16.2.09

I did it

Here's me and my wookie, I mean bunny. It was such a day! I was euphoric at finding rabbits straight out of my dreams. They are the embodiment of "warm and fuzzy." I held them close and felt so perfectly satisfied.

I brought home this doe who is almost three, her baby buck who was born last October, and the father, who is also around three. Daddie was not part of the plan, but he is so magnificent, and the owner was short on cage space, so I took advantage of her desperation! These rabbits make my heart skip to look at them.

Then the euphoria shifted a little bit to fear, because the doe is just terribly matted. It will take me the better part of a day, or maybe five, to get her clipped. I've got no skill at clipping rabbits, and was hoping to learn under less dire conditions. I'm freaked out at how bad her little behind is, matted all to hell and covered in poo. It's not ideal, but much better than not finding her, or have her be culled (the other option, I learned). Is it that hard to find homes for bunnies? The other two have just a little bit of matting, but nothing like her.

I've learned already that the bedding they sell at the pet supply stores is no good for angoras. The little bits get stuck in their wool and it looks disastrous after just a few minutes. From what I see so far, I'm also very skeptical of this house-rabbit, litter-box training prospect. I've got them provisionally set up in these kinds of things. I put down scrap bits of linoleum to cover the wood floor. I'm pretty sure that they are going to have to be outdoors and elevated, and soon!

Tonight I'm cold, tired and my eyelashes are full of fuzz (do contact lens or mascara wearers ever have trouble with angoras?) The bunnies are active, and they seem happy. I feel anxious with getting them set up and taken care of. I'll make proper introductions tomorrow.

4 comments:

  1. Congratulations! That bunny looks huge! Are you sure you didn't get sold a fat cat?

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  2. It may be a cabbit? Have you heard of those? I have had people swear to me that they're real, not just legend. This breed of angoras is typically pretty big (8 lbs or so) and they aren't even the "Giant" breed! You'll see soon though that this rabbit is mostly hair. At least two pounds of her hair is now on my kitchen table, and we have a long way to go.

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  3. Wow what a cute fuzzball! I can't wait to see more pictures!

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  4. Congratulations Jere! And yes contact lense wearers have difficulty with angora :-) but I think you already found your answer! They are lucky to have found you. Don't feel like you need to do all the clipping in one sitting. I've clipped many a dirty butt and it is un-nerving. The bunz are forgiving. I've found the small sized spring loaded Fiskar scissors to be my most favorite tool. IF you can find someone to help hold the bunny if they are wiggly that can help with those troublesome areas. My Giant coat got terribly matted and I've been working on her gradually. With the weather conditions sometimes it is hard for me to keep up. Winter seems like it should be a good time for angora coats but I find it the most difficult. I think my barn gets too much condensation and coats matt and I don't have time to groom them when it is super cold because I"m busy keeping them watered and fed. You will be a great bunny Mom!

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