might try encoraging apple cider vinegar use (1 tsp per gallon) the electorlytes help) but otherwise once there out of your hands, in the heat weve all been having lately...its up to the new owners to make sure ther providing and changing out ice bottles regularly, might be worth telling them to get cheap tile form lowes and keeping a couple per cage in the freezer and swapping them out regularly, and even misting with the hose...

Thanks for the input. One more reason not to breed these guys during the summer or rehome them during the summer. I will recommend the ACV to them when they take the next pair home too.

 

[DianeS]

I agree with wondering how they were transported. In a closed box set in direct sunlight? Left in the car while the owner made a "quick" stop? Put in a hot garage while the owner finished getting the hutches ready? That sort of thing.

If you delivered the rabbits it would let you know they were transported safely. (Have a show or anything in that direction at the time you'll have the new kits?) It would also let you check out their accomodations in case the owners did something dumb there (like having a tin roof in sunlight, or the hutch right beside a poisonous bush, that sort of thing). I also imagine it's possible there are children around who might have injured the rabbits accidentally, but then put them back in the hutch without saying anything. If you are on the spot delivering the rabbits you could see all sorts of things, and educate the owners.

 

[ChickenPotPie]

My guess is that, if they were not sick, it had to be stress. At 85 degrees, rabbits can start dying. No guarantee should cover heat stress. That said, I think you are good to replace them and that is is good to have seen photos of the dead rabbits. It it good to think the best of people while at the same time, knowing there are a few out there who will try to scam you. I don't think these people were out to do that. Best of luck with your next litter. I hope the next time around goes much better for your buyers.

And, if you don't have one already, consider writing up an official health guarantee for all rabbits you might sell. It's just a good idea.

 

[lexibot]

Could have been anything. A dogma, heatvon the way to their new home... Sometimes rabbits are so delicate.

 

[sonnythebunny]

i got my first rabbit in washington (a lop) and he survived the trip all the way to california in about 70-100 (august) degree weather with only one ice pack (we refoze it)
and was in a tiny little box,

 

[terri9630]

i got my first rabbit in washington (a lop) and he survived the trip all the way to california in about 70-100 (august) degree weather with only one ice pack (we refoze it)
and was in a tiny little box,

Some animals travel better than others. Yours was in a box which could have reduced the stress since he couldn't see the 'scary' world flash by. I bought 3 rabbits from Phoenix and drove 6 hrs home. I covered the travel carrier with a towel, one of the does was stressing and upsetting the other 2. After I covered them they all settled down.