Category Archives: Traveling

Little chubbies

Babies are doing well. Been little cold lately but it’s still been a refreshing change of weather. Been working on the barn some to spruce it up and make it fancy! Penny kindled 10 babies (1 doa), a big litter for a young momma. She did lose them all the next day…so she was rebred to Mr. Cleo and will be due again in May. This is typical usually for a first time mom to lose 1 or 2 litters. Hopefully she will grow up some and nature will kick in. So far we are still planning on making the trip to Ohio for the Velveteen Lop specialty show! I talked to Lorrie, the COD holder, and she said to expect around 50-70 Velveteens to show. So exciting!!!! The most I’ve ever shown against was 5! Can’t wait for some REAL competition :) And to meet all the movers and shakers of the Velveteen Lop world. The end of the month we will be going to the Rhinebeck show too down near Poughkeepsie. I still have a young Velveteen Lop buck that is available for sale. He would be good for breeding or pet and he has no showing disqualifications. He will be going to the Ohio show so transport will be available on the way out to anywhere on the way. If anyone is looking for transport out to that show let me know.

5 Essential Rabbit Care Tips for Emergenices

Posted in Care, Other, Traveling by

Listen up! This is important!

 In lieu of Hurricane Sandy knocking on our doorstep I figured this post was warranted (we are fine by the way!).  While storms like these are old hat to us (we get flooded at least once a year living in a river valley), it is always essential to be ready for emergencies in case things do decide to take a turn for the worse. In the past year I’ve experienced earthquakes, tornadoes, bad thunder storms, snow squalls, and hurricanes. These tips are just from my experiences in caring for a rabbitry through bad weather and getting everyone through it safely. These tips apply to most small animals and rodents.

  1.  Have a carrier for every rabbit.

All of my carriers are equipped with their own dishes and rest mat. Carriers are always have a nice layer of fresh hay for the rabbit to lay and munch on as well to keep them occupied.  My carriers are big enough for even my largest rabbit to stretch out and turn around in. Buy the biggest carriers you can find and afford. I purchase all of mine at rabbit shows directly from rabbit supply vendors (support your local small businesses!). Otherwise you can find these vendors online and they have a greater selection of rabbit-tailored products in comparison with the big chain stores such as Petsmart, Petco or Fosters&Smith. Please see my post here of recommended rabbit suppliers. You could make your own as well from stock wire. Most of mine are from Kammalops.  The carrier below is a 12″ x 24″ x 14″ and Lincoln is a 9 lb. rabbit. Technically this carrier is made for giant breeds (+14lbs.) but the bigger the better! Every carrier should have a permanent tag on it that has your basic information and your veterinarian’s phone number. For every rabbit I purchase or keep I calculate its true cost. The true cost is what it actually costs me to keep the rabbit plus its own supplies (such as its own carrier, cage, etc). Don’t purchase additional rabbits if you can’t afford the extra supplies that they need! It’s easy to hand over $50 for a rabbit initially but remember it may actually cost you $250!

Lincoln showing off his carrier.

2. Have an emergency evacuation plan and a diaster kit ready for multiple scenarios.

With our weather technology one should not be caught off guard. If there is a chance of bad weather headed your way, quickly assess your situation and ask the following questions: What is the worst that could happen? Are you ready for the worst? Do you have an exact plan so you can delegate quickly if needed? What supplies do you need?

Your carriers should always be ready to go as you may not have time in a sudden emergency to clean them if necessary. Anytime I use a carrier I immediately clean it so its always ready. For Hurricane Sandy I did put all the rabbits in their show carriers for the night and during the day while I was at work. I did this in case there was significant flooding and we had to evacuate. It also allowed me to be prepared in case someone else had to evacuate my animals and I wanted them to be able to do that without confusion. While they were not the most comfortable as in their cages, their safety was more important to me. I also had gallons of water on hand if we were without power and water. I would have enough water for 3 days for your rabbits (depending on how much they drink). I go through about 2-4 gallons a day. The rabbits stayed in their shed as our basement would have not been safe due to possible flooding. In something such as a tornado the rabbits I have pulled the rabbits in with me in the basement. I keep my show supplies in a small container. This doubles as an emergency kit of supplies that is always ready to go for emergencies.

Some things to include in your emergency kit:

-toenail clippers

-antibiotics/antibiotic ointment

-electrolyte solution for overly stressed rabbits (Pedialyte)

-small bag of rolled oats for stressed rabbits (prevents loose stools)

-ID card for every rabbit with their name, photo, tattoo #, your information, vet information

-hydrogen perioxide

-hand sanitizier

-rubbing alcohol

-hand towel

-cotton balls/q-tips/bandages

Ready for evacuation at a moment’s notice!

3. Always have extra feed on hand.

My feed is kept in a bin that is easy to grab and take with me if necessary. Don’t get caught in an emergency without rabbit food (or the ability to go get it). When you buy your feed make sure you always have 1 bag in storage. Just rotate your bags as old, moldy feed is just as bad as no feed. Have a garbage bag on hand that you can fill with hay to take with you. On another note, rabbits can just survive on hay for a short while if necessary. As mentioned before, have enough water to supply your rabbits for 3 days and bring with you in case of evacuation.

4. Get friendly.

This is where knowing your fellow local breeders/rabbit folk may be essential to the well-being of your rabbits. Have a contact already established beforehand that is able to house your rabbits for you in case of evacuation. Placing your rabbit in a boarding facility among other animals would be very stressful in an already stress-filled situation…not a good idea. This can also just be someone with the facilities to keep them safe and is able to take in a bunch of rabbits. The latter may be a better option to avoid possibly disease transmission between rabbitries. Have this relationship in place well before you ever need to use it and reciprocate the favor if you are able. These relationships can be life-savers and can give you peace of mind even in other situations such as a move or other life event (such as family illness) in which you may not be able to care for your rabbits for an extended period.

A prepared rabbitry has relaxed rabbits even in the worst weather!

5. Have ID cards for every rabbit.

Have your pedigrees and rabbit records all together in one binder so you can grab it easily or store it safely all in one place. For emergencies, have 2 sets of ID cards or information sheets on all the rabbits you own. Have one set for your records and another set to give away. It is also useful to have this information saved on your computer and uploaded to the internet so it can be accessed anywhere such as google docs. These cards or sheets should have the rabbits name, a photo, identifying marks such as their tattoo number, your basic information and your veterinarians contact information. On their carriers it is easy to attach your rabbitry business card and your vet’s business card which covers the important basics! In case you are evacuated and the rabbits are left behind, these cards will be life-savers if rescue workers have to go in and get them. Of course if you are prepared then hopefully you would have evacuated the rabbits long before it gets to this point.

Have your emergency kit ready now and extra feed/water on hand. Have a plan for every weather condition. Don’t wait until the threat of weather makes you take action. Keep updated as the storms pass through your area and make the decision to act before rather than later. Evacuating many animals on top of your family will take extra time and it is better to be over-cautious than to have regret. Risking your life over saving your animals is a choice I never want to have to make. If there is a serious chance you think you will have to be moved from your home then do it before the authorities issue the evacuation.

Do you have any other suggestions/tips?

How did everyone weather the storm? 

Max snuggled in for the storm.

3 Colors are Better Than 1

The Velveteen Lop For Sale page has been updated! I’m still waiting to name them since some of their sexes are still iffy. Make sure to check out the cute video of the babies having a grooming session. The family had fun tonight playing with the babies during their photoshoot. It’s going to be below freezing tonight so everyone got bedded down very heavily. Other good news is I’ll be going to New Hampshire this weekend to pick up a tri-color buck! Can’t wait for springtime to see a some very colorful babies! A special thanks to Olive Tree Lops and Regal Rabbitry for letting me have this guy (and hopefully I won’t come home with more than 1!!!).

Many Changes

Pokerface, the English Lop, is now nesting and should pop out some more buns I’m hoping today and at the latest tomorrow. She is being stubborn about it. Collins also has been rebred and will be due mid June with Velveteen babies. If this litter isn’t successful like her last 2 she will be kept as a pet. The little black velvet I had managed to hand-feed for a few days has since passed :-( He was doing so well. But that’s how it is with baby rabbits, they are very sensitive and most of the time its easier to just foster them to another mother if available.

In major news Bella’s Bunnies has moved across a few states. We are no longer in Kansas and instead are in Upstate NY about an hour from Binghamton and 40 min from Oneonta if you know the area. I’m sad to leave Wichita and all my rabbit friends there. Everyone was so helpful and nice as I got involved again in breeding and showing and I will miss seeing them at shows. The good news is I still plan to attend National Convention in October with or without rabbits and I will see everyone again in a few months! The rabbits have all made the trip just fine so far, they truly are pros at this point, and I’m sure they won’t be missing the 90+ degree weather in the midwest.

I also apologize to anyone who has contacted me through phone and has not received or has gotten a delayed response. I have lost my voice due to a head cold and it is hard to understand me on the phone. If you have left me a message on my phone please send me an email instead.

It may be a few weeks before I get involved in some shows in NY but I will keep you updated. I at least have my 4 baby boys to show on top of the velvets as of now.

“Hare” Raising Tornados

My thoughts to those who suffered damages from the storms yesterday and early this morning. Luckily Bella’s Bunnies and all of my immediate bunny friends made it through just fine. I hunkered down with everyone in the basement if in case it got really bad.

The Salt City RBA show yesterday which for being a double show was over by mid afternoon (nice!). It didn’t go so well overall for me but that’s okay, progress is slow.  I’m just starting out and I know how long many of the breeders have been in this and the time and dedication they put into it. Good news is Dwight & Marion of Kammalops (one of the big breeders of English & French in KS) had 2 Best in Shows with their french lop! Wow!!! I love to see the big lops win and congrats to them! I also ran into Mallory, the owner of Eva, which is one of the velveteen babies from Tiger’s litter! She was just hanging around the show seeing what it was all about and it’s really great to see her getting involved in 4-H!

I also experienced my first negativity from a judge with the velveteen lops. Usually judges don’t mind getting their hands on a new breed or just checking them out. But one judge didn’t even try to appear interested in giving any constructive criticism (which is actually what I love to hear). He did give me his opinion though. Unrecognized breeds always go last so I made sure when he was finishing up with the second to last group I went and got the rabbits so they would be there and ready for him to just breeze through. But he took off his show jacket as apparently he thought he was done for the morning. My mistake I guess was asking him if he had time to do them even though I could already tell he had checked out. First he got into comments about how they lowered their ear length standard from 17″ to 14″ because they couldn’t get any to pass the judging, followed by questioning why I would even be interested in this breed anyway (ummm, long ears + rex fur, is there a question? and who doesn’t love a challenge?!) and then when the writer asked him about what to mark for their coats he didn’t even bother to compare them and said ‘they’re velvets, of course its poor, never going to get the density of a rex.’ I found that last remark exceptionally condescending as rex breeders spend careers questing for the perfect density of fur. This is a rare breed in many parts of the US still and still has a long way to go…of course their density isn’t going to be like the rexes. Obviously its bothered me enough where I’m writing about it (thanks for letting me vent) but at the same time there are always the negative nancy’s in life. I don’t take it personally but they are my fur babies and you don’t get between a mom and her cub :-) Guess I’ll just have to breed more and bring a whole slew of them to shows just to annoy certain judges, lol.

Someday, the velvets will pass just like every other breed that is a current ARBA approved. It takes years of polish and careful selection to make a breed what it is (and much shorter of a time span to undo that perfection). It takes years of dedication and hard work to breed rabbits that meet that level. There are many bigger players that are responsible for the fate of this breed. The current COD holder (who is the next in line to present rabbits at National Convention to pass the breed as a standard) is Lorrie Stillo of Canton, OH from Journey Home Rabbitry. There is another group who has a COD to present as well. They will be presented again in 2014 (keep your fingers crossed!). You can read more about velveteen lop news here. There is alot I still don’t know about the inner happenings of the breed since I’m pretty detached but hopefully if there is a velveteen lop convention somewhere this year I vowed I would try my hardest to attend so I can meet some of these velvet experts.

On a side note, Octoberfest is not filling out like I would like to see him do as a senior so he is going to be retired (and neutered) and be kept as a pet. By June, his litter will be able to be shown as juniors and I’ll have lots of stock for Nationals this year. Lincoln is going to be retired as well to the ‘breeding barn’ since his ears aren’t competing as well against the others in overall appearance. Lincoln’s sister did well and they liked her good bone and hips (which is what I really liked). She was bred to Pokerface’s brother, Monster, and will be hopefully having a litter around 5/15/12. Should be more orange and blue tort babies! Hats off to Caryn for letting me borrow her and for taking care of her through her (hopefully successful) motherhood. If you’ve been waiting for a doe between Pokerface’s second litter coming up at the end of the month and Maggie’s litter most likely we will have a few available so keep watch on the site for updates. Think we should name them after tornado storm categories?!  Or better yet maybe some Wizard of Oz names.

p.s. Once again I failed and didn’t get any pictures of the show. Bad Katie! Here is a video of a tornado instead that went across Salina.

April Tornados

How to Travel with Rabbits Across the Country

A rabbit is bound to experience at least a car-ride or two in their lifetimes whether it be going to a new home, the vet or a show. In the case of my rabbits, most of them have a few trips to the East Coast and back. You’re going to think I’m crazy but its only to show you these things can be done. Rabbits are well-known to become easily stressed. This differs breed to breed. If I had a barn full of Polish, Belgian Hares or Tans I probably would think twice about traveling with the rabbits so much. 

Luckily, and I may be partial here, I picked some of the 2 best ‘chill’ breeds on the planet which have afforded me the luxury to pack them in the car and go home for an extended Christmas holiday to Upstate NY. As a side note my Velveteen stock did come from Pennsylvania and had already made the 1,400 mile trip once. My original stock of English I brought with me when I moved out here and made the trip just fine as well. (On a side note, you may be a crazy animal lover when your car-buying choices are narrowed down by the ease of transporting multiple animals. I have a Jeep Patriot that has given me the luxury of providing me just enough space to transport some of my things, 2 cats, 2 dogs and 8 rabbits. Now that I think of it this post could have a spin-off of how to pack light or provide Jeep with a new demographic to market).

In this post I will give you some suggestions (and this goes for airline flight as well) on how to make any trip more comfortable and less scary for your buns whether you are visiting family & friends, going to a far-away show, shipping rabbits to others or are considering going on a personal journey with Mr. Whiskers.

 Basic Travel Tips

  • First things first…make sure your vehicle is in great condition to travel. No one wants to be broken down with animals in the care. Have your car properly serviced before any travel with animals over 3 hours.
  • Make a list of all the things you will need for your trip: food, water, dishes, hay, shavings, etc. Also think about you will arrange your carriers in the car and how everything will fit. You will want to easily access the rabbits so you can give them water and vegetable treats on breaks. I typically put my rabbits all the way in the back so when I lift my back hatch they are all easily reachable.
  • Make an emergency card with care instructions and the name and phone number of someone who can be identified to take care of the rabbits if there is an accident on the road. Having a basic ‘rabbit’ emergency kit is helpful as well. This should contain gauze, bandages, tongue depressor for splint, antibiotics, electrolytes, etc. If your rabbits aren’t tattooed I would use a permanent marker to at least put some form of identification in case they get loose.
  • Rabbits will not drink while they are moving so make sure to offer liquids every time you stop. Each time you are at a rest stop or gas station take time to give each rabbit a vegetable high in water content (such as celery) and some fruit for some added electrolytes. I like to give my rabbits bananas, oranges, carrots and celery while on the road as they travel well and you can find them for sale in gas stations often. To also give your rabbit an extra boost you can buy a bottle of Gatorade and mix it 1:3 parts to help hydrate them.
  • If you have to stop for a night or two try to find a pet-friendly hotel. Since rabbits are quiet though you can usually get away with ‘sneaking’ them in. I recommend trying to find a park or open, safe area when you stop for the night where you can set up a collapsible pen (if you brought one) or let them walk on a leash to give the rabbits some exercise. If their carriers are large enough and the weather is below 50 degrees then I would leave the rabbits in the car for the night and not bring them in as it reduces the number of new environments they have to meet. If the weather is warm bring them inside to avoid over heating.
  • Your car will be quite toasty as it is depending on the number of animals you are traveling with and you most likely will have to run cold air/air conditioning the entire time to keep it comfortable for everyone.
  • When you arrive at your destination your first task should be to settle the rabbits in so they can rest and relax. My parents had cages ready and waiting for me when I arrived so I just had to unpack the rabbits and give them hay, feed and water. Make sure to look for signs of dehydration like ‘tenting of the skin‘ (which should release and go back down once you let go if they are okay), pale gums and overall signs of listlessness. If you rabbit does show dehydration signs try to get them to drink the Gatorade/water concoction and force-feed if necessary. Keep checking on them often and they should come around in a few hours after they have ingested some water.
  • The more secure a rabbit feels during transportation the better. I prefer carriers with wire-bottoms as this prevents the rabbit sitting in its droppings for long hours. I bed down the carrier with lots of hay so the rabbit has something soft to lay and to munch on! The carriers should be large enough for the rabbit to turn around in. I like top-loading carriers especially for larger breeds and splurging for the plastic coating helps avoid any sharp edges and reduce pressure on hocks. Make sure to have bungee cords or other straps to securely fasten the carriers to one another and the car. Preventing excessive sliding or movement in case of sudden braking, an accident or other unpredictable driving incident is key. Buy carriers with handles for easier transportation or buy a fold-down cart for transportation to and from your car.
  •  I recommend the 2 suppliers below for finding great carriers, carts, food dishes and waterers suited for traveling.

Airline Travel

Airline travel is confusing, time-consuming and expensive for humans. Expect no less when trying to fly with a pet. Many others have done the research on this and I have done the dirty work to find the best links for you to reference for all your questions. Bella’s Bunnies prefers not to ship rabbits by airlines unless many rabbits are being shipped at a time and there are no other options. Flying bunnies cargo is not recommended by Bella’s Bunnies as it is increasingly stressful with lack of climate control and high noise. It is best if you can fly a rabbit with you as a carry-on so you can accommodate its needs and help reduce any unneeded stress.

Pet-Friendly Travel  This site is extensive and lists all airlines and their pet policies. As well as other resources about flying animals. Also has links to airline incident reports which show the number of deaths and injuries to pets flying.

Top 10 Pet-Friendly Airlines 2011 I recommend Frontier if able. I recommend a long drive to a reputable airline if needed rather than settling for one that is nearby. Pet Airways currently does not accept rabbits but I’m working on corresponding with them and hopefully someday they will include them as it would be a more positive experience for the animals.

Airline Advice from ARBA

Airline Options from ARBA

I would love to hear from you guys about your pet travel stories and any further tips you may have!

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Rabbit Winter Vacation

Everyone made the trip out safe and sound to NY state for the holidays. I wasn’t sure how long my trip out to the East Coast would be so I brought them along. It’s been pretty chilly here, actually feels like winter so I’ve had to switch to water bowls. The most important thing in dealing with long-eared rabbits and cold weather is to avoid them getting their ears wet as this is when frostbite can set in. It’s best to have water crocks which are elevated off the cage floor as this decreases the chances of them dipping their ears. Another option is to have 2 sets of water bottles that you switch out everyday. I like this method the best as there is no risk of the rabbits getting their ears wet but it is only applicable in small rabbitries. There are also heated water bottles that you can purchase if you have electricity in your barn. If you have lots of cash to burn an automatic heated water system would be a dream.

Electric water bottle

Well Traveled Rabbits

After making the long trip from PA to Wichita the rabbits are settling in nicely.  I’ve updated the for sale page as I have 3 Mini Rex’s currently up for grabs.  I brought them back to sell as a favor to a friend…what’s 3 more?!  Anyway, I’ve also updated the other rabbit pages.  If you want to be put on the waiting list for any future litters please contact me through email as I can categorize dates of request better that way.  My email is kathryn.mattson@gmail.com.  The Kansas Rabbit Breeders Association show is this coming weekend and I plan on bringing 4 English Lops and 2 Velveteen Lops.  I will also bring the Mini Rex’s to this show for sale purposes.  The show is located in Hutchinson and is the Kansas state rabbit show.  Should be exciting!  The picture below is one of the Rex babies available for sale!  So adorable!