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| Good condition? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 19 2011, 02:01 PM (778 Views) | |
| Little Rascal's Rabbitry | Jul 19 2011, 02:01 PM Post #1 |
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Way to Be!!!!
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How do you tell if your rabbit is in good condition from it's food? |
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Little Rascal's Rabbitry Specializing in Black Banded Dwarf Hotots, and Holland Lops in Sable Point and Black Tort http://rascalsrabbitry.weebly.com http://www.littlerascalsrabbitry.blogspot.com | |
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| Maple Front Rabbitry | Jul 19 2011, 05:18 PM Post #2 |
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Keep it Fresh
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It's hard to explain. If it's fur is in good condition it will feel like, the way that breeds fur should feel, not as if it's molting If it is in over all condition it will be a good weight, filled out, but not fat. No bones jutting out or anything, and yeah, you get the idea
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Tessa Maple Front Rabbitry
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| Locket Rabbitry | Jul 19 2011, 06:28 PM Post #3 |
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Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
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For Hollands... ...the fur will be full of luster and density. It is roll back fur type. So when you run your hand against the fur, it should lay back rather quickly with no random clumps sticking up. The fur will feel clean and light. A rabbit at absolute prime will have a "prime line" where the fur creates a line along the spine. It's amazing when they have it!! Firm flesh condition is determined by when you rub the skin along the spine. If the flesh moves easily and loosely, the rabbit is out of flesh condition. The rabbit's flesh will always be able to move, obviously. But a poorly conditioned rabbit's flesh will feel like the flesh is just hanging there on top of bones. You'll also feel less muscle. You usually feel this on a nursing mother. Muscle tone is part genetics, part nutrition. The rabbit should feel ..well, firm. Good bulk to the rabbit and like you're holding more than just fur. The rabbit should feel thick and well filled out. Open Coat is when the rabbit's fur may roll back, but it partially stands up. The fur will feel sorta thick. This is usually when the rabbit is just about to molt/between coats. Some rabbits seem to always be in this stage. Dead coat is just when the rabbits fur doesn't go anywhere. Some sticks up, some lays down. It's a rabbit that doesn't want to molt but is hanging on to dead fur. I actually have a video of a prime line on my FB account. Hope that helps. |
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| fuzzibutts | Jul 20 2011, 10:18 AM Post #4 |
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Somebunny is a awfully chatty
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Locket Lops, that was a great explanation. Jessica was just asking me the other day about Condition with her JW's. |
![]() http://melynn.webs.com melynnoes@yahoo.com Blog: http://fuzzibuttsrabbitry.blogspot.com/ English Angoras, French Angoras, Giant Angoras & Satin Angoras My husband breeds and shows Flemish Giants in Black, Blue & White My daughter breeds and shows Jersey Woolies | |
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| HoppinHerdofHares | Jul 20 2011, 03:53 PM Post #5 |
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Social Bunny
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Yep, great explanation, Laura! |
--Qadoshyah![]() Site: www.hoppinherdofhares.com Blog: http://hoppinherdofhares.blogspot.com FB: www.facebook.com/hoppinherdofhares1 | |
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| Locket Rabbitry | Jul 20 2011, 04:31 PM Post #6 |
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Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
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Phew!! Glad I got it right. I've always struggled with understanding what real condition was but with this new feed I'm on, most of my rabbits are in great coat and flesh. What a huge difference! Always bumps you up at least 1 spot on the table
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| Huckleberry Hollands | Jul 20 2011, 04:50 PM Post #7 |
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This bunny isn't leaving anytime soon
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I loved the way you described it Laura! It's soo helpful Thanks for writing it out so clearly!
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![]() ~Hannah~ Huckleberry Hollands Website Striving for quality in Sable Point and Tort Holland Lops | |
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| TJ Dwarfs | Jul 22 2011, 12:54 PM Post #8 |
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Get a Life, Seriously
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Laura, what feed are you using? |
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Trish Jones Dwarfs Rabbitry | |
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| Locket Rabbitry | Jul 22 2011, 04:09 PM Post #9 |
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Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
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I feed Big Red which is 18% protein. I'm pretty sure its sold only by Southern States so its limited in availability. $13/50 lbs |
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| TJ Dwarfs | Jul 22 2011, 05:48 PM Post #10 |
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Get a Life, Seriously
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Looks like it is available in Ohio, just not in my area. Glad to hear it is working well for you, I always like to hear what other people are using and getting good results with. So far I've only tried Purina and Pen Pals, tried the Purina Rabbit Chow Professional Formula which was 18%, and now I'm using Pen Pals Professional 16%, so far I'm happy with it.. since I've made the switch, one of my sr. bucks is finally molting out his awful coat that he hasn't molted in 2 years! Looks like a nice one is coming in, too. There are just SO many feeds out there. Locally I can buy Purina, Pen Pals, Blue Seal, and Kent. I've heard that quite a few people use the Purina Show formula, but I had such bad results with the Professional formula, I'm not sure I want to try it. |
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Trish Jones Dwarfs Rabbitry | |
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| Locket Rabbitry | Jul 22 2011, 08:42 PM Post #11 |
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Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
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My rabbits loved Purina but they were always in awful flesh condition. A friend that lives close and trades rabbits with me feeds Big Red and whenever they would go to her place, they'd pick out the Purina for the Big Red! |
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| TJ Dwarfs | Jul 22 2011, 11:22 PM Post #12 |
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Get a Life, Seriously
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Some of mine really liked the Purina, other's didn't. I've had a lot less of them digging the feed out of their bowl now that I've switched to Pen Pals. If this feed doesn't work out for me, I'll keep Big Red in mind. I can get it, it's just 3 hours (one way) from me. I go through feed so infrequently that if need be, I could probably pick up 3 bags of it and it would last me 4 or 5 months anyway. |
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Trish Jones Dwarfs Rabbitry | |
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| SpotLover | Jul 23 2011, 03:22 AM Post #13 |
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Hey, look at you! You chatterbox you. Now you can request a new title! PM the Admin to do so
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Sounds like my little chubb-monster is healthy. She has the softest fur EVER!! Especially for a Nethie
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Rainefall Rabbitry Raising... Harlequin's in black, blue, & chocolate Japanese and Magpie | |
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| Locket Rabbitry | Jul 23 2011, 10:56 AM Post #14 |
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Get the Duct Tape, Stat!
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Well be careful buying so much at one time. You need to check the mill date before purchasing anyways. Usually the feed is already 1-2 months old when we (breeders on a whole) buy it. So if you don't use your last bag until the 4 month, that feed is 6 months old and not fresh anymore. |
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| TJ Dwarfs | Jul 23 2011, 04:17 PM Post #15 |
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Get a Life, Seriously
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Thanks for the heads up. Where I buy my feed now, they receive a delivery fresh from the mill weekly. Not sure about the Big Red, as like I said, it isn't available locally and would have to drive a far distance to purchase it. I worked at a feed store for 3 years. Any kind of animal feed is actually good for 12 months from the mill date, if it is stored in a cool, and dry place. I know a lot of people say 6 months, but that is not what I was taught during my training. My rabbitry is inside of my house, (we have central a/c) so that is where the feed is stored as well. |
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Trish Jones Dwarfs Rabbitry | |
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