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Barnyard Buddies: Rabbit teeth and water bottles |
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Lorie Marler
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Lorie
Guymon
Ok
USA
265 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2010 : 7:10:17 PM
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I really need you girls to figure this out for me. I have 2 litters of 5 week old bunnies that I am scratching my head on. When they were about 3 weeks old I checked everyone's teeth and 1 out of the 7 had butting teeth (where the top and bottom teeth touch) everyone else teeth were perfect. Tonight I checked and 3 out of the 7 have butting teeth. None of their parents or grandparent have bad teeth. Could they have developed this from using a water bottle instead of a crock? Another breeder friend only has water crocks and has never had bad teeth and I purchased my start up stock from her. I am at a loss and frustrated. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2010 : 9:58:56 PM
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That is a new one on me - I raised French Angora Rabbits for about 12 years and always used bottles - I only had one bunny in all those years with bad teeth and he came that way. I would have to say teeth are genetic not environment. Just because the breeder did not have the issue so does not mean it is not in the bloodline.. I would be very interested to hear what others would think but from all the animals I have raised teeth issues are genetic.
Hope they stay healthy and happy.
Grace Gerber Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Lorie Marler
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Lorie
Guymon
Ok
USA
265 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2010 : 07:18:20 AM
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Well I guess I will have to find the culprit and pull it out of the breeding program. I am thinking it is my buck since the babies with butting teeth are from 2 different litters. Man I was up to 4 bucks last summer and I am down to 1 now which has not bred succesfully yet. I though most bunnie barns were full of bucks I must have the worst luck. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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CherryPie
True Blue Farmgirl
935 Posts
Kimberly Ann
Puyallup
WA
USA
935 Posts |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2010 : 08:45:17 AM
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Everytime I have seen teeth problems in rabbits, it HAS been hereditary. These problems do not always show up in each generation, it can be 2nd or 3rd. If your 2 does are from 2 completly differant bloodlines, and it only showed up in one of their litters, you should be 80% safe on that line, but sometimes it takes 2 to tango, and the doe will throw these problems if the buck also has it in his line. Trace back at least 4 generations on each rabbit, and research, call ARBA and see if anyone else has reported teeth problems with these lines, and just start weeding out the bad ones. Good luck.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Lorie Marler
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Lorie
Guymon
Ok
USA
265 Posts |
Posted - Jan 18 2010 : 8:20:49 PM
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butting teeth are when the teeth touch like our teeth are suppose to. In rabbits that is bad. the top teeth are suppose to go over the bottom ones. My buting teeth babies are from 2 seperate does but the same buck. |
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Lorie Marler
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Lorie
Guymon
Ok
USA
265 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2010 : 05:54:15 AM
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Well I have some good news rabbit lovers. Evidently I have no patience! I was checking teeth and toe nails to determine what babies will be showable at the show we are going to in March and jumped the gun a bit. Since they are still babies their head and jaws are still growing and the 3 I was upset about having butting teeth don't anymore. their jaws were just growing. Man these rabbits sure teach you patience or drive you batty learning. I guess I will have to give them growing time before I start picking favorites. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Rabbit teeth and water bottles |
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