Forbidden Topics for my Rabbit Groups
(c) Gryph- if you repost this article, please post with a link back to my website.
I am the primary administrator and/or a moderator for several groups on Facebook. For simplification, I have compiled a list here along with assistance from several of my fellow admins and moderators of topics we do not permit, that we discourage, and that we will downright lecture you on if you post about them. Some of these are because of ethical reasons, some are for humane treatment, and some are just because. Don't like it? Tough. Find another group then.
Please note that we do NOT forbid discussion about why the following topics are unethical, immoral or inhumane. Rather, we forbid encouragement of the following topics.
All of my groups are intended to be teaching groups. There are a lot of knowledgeable bunny peeps in these groups who donate their time, knowledge, and resources to help educate. You may not like what you're told, and when it comes down to it they are your rabbits and we can't make decisions for you. But if one of us knows you are doing something irresponsible or unethical we will speak up. That is NOT drama. That is educating. Please do not be rude if you're told something you don't like. You don't have to agree with us, but in the end these are my groups and I don't know a single RESPONSIBLE breeder who won't agree with me. If you need to learn, hit me up, let's talk. If you just can't handle this, I'm sure you can find the unjoin button on any of my groups.
My Rabbit Groups Where These Rules Apply:
Northwest No Drama Rabbits: www.facebook.com/groups/nodramarabbits/
Rabbits for Sustenance and Shit: www.facebook.com/groups/rabbitsandshit/
Unrecognized Rex Varieties & Patterns in the US: www.facebook.com/groups/theotherrex/
Please read on for more details.
Please note that we do NOT forbid discussion about why the following topics are unethical, immoral or inhumane. Rather, we forbid encouragement of the following topics.
All of my groups are intended to be teaching groups. There are a lot of knowledgeable bunny peeps in these groups who donate their time, knowledge, and resources to help educate. You may not like what you're told, and when it comes down to it they are your rabbits and we can't make decisions for you. But if one of us knows you are doing something irresponsible or unethical we will speak up. That is NOT drama. That is educating. Please do not be rude if you're told something you don't like. You don't have to agree with us, but in the end these are my groups and I don't know a single RESPONSIBLE breeder who won't agree with me. If you need to learn, hit me up, let's talk. If you just can't handle this, I'm sure you can find the unjoin button on any of my groups.
My Rabbit Groups Where These Rules Apply:
Northwest No Drama Rabbits: www.facebook.com/groups/nodramarabbits/
Rabbits for Sustenance and Shit: www.facebook.com/groups/rabbitsandshit/
Unrecognized Rex Varieties & Patterns in the US: www.facebook.com/groups/theotherrex/
Please read on for more details.
Scruffing Rabbits/Carrying and/or Picking up by the Scruff and/or Ears:
Picking up a rabbit by the scruff (the fur at the back of the neck) and/or ears is dangerous for the rabbit and to be frank- for you! The scruff may safely be used to grasp a rabbit to hold it still against the ground before scooping up his hindquarters.
MYTH: Rabbit mothers carry or move their kits by the scruff. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbit mothers do not carry or move their kits by the scruff.
Even if you don't have a heart and don't care about humane treatment, picking up a rabbit by the scruff separates the connecting tissue between the pelt and the meat. Rabbit skin is made up of three layers- the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous. Rabbit skin- just like our skin- is plentiful with nerves which allow them to feel touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. The subcutaneous layer consists of fat, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves. This layer helps hold the skin to the muscle tissue. When you scruff, that skin is torn loose from the muscle tissue. This separation can be permanent and will result in a loosely-attached pelt which lowers the quality of your rabbit and its pelt. For a pet rabbit, it may mean that they just have baggy skin, but for a show rabbit or a rabbit raised for its pelt, it means they will not be in peak condition. Cats and puppies have loose skin that is designed to be gathered without damaging the skin; however, rabbits have skin that is well attached to the muscle of their backs. When you scruff them, you separate that attachment. For Himalayan or Californian colored rabbits, they can even have discoloration where the pelt is not well attached.
Rabbits are also ridiculously delicate, and one wrong kick or twist while being scruffed can result in serious injury- sometimes fatally. Injuries such as broken limbs or a broken back can be lethal to a rabbit, and if not lethal at least ridiculously painful. As prey animals, they are very stoic when in pain and are not even likely to show any indication that they are in pain- showing indicators of pain equals vulnerable. As prey animals, they are also more likely to lean towards flight than fight when frightened, and picking up a rabbit by the scruff is certainly likely to make them feel threatened since it is not a natural pose for them; as a matter of fact, predators often grab rabbits by the back or the neck.
Finally, a kicking rabbit is nothing to sneeze at as far as injury or damage to yourself! If you've been around rabbits for any length of time, odds are good you've managed to pick up a couple of scratches. A frightened rabbit is more likely to scramble and scratch in an attempt to escape.
For tips on why this is a bad idea and for better ideas on how to handle, pick up, and carry your rabbit, please visit: http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Surgery/Restraint/Handling.htm
MYTH: Rabbit mothers carry or move their kits by the scruff. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbit mothers do not carry or move their kits by the scruff.
Even if you don't have a heart and don't care about humane treatment, picking up a rabbit by the scruff separates the connecting tissue between the pelt and the meat. Rabbit skin is made up of three layers- the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous. Rabbit skin- just like our skin- is plentiful with nerves which allow them to feel touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. The subcutaneous layer consists of fat, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves. This layer helps hold the skin to the muscle tissue. When you scruff, that skin is torn loose from the muscle tissue. This separation can be permanent and will result in a loosely-attached pelt which lowers the quality of your rabbit and its pelt. For a pet rabbit, it may mean that they just have baggy skin, but for a show rabbit or a rabbit raised for its pelt, it means they will not be in peak condition. Cats and puppies have loose skin that is designed to be gathered without damaging the skin; however, rabbits have skin that is well attached to the muscle of their backs. When you scruff them, you separate that attachment. For Himalayan or Californian colored rabbits, they can even have discoloration where the pelt is not well attached.
Rabbits are also ridiculously delicate, and one wrong kick or twist while being scruffed can result in serious injury- sometimes fatally. Injuries such as broken limbs or a broken back can be lethal to a rabbit, and if not lethal at least ridiculously painful. As prey animals, they are very stoic when in pain and are not even likely to show any indication that they are in pain- showing indicators of pain equals vulnerable. As prey animals, they are also more likely to lean towards flight than fight when frightened, and picking up a rabbit by the scruff is certainly likely to make them feel threatened since it is not a natural pose for them; as a matter of fact, predators often grab rabbits by the back or the neck.
Finally, a kicking rabbit is nothing to sneeze at as far as injury or damage to yourself! If you've been around rabbits for any length of time, odds are good you've managed to pick up a couple of scratches. A frightened rabbit is more likely to scramble and scratch in an attempt to escape.
For tips on why this is a bad idea and for better ideas on how to handle, pick up, and carry your rabbit, please visit: http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Surgery/Restraint/Handling.htm
Selling Kits Younger Than 8 Weeks Old:
Okay, I know what you are going to say- you don't allow sales of animals in your Facebook groups! You're right, but we also do not permit ANY discussion of selling kits younger than 8 weeks old, even in theory. We don't really have any say in what age you wean your kits at, but selling before they are 8 weeks old is inhumane in our opinion. Digestive systems in rabbits do not close until about 12 weeks of age, so selling at such a young age is opening both the rabbit(s) and the buyer to a lot of risk of things like weaning enteritis. Just don't do it.
Bludgeoning to Stun/Kill:
This method involves a sharp heavy blow to the head from a sturdy club, hand or similar instrument. The animal is rendered unconscious immediately with death following quickly from severe brain trauma. The suffering of the animal is dependent on the skill of the person wielding the instrument. Doing this incorrectly can cause severe pain to the animal in question and is not recommended as a method of culling. We understand that some experienced breeders use this method, but as all of our groups are learning groups aimed at not only experienced rabbit breeders but also new breeders, we discourage the use of bludgeoning as it can go wrong so easily.
Drowning to Kill:
The animal is held underwater until dead. This form of death produces high stress and anxiety and pain as water enters the lungs. This is very, very inhumane.
Asphyxiation/Freezing/Burying Alive to Kill:
The animal is either strangled, smothered, buried or placed into a freezer while still alive. Some people believe that the rabbit just goes to sleep and feels no pain. This is not the case. Rabbits will rarely lay quietly while being strangled or smothered. And rabbits placed into a freezing environment will suffer immense pain and anxiety. Their blood literally crystallizes in the freezing process and it is agonizing.
Selling/Donating/Rehoming Pet Quality Rabbits to 4-H and FFA Kids:
Do not sell or breed for 4-H and FFA unless the rabbit is show quality. Just don't do it. Kids are especially vulnerable to getting crappy rabbits pawned off on them. Just... don't.
Feeding Meat/Bacon to Rabbits:
Feeding meat and/or bacon to rabbits to prevent them from killing their kits is an old wives tale. Please do not do it. Rabbits are true herbivores and are not designed to digest meat. Yes, the rabbit WILL usually eat the meat if you give it to them- but that is not because they WANT to. Rather, it is because it is their natural instinct to "clean" their burrow/home of anything that will attract predators. This is one reason does will also sometimes eat dead kits. The scent of blood and/or decaying flesh often attracts predators which in turn risks the safety of the doe and/or any kits she may have.
Encouraging/Encouragement of Abuse/Neglect/Any of the Above/Etc:
Just DON'T DO IT! Seriously. I mean it.
PERMITTED TOPICS:
These topics ARE PERMITTED and even encouraged in my groups: Raising rabbits for meat, butchering/culling, performing necropsies, processing, weaning, breeding, birthing, handling kits at birth on, photographing kits, colony raising, tractoring, etc.
