What is the earliest you wean your bunnies?

[houndit]

I usually do mine at 5-6 weeks. I was wondering if you can do it any earlier. With Easter getting close, I would like to wean them as soon as possible. Thank you for your help.

 

[RabbitMage]

I don't generally wean mine until 8 weeks.

I also don't sell them as throwaway Easter pets.

 

[houndit]

I don't generally wean mine until 8 weeks.

I also don't sell them as throwaway Easter pets.

Wow! If I leave the bunnies with the Mother for 6 weeks she usually kicks them off. What kind of rabbits do you have?

 

[RabbitMage]

Tans at the moment. In the past I've bred Rhinelanders, Mini Rex, Satins, Californians, Champagne d'Argents, Netherlands, and American Fuzzy Lops. I never wean prior to 6 weeks unless there's a problem with mom.

 

[JerseyXGirl]

I let momma rabbit tell me when she's ready to get rid of them. They do a pretty good job of letting me know when it's time for them to find their own living arrangements. Usually 6+ weeks or so. I also will be selling nonthrowaway quality easter bunnies this year but I only have 4. Good Luck with ur bunnies, I seen the pics and they are adorable!

 

[houndit]

Thanks!

 

[dbunni]

The initial weaning is decided by the doe... and every doe is different. But the process is not complete until the babies have fully crossed over to the new food and their systems have adjusted. some babies do not take this change well and suffer set-backs. Selling into pet stores prior to 8-9 weeks is hard on their systems in many ways. The ARBA suggests that no baby be sold prior to 8 weeks. We do not sell or produce for sale over the holidays ... too much risk of the animal being dumped. I do a lot ... lot ... of resuce of Angoras in Ohio with out this added adventure (last year rehabed over 17 animals). Have a friend who does resuce for a "smaller breed that is popular this time of year" and she ends up with over 100 rabbits each year from the resuce system inside of a 2 - 3 month period after Easter. Her breed alone.

 

[chinbunny1]

The only time i wean mine early is when something is going on with the mom. She gets sick, starts kicking the kits around, etc. If she kickes them around she is gone. I won't tolerate a doe that refuses to raise a litter for at least six weeks.

otherwise i don't wean early. I have had several breeds. Right now I have newzealands, standard chinchillas, mini rex, mixed meat breeds and florida whites(yes I have added a couple of breeds this weekend, and have raised them in the past). i have found most does will tolerate their litters for six weeks or longer. Although I do have one that has enough of them when they turn about seven weeks old. She has never beaten them up though. then I breed back in a couple of weeks to give the doe a clean break from them, or whenever she is ready.

I also don't do easter sales that often. Too many people buying rabbits for all the wrong reasons. Out of the couple I have done the rabbits ended up having good homes. A lot of breeders won't do them either. if you do, make sure you have a good take back policy. id rather breed for showing then I would easter sales though.

 

[chinbunny1]

The initial weaning is decided by the doe... and every doe is different. But the process is not complete until the babies have fully crossed over to the new food and their systems have adjusted. some babies do not take this change well and suffer set-backs. Selling into pet stores prior to 8-9 weeks is hard on their systems in many ways. The ARBA suggests that no baby be sold prior to 8 weeks. We do not sell or produce for sale over the holidays ... too much risk of the animal being dumped. I do a lot ... lot ... of resuce of Angoras in Ohio with out this added adventure (last year rehabed over 17 animals). Have a friend who does resuce for a "smaller breed that is popular this time of year" and she ends up with over 100 rabbits each year from the resuce system inside of a 2 - 3 month period after Easter. Her breed alone.

Hmmm lion head? Just a guess.

I have a e friend out in ca that also does a lot of work in angora rabbit rescue. She has also met/knows betty chu.

 

[dbunni]

Not lionhead ... on the popular breed ... no coat involved in it.

As for Chu ... in the EA breed many of us have met her. She is a fount of information, especially on the genetics side of the game. Nice woman.