Anyway, that's neither here nor there. What you're really wanting to read about(or looking to pick apart and criticize) is how my rabbitry is run.
It obviously starts out first thing in the morning, when I wake up. I have an order to which I do things, which ensures that everything is done, and which the rabbits find comfort in. They know, when I start moving about, that things are going to happen in a certain order. The rabbits in my bedroom are done first - food and water is filled, cage is scooped for any poops that missed the litter box overnight. They're given a head rub, and a brief hand run over them, to make sure that nothing is glaringly wrong.
From the rabbits in my bedroom, I move outwards - I have a buck in the bathroom, because he sprays, and it is easy clean up in the bathroom. Initially, he was kept outside in the bunny barn, however he fell ill and was brought inside to quarantine, and so that he wouldn't have to expend energy keeping his body temperature up while trying to recover. Now that he is well, he is spraying again, but can't go outside - that would be irresponsible, and would probably kill him, since the temperature has plummeted and he has started shedding out his winter coat in favour of a lighter coat due to the temperature in the bathroom. He is fed and watered, and I clean the droppings and wet litter from his cage. He's in a wire bottomed cage. If he is not in a wire bottomed cage, he sits in his own waste and develops foot sores. This actually seems to be a trait of the breed, as 3 of the 4 rabbits I own of this breed need to be in wire bottomed cages for the health of their feet. Once the tray is cleaned, I wipe the walls, bathtub, toilet, mirror, ceiling, floor... any surface that has been sprayed.
So, now, the upstairs rabbits are done and cared for. Fed and watered, happy and healthy. Their food is measured in pre-marked plastic cups - half a day's rations are easily scooped out. They are fed according to optimum adult weight - approximately 1oz per lb of rabbit. Their morning feed is solely pellets, the water is tap water. I move downstairs next, to care for the rabbits downstairs.
If I have weanlings, they are fed first. I will combine them all into one holding cage(depending on how many there are, and while they are eating from the community dish, I clean the cages - remove the toys and hides, scoop all loose poop, wipe the entire liner down with vinegar, and stir the litter box to help dry out some of the wet corners, plus mix all the smells together so they remember where to potty. Once the weaning cages are cleaned, I return the babies to their cages, and fill the individual cage bowls. Then I move onto the adult rabbits. Same deal as upstairs, clean any mess from overnight, give food and fresh water. Head scratches and once over's. Once I'm done with everyone, I go back to the weanling cages, and check to see their food situation - depending on the numbers, they can demolish up to 5 or 6 dishes a day. I refill as required, and administer more pets and head scratches.
Then I move outside to the bunny barn. Now, their care depends on the weather. In cold weather, I fill their watering can in the kitchen sink, with hot water. In warm weather, I will either already have a jug of water out there(lidded) from the night before, or will fill the watering can from the hose. Since it is currently cold weather, we'll go with that first. I take the hot water out, and soak their water bowls to remove the ice. While the water bowls are soaking, I give them food, and check their houses/boxes for mess. Sometimes they need cleaning, sometimes they don't - any messy hay and straw is removed, the box repacked and given back to the rabbits. I then move on to refilling the water dishes - they are usually de-iced by this point, so I put their water dishes back and fill them, then step back and allow them to drink. The majority will guzzle their water down, for the warmth, because their water usually freezes fastest overnight, and because I've fed them before watering them - rabbit pellets are very dry and eating them makes a rabbit want to drink. I wait until they are done drinking, then refill the bowls, take the watering can and head inside, locking the barn up for the time being.
All of that takes an hour to an hour and a half. Only once that is done, do I start to think about my first coffee of the day, or having something to eat, or even taking a shower and getting dressed. I take care of myself then, do whatever needs to be done, while I know that my rabbits are happy, healthy, and well fed.
About halfway through the day, either a helper or I(my family helps me out, especially in the winter, they enjoy rabbit meat as well, and know that sick or underfed rabbits don't produce.) Not everyone gets fed at mid-day. Water is checked, and refilled as required. Food is checked - if the pellets are gone, the rabbit gets a handful of hay to munch on until dinner time. The outside rabbits are watered again, as often the dishes are already iced over, sometimes even partially solid. Any weanlings are given a full top up on their food dish, plus a large handful of hay - they are growing babies and need their food! This check usually takes between 30mins and an hour. It is mostly done to ensure the weanlings have food and the outside rabbits have fresh water.
At night, shortly before the lights go off in the bunny barn, I head out there again, only this time I have a bucket of hot water AND a watering can of herbal tea. I use the hot water and start thawing the water dishes once more(they are fully submerged, this warms the crock and helps the water stay hot for longer), and go through the ritual of feeding again. They are given the remainder of their pellets, plus a serving of grains is set aside - rolled oats, black oil sunflower seeds, hard wheat kernels, and another grain(I switch this one up for variety) with an pinch of flax seed on top. The grain serving is about 2oz of grains, it is higher calorie and fat intake to help them stay warm outside. I also give them a large handful of hay. Pellets are given immediately, but grains, hay and water are held back for a little bit.
It is at night, as well, that I insist on handling each and every one of my rabbits. They are taken out, their vent, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and feet are all checked thoroughly. I run my hands over every inch of their body, checking for bumps or sore spots, hair loss, change in hair growth, anything that needs off. As needed, nails are clipped at this time - usually anywhere from 2wks and 4wks between clippings, depending on the rabbit. Hair is trimmed as required as well. Once a rabbit has received the once over, they are put back in their cage, and chew toys are checked for replacement, and boxes are checked for replacement, cleaning and restuffing. It is only when I am done checking a rabbit and all of their cage that they are given their dish of grains. I like to say this is a reward for putting up with me checking them and messing with their cage, but even if they show attitude, they still get the grains ;). Once everyone and their stuff has been checked over, I give water. Or, rather, herbal tea. The rabbits LOVE their tea, and I wait outside until they've drank every drop, then refill dishes with hot water from the water bucket. A large handful of hay goes into their cage when I am giving them their last dish of water for the evening, and then I close and lock the bunny barn and head indoors.
Once back inside, it is basically the same routine for everyone. The babies do not get grains, because they are too rich for their sensitive digestive tract - they usually get a small dish of plain rolled oats, though, as a treat. The older rabbits get a smaller portion of grains, because they don't need the added calories and fat to help them regulate heat. A handful of hay goes to everyone, water dishes are rinsed and refilled, same with water bottles. The weanlings are fed first and last, to ensure they have all the kibbles they can possibly want. Everyone is checked over thoroughly, any required maintenance is done. This continues up through the house until I am back in my room and ready for bed!
Now, I can hear people asking "where are the vegetables! where is the fruit!". My rabbits are fed as natural a diet as possible(while still including pellets because I don't want to muck around with trace minerals), and as such, don't receive much in the way of greens or vegetables throughout the winter. Once a week, or so, they are given dried forage that I have collected over the summer. This includes dandelion, wild blackberry, rose, carrot tops(tried beet tops, they don't preserve well!), plantain, and many other weeds collected in my garden, from the garden of family members and friends, and places that I know the town does not spray with pesticides or herbicides. They are rarely fed fruits and vegetables, as these are not good for rabbits, being too starchy and too sugary. Fruits and vegetables are limited to occasional treats. Leafy greens are fed fresh throughout the spring, summer and fall, as seasonally available.
Throughout the day, as possible, I allow rabbits to get out of their cage and exercise. This usually coincides with my blogging, or reading, or viewing the internet, because they do have to be watched. I have small pens as well as a larger play pen, and can get 2-3 rabbits out for free time at a time. Depending on the day and season, I cannot always get all rabbits out every day, but I do get everyone out for free time at least once every 2 days. They also all have an assortment of toys in their cages(except nursing mommas, who are limited to hanging toys, to keep them from dropping toys on their babies!)
Now, this is just my daily routine. Things get more complicated when you start looking into the breeding aspect, and the planning and care that goes into that. Rabbits are selected for their suitability to the program - show rabbits are selected to be a good representation of the breed, and I keep faults balanced - never breed a rabbit who's long in the back to another rabbit who's long in the back! You won't clean out any faults that way! Does are prepped for breeding - they are fed a specific diet(heavier on grains), fed raspberry cane and given a set number of hours of light a day. I decide what day I'd like them to kindle on, based on my schedule, and breed them accordingly, to a buck that will help balance their faults. Nothing is changed until just before the doe kindles, when I trim her nails very short, give her a nestbox and huge piles of hay, and let her nest. Long haired breeds also get a momma cut - all their long hair is trimmed down to about 1".
Once the doe has kindled, I check things as soon as possible, and remove any mess she has left behind - uneaten placentas, hay or hair that is bloody or messed on, DOA kits. I also remove momma and give her a quick sponge bath, cleaning any mess from birthing that she hasn't yet. I also take that time to check her vent for abnormal bruising or bleeding, to palpate her to ensure she is finished, and to give her a quick cuddle and a treat for her efforts. The babies are also checked - any peanuts(double dwarf genes) are removed and culled immediately, as are any that are deformed or otherwise unable to thrive. I handle all babies at least once a day for their first week of life, and begin handling more frequently when their ears and eyes open, thus setting them a good foundation to be an easily handled rabbit.
Feeding for mommas is increased, and once the babies have their eyes open, I begin to add food to the nest as well - a sprinkle of oats or pellets, which the babies will nibble on. Babies are monitored through photographs and weights, and are raised with nothing but gentle handling and calm voices, to provide them that solid foundation. Rabbits need to start learning at a young age that humans aren't scary - it is much harder to handle a 7mth old rabbit with minimal handling experience than it is to start handling young.
Things are always busy around here, and I never get to sit down as much as I'd like. Constantly up and down caring for the rabbits, whom I love with every bit of me. My rabbits are my pets before they are my breeders, and while selling babies does help pay their feed bill, I am constantly running in the red for their care.
You can take this how you will. Not ever breeder will provide the same care as I do - some will provide better care, others will provide only the bare minimum. This is simply how my rabbitry is operated.
Are you a fellow rabbit breeder? Do you want to share how your rabbitry operates, and help change the myths that plague your hobby? If so, write up a blog post such as this one, and submit it using the "contact" page. I look forward to hearing how other rabbitries operate, a