Rabbits N'Rodents

Think you want to breed your rabbits, read this first.....

One quick glance on petfinder and rabbitrehome will show up many thousands of rabbits waiting to be rehomed, and when you take into account that this is only a small representation of those homeless rabbits, you will agree that we already have a severe over-population of rabbits in the United States, Canada and throughout the UK and Ireland. The numbers totalled to around 33,000 rabbits taken into rescues last year, and many rescues have a waiting list, so really do you want to be a contributer to this rising problem?

Every rabbit you purposefully bring into this world that finds a new home will take place of one rabbit sitting in a shelter, that could have had a second chance. No matter what way you look at it, the new owner could have given home to a rescue rabbit.

If you hope to make money from rabbits, look elsewhere, away from animals, as with the proper care, housing and supplies, you cannot make money in breeding rabbits or any other animal unless you are prepared to deny proper care of your animals. Besides, chances are that your local petshop will not take in your babies, as they have a reliable supplier, so why would they take in yours? So theres another consideration, what do you do with the babies? Do you give them to a pet shop? Where they could end up in neglectful homes? No, and don't think all your friends who said they would take one or two will go through with it, many back out leaving you with all these babies, and thats a lot of mouthes to feed and vet bills to pay for. 

The whole process takes up a vast about of time, money and space, which could have be given to rabbits that already exist! The 'breeding' cages for rabbits resemble that of battery chicken hens, the small wire 'breeding cages' are nothing short of cruel! So don't think housing a large volume of rabbits properly will be easy....or cheap.

Also, if you plan to breed for fun, just the one litter, as an educational experience for yourself and children, do you really think seeing dead babies, complications during pregnancy or a mother abandoning her litter is something kids want to see? Besides by undertaking such a large responsibility- feeding, rehoming, caring for, taming, exercising etc 'fun' is not a main part of breeding, especially when something goes wrong. Could you hand rear babies or remove dead babies from the nest? Can you afford potentiually high vet fees is something goes wrong?

Prehaps you believe that breeding from the doe will be good for her? The same myth goes around with dogs, and there is no evidence to support this claim, and it can do more harm than good. Breeding a rabbit does not decrease the chance of womb cancer, and has absoultly no health benefit what-so-ever. Besides, by breeding any two rabbits, without any consideration for health of the offspring, chances are the babies will have poor conformation, the most common problems being lethal, hidden genes and teeth malformations. Unless you have sourced your breeding stock from reputable breeders, how on earth do you know what genes your rabbits carry, they may not even be compatible or even closely related as mass breeders often supply all the local petshops. So really, is it worth the risk of producing mutated young?

Of course we all love the thought of cute little baby bunnies hopping around, but the facts are we have too many, and by adding to this problem would you not agree, is being purely selfish?  

Why breed or buy when animals in shelter die? Do the responsible thing and neuter your pet!

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