Surprise!

Depending on the breed, my rabbits weigh between 1 1/2 and 10 1/2 pounds.

"Nervous" is the natural state of an herbivore, particularly a small one. A wild rabbit inevitably winds up getting eaten, those who are good at running and hiding and/or are just plain lucky live long enough to make a few litters before it happens. Domestication has only somewhat dulled their senses; instinct lurks just beneath the unnaturally colored and shaped surfaces of our pet rabbits. When frightened, a rabbit has two instinctive reactions; first, to hunker down and hope to go unnoticed, and if that doesn't work, they sprint for cover. Rabbits have explosive acceleration but no staying power; a wild rabbit is never very far from a bolt hole. If the rabbit doesn't have room to run, he is more likely to sit tight. That is the reason why the carriers we take rabbits to shows in are so small - if the rabbit can't go anywhere, he will just huddle in place. And with only enough room to stretch out, if the rabbit does try to run, he can't get up enough speed to kill himself before he hits the far side of the carrier. If your rabbits have any kind of cover, when presented with loud noises or sudden movements, they probably respond to their most basic instinct to sit tight and weather the storm rather than to run.
 
Have to agree with Bunnylady. I collected some extra fur after a false but would never pluck them. Mine have rex fur so it would be difficult. I also would suggest not allowing bucks and does together, live litters have a better chance if you know your due dates.
 
After raising rabbits into the thousands of all breeds and sizes starting as pets then later commercial , I agree 100% with Bunnylady. Bob Bennett and others like him , well let it be said not so much.
 
Mini Rex, or lust plain Rex, fur shouldn't be plucked, considering that it is so short you could harm the rabbit in the process. Plucking works for some people, but not for others. I have saved whole litters by plucking the for myself, and so have many people I know. Some rabbits are more nervous than others. For example, my Dutch react worse to a sudden noise or movement than my New Zealands.
 
promiseacres said:
Have to agree with Bunnylady. I collected some extra fur after a false but would never pluck them. Mine have rex fur so it would be difficult. I also would suggest not allowing bucks and does together, live litters have a better chance if you know your due dates.
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You know, I was wondering about that. I've heard of colony situations (I like the idea of it but don't have the set-up) but, even then, I've read that bucks and does are kept apart.

I have an extra cage...I should probably move our buck out of the doe's space before she kindles, eh? Has anyone here kept their bucks and does together without problems?
 
Bucks have been known to "kill" litters(what actually happens is that because rabbits are ready to breed almost immediately after giving birth, the buck chases the doe like mad, resulting in the kits beibg trampled. I have heard of cases where the buck did actually kill the kits, but the first is more likely to happen. But either way, it would be better to avoid all problems and remove the buck before kindling time.
 
UPDATE: Well I missed the window. I went out this past Sunday to discover our Netherland doe had kindled. Honestly, I thought she had another week.
Buuut...the buck was totally staying away from the kits and both adults were both calm.
Anywho, as soon as I discovered the kits I moved Mr. Buck to his own cage. She seems a little lonely now that he's moved out but other than that, everything is going great with dad, mom, and kits.
 
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