My realisation about my bun’s story

[PeachyCream]

As I’ve said before, I just got Bright Eyes on sunday from a backyard rabbit breeder who I believe was retired… She was giving them away to anyone because apparently the rabbits were fighting or something. She seemed like a nice lady… She was giving them away for free instead of having them euthenised so I figured she knew what she was doing…

However, today I noticed that she gave a lot of instructions that I’ve been told by other sources specifically not to do…. Anyways so what I first noticed is that there were 4 that she was giving away…. and they were all in cages in a fenced off area in her backyard… I figured it was just so that she could have them in a place where they could be seen and met and such…. However I never imagined that there was something wrong with what she did. I knew she bred rabbits and sold the kits to pet shops and families… I fear to testing labs as well but I certainly hope not… But I don’t know anything about backyard rabbit breeding.. I heard of puppy mills but I figured this wasn’t at all the same…  The only thing I noticed that I was a bit weirded out with was that A. She didn’t know the ages of any of the 4 rabbits and B. the way she picked them up… She’d grab the fur on the back of their necks and pull them out… She assured me that it wouldn’t hurt them but I would never do it anyways… But I figured she must have  known what she was doing…

But now that I think about it, I’m not so sure Bright Eyes has had as happy of a life until now as I originally thought.. First off, she gave me food for him that isn’t good for him… I wonder why? Was it simply that she had something cheap in bulk that she could feed many rabbits at once? Either way.. it’s odd that she never noticed or didn’t care.. Secondly, their cages were all in the backyard… I didn’t really put two and two together but I think that’s where they lived! They had living huts true but the cages were quite small… maybe twice or three times the size of them… they didn’t have any litter boxes or anything at the bottom of their cages… Also I came across a page about people who want to abolish backyard rabbit breeding/ rabbit farming and I read a list of reasons why… The thing is, I know she used Bright Eyes for breeding, possibly for many years… And she didn’t even ask us any questions about why we wanted him or if we could handle a rabbit or anything… So they lived in small cages for years not being used for anything but breeding… living outside despite the diverse weather of Ontario and never had a home?

I’m wondering if that’s why he seems so amazed at being allowed to free roam…maybe he never had the chance before? Maybe he’s so nervous about being patted because he’s never had affection shown to him? I’m starting to notice this odd behaviour… Idk, what do you guys think? Am I maybe just looking too far into it? Do backyard rabbit breeders often  neglect the rabbits they use for breeding?

[Sarita]

No rabbit used for just breeding purposes has a nice life, especially the females.

Since he was outdoors I would recommend a full physical and definitely have a fecal test done as well to test for coccidia.

[PeachyCream]

Ok well I’m relieved to say that they didn’t actually live outdoors full time.. Apparently they were kept in the basement or garage or something… I’ll still get a full check up for him done… But he did still live in a cage most of his life… poor little guy… I think I’ll have to be more gentle with him then since he’s in a totally different situation… I actually feel quite bad for not noticing this before… I hope the other 3 rabbits she was giving away were given to nice homes

I’m glad I was able to give him an alternate life though… Were any of your guys’ bunnies rescue bunnies?

[Sarita]

He most definitely will have a better life with you!

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By Sarita on 05/29/2013 04:09 PM
No rabbit used for just breeding purposes has a nice life, especially the females.

Agreed. The males are sometimes just as bad. I read a story about a male rabbit that was in a box full of his feces and pee, only getting fed scraps of whatever every now and then. The only time he saw light was when they put a female in for him to mate with every couple of hours. He was just a breeding machine. He was 4 before someone rescued him. So heartbreaking.

[Elrohwen]

The way she keeps her rabbits is pretty typical of probably the majority of people who keep rabbits more as livestock than as pets. Keeping rabbits as house pets and letting them free roam is a fairly new development that lots of people haven’t even heard of. Even the “better” rabbit breeders keep them in small cages, often outside or in a shed, and feed them only pellets. I will say that it doesn’t mean the rabbits are abused or mistreated really. I’m sure it’s a very boring and sometimes stressful life for them, but lots of people who keep them this way love their rabbits and think this is the best way to care for them.

Definitely not a way I would keep my rabbits, or how anybody here would keep them, but it’s honestly really common. This is probably the environment that most rabbits start out in, at least the ones who originally came from breeders or pet stores (many rabbits in rescues came from pet stores originally) and they turn out just fine once they’re living with a family and have room to run around.

[PeachyCream]

But living here in Canada it would be incredibly hazardous to keep a domesticated rabbit outside since we have incredible amounts of rain some days, harsh winters and hot, humid summer… Mild weather is a lot rarer here than other places so I doubt any rabbit breeders near me would do that xP a shed, maybe.. I don’t think the breeder I got Bright Eyes from abused him or anything, I’m sure his standard of living for a breeding animal was above satisfactory.. I just think it might be why he’s not used to being handled affectionately or fed treats or allowed to run around..

[Zap]

I don’t know the specifics about Remmy, but he and his sister were sent to the shelter near me. When I went to the shelter the sister was already pregnant and could not be adopted. Apparently she was being kept in the same cage as her brother before she arrived. I think a lot of people who keep rabbits and breed them really don’t know what they’re doing.

[Author]

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