NoTrespassing
Elite Member
Hey All,
I don't know about anyone else on the forum, but here in East Central Illinois there seems to be a rabbit population explosion this year. In 21 years on this property I've never see close to as many as we have this year. I suppose it could be due to a drop in coyote population but I don't know. My coworker who lives about 70 mile west of me mentioned the same thing so I'm thinking mild weather has allowed them to flourish. My Shepherd has been having a field day, evidently they're pretty tasty at 1-2 weeks of age.
He tried to bring a live one with him to his kennel one particular morning when I asked him to "kennel up" before I left for work. He dropped it when I told him to and it looked healthy, very young with eyes closed. I called my 9 year old son and his mother out and told them he could keep it if he wanted to. He and my wife went to the pet store and got powdered goats milk and nursed that rabbit for weeks, adding in clover to his diet. Unfortunately they, or we, neglected to read about a baby rabbits diet. My wife, although not a animal lover except on a plate or in a pot, became very attached to "Peter" the rabbit. At about 6 or 7 weeks old that rabbit would come to her when called.
Peter the rabbit died very suddenly, we expect from too much iceberg lettuce and carrots and not enough fiber. Jena, my wife actually took his passing much harder than my son. He's gotten pretty used to animal death especially after watching the butchering 2 of his chickens recently.
Well, thanks to the rabbit population explosion "Peter the rabbit 2" is doing well. Much studying has taken place and rabbit pellets have been purchased. We'll see how long this one makes it, he's not as old as the first one yet.
Kevin
I don't know about anyone else on the forum, but here in East Central Illinois there seems to be a rabbit population explosion this year. In 21 years on this property I've never see close to as many as we have this year. I suppose it could be due to a drop in coyote population but I don't know. My coworker who lives about 70 mile west of me mentioned the same thing so I'm thinking mild weather has allowed them to flourish. My Shepherd has been having a field day, evidently they're pretty tasty at 1-2 weeks of age.
He tried to bring a live one with him to his kennel one particular morning when I asked him to "kennel up" before I left for work. He dropped it when I told him to and it looked healthy, very young with eyes closed. I called my 9 year old son and his mother out and told them he could keep it if he wanted to. He and my wife went to the pet store and got powdered goats milk and nursed that rabbit for weeks, adding in clover to his diet. Unfortunately they, or we, neglected to read about a baby rabbits diet. My wife, although not a animal lover except on a plate or in a pot, became very attached to "Peter" the rabbit. At about 6 or 7 weeks old that rabbit would come to her when called.
Peter the rabbit died very suddenly, we expect from too much iceberg lettuce and carrots and not enough fiber. Jena, my wife actually took his passing much harder than my son. He's gotten pretty used to animal death especially after watching the butchering 2 of his chickens recently.
Well, thanks to the rabbit population explosion "Peter the rabbit 2" is doing well. Much studying has taken place and rabbit pellets have been purchased. We'll see how long this one makes it, he's not as old as the first one yet.
Kevin
