Frequently, we have to tell people that we are play it by ear type people. We have basically learned to expect the unexpected. Just earlier this month, we were ready to leave the house to head to Phoenix for a Scorpions/Megadeath show- then discovered it was cancelled that day, for instance. This week brought other disappointing news.
With three pregnant rabbits, we had anticipated a pretty busy end of the month (hopefully full of baby snuggles). We had Athena, the blue rex, due on October 22. Calypso, the moody champagne D’Argent, due this coming Sunday, October 29. Then, Charlotte, my black Flemish giant mix, due November 1. We did try rebreeding Athena on November 15, which is also the day we bred Radagast, the mini rex mutt, with Greenbean. The plan was to let the pregnant girls give birth, let them nurse for a couple of weeks, and rebreed all together, all the females, at the beginning of December.
There is a theory that giving a doe Geritol can actually up their chances of pregnancy and create bigger litters, in number. We planned on giving some to all of the rabbits at that time, including to Donut, the American blue mix who has yet to birth a litter. We got her at the beginning of the month, and she was starting to warm up to us.
We moved Donut into the colony area beside the chicken coop along with the youngest buns, Toffee and Nova. They took a liking to each other real quick. Toffee is gentle and mild-mannered, and she welcomed Donut with cuddles and snuggles. Nova is far more energetic and playful, and tried to get Donut to chase her around.
All seemed well, until the next morning.
I had been out there to check on the rabbits twice before ten in the morning. I witnessed Nova trying to groom Donut on my first visit. On the second, I went inside and sat with Donut for a few, giving her pets and love. Just 45 minutes after that, my brother told me to go check on her- she was laying funny. I was hoping it was just the infamous “dead bunny flop,” when buns relax in a way that looks dead. It wasn’t… it was far worse. Donut was on her back, head cocked, legs in the air, trembling. She had broken her back. In these cases, there is nothing one can do, but put them out of their misery. We have no idea what happened. Our only guess is that she jerked too hard while playing with Nova.
Bunnies break their backs very easily. They can break them even just by freaking out when spooked. Donut was a huge girl with little muscle tone. She was caged her whole life, as most farm raised rabbits are, and we hoped giving her space to run and act like a rabbit would improve her life.
Her autopsy was very enlightening. We could see where she had broken her back. We also discovered that she had a few health issues.
Rabbits have two reproductive horns. Each horn has little sacs where babies grow. Her sacs were completely full of clear fluid- a symptom of hydrometra. Hydrometra is a disorder that causes infertility in rabbits, and can decrease their life span as well. On top of that… she had so much body fat. She was obese. Her kidneys were totally coated in about two inches of fat. None of the other rabbits we have butchered had as much body fat as her. This is why we want bigger cages for rabbits instead of the bare minimum.
Speaking of bigger cages, my husband and my mom built a new, huge cage just for Charlotte and her babies! It’s much taller, wider, and longer than the other one. She seems happier. In fact, most of the rabbits were given new, bigger space over the month.
Athena is being confusing. I have to admit, my patience has really been tested. As I mentioned, she was due October 22nd. She started making her nest just a day or two before her due date. What’s odd, though, is that she just frantically built a nest of orchard grass one morning, and stopped. No fur pulling or anything, and she hasn’t touched the nest since! She is well past her due date and is showing no signs of giving birth any time soon. We have no idea if she is pregnant and just very late, or if she had a false pregnancy. Only time will tell.
Calypso, at least, is definitely pregnant. Her previous owner said it was not uncommon for her to birth on day 40 instead of day 31. We had the pleasure of getting to see her babies kick around her tummy as she lay on her side yesterday! She has not started building her nest at all, so she may birth late again.
Charlotte… we actually have no idea if she is for sure pregnant or not. She was bred the day we got her with two different large male mixed breeds. We definitely hope one of them succeeded!
It has been a generally frustrating week. Donut’s death. No babies. Repeated failed sewing projects. Did I mentioned my husband’s work removed his project, so he was placed back into his more stressful previous job? At least they kept the pay and raise he earned right before they announced the changes.
However, we did get to start ThanksGimli last night, and tomorrow is my brother’s birthday. Hopefully, November is a bit happier for all. We have a Rob Zombie show on the fourth (hopefully, this one does not get cancelled as the Scorpions/Megadeath one that was supposed to be two weeks ago did), more birthdays, and more ThanksGimli.
For now, I need to plan out the kids’ lessons for next week. This week was taken a little lightly since I anticipated a busy week. They did get to do a few great art projects, but one is saved as a gift, and will be shown later ❤
The Heroes Guild 
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