Milky Does and the Rabbit reproduction cycle..

flanum

Ok, so im hammering a lot of bunnies these days, just got me new anny .17hmr on friday, was out today, first time ive been able to shoot out beyond 100yds, as i normally use me air arms pcp air rifl up to approx 60-70 yds comfortably.. this new yolk has opened up a different world... im actually using the scope at x16 and scanning the edges of the field from 300 yds back and knocking bunnies with eyeball shots at 150-180 yds ish. (also a grey, a mag, and a rook)..well pleased with the bang-stick.... However.. at longer ranges than im used to, im finding age/size guestimation difficult on the bugs. Unfortunately, i hit a few milky does, now when i paunched them, they were on a thin layer of fat around the nipples so i presume they were no longer feeding young.. also in the same frame of scope i saw the wee babbies near the does (very rounded ears and jumpin all over the shop, fidgety wee feckers) ... i presume they are weened at this stage.. this is what im tryin to figure out.. at what age do bunnies no longer require their mothers milk to survive.. am i wrong in shooting milky does (its not that easy to tell at 100+ yds, but im learning bracketing..not that easy, and also gettin used to their habits while gawkin at them through the scope.. young 1/2..3/4 ones mad as march hares..milky mammies.. nearly permanently on back legs ears pricked up.)

so... am i inadvertantly killing young rabbit cubs by shooting the milky one.. or what age/size do they become independant??

ps .. i find with the older bucks and "doe's" that braising in the oven works a treat and softens them up as good as youngsters!

Tackleberrywho

flanum wrote: »

Ok, so im hammering a lot of bunnies these days, just got me new anny .17hmr on friday, was out today, first time ive been able to shoot out beyond 100yds, as i normally use me air arms pcp air rifl up to approx 60-70 yds comfortably.. this new yolk has opened up a different world... im actually using the scope at x16 and scanning the edges of the field from 300 yds back and knocking bunnies with eyeball shots at 150-180 yds ish. (also a grey, a mag, and a rook)..well pleased with the bang-stick.... However.. at longer ranges than im used to, im finding age/size guestimation difficult on the bugs. Unfortunately, i hit a few milky does, now when i paunched them, they were on a thin layer of fat around the nipples so i presume they were no longer feeding young.. also in the same frame of scope i saw the wee babbies near the does (very rounded ears and jumpin all over the shop, fidgety wee feckers) ... i presume they are weened at this stage.. this is what im tryin to figure out.. at what age do bunnies no longer require their mothers milk to survive.. am i wrong in shooting milky does (its not that easy to tell at 100+ yds, but im learning bracketing..not that easy, and also gettin used to their habits while gawkin at them through the scope.. young 1/2..3/4 ones mad as march hares..milky mammies.. nearly permanently on back legs ears pricked up.)

so... am i inadvertantly killing young rabbit cubs by shooting the milky one.. or what age/size do they become independant??

ps .. i find with the older bucks and "doe's" that braising in the oven works a treat and softens them up as good as youngsters!

Copied from encyclopedia

Rabbits have a very fast reproductive rate. The breeding season for most rabbits lasts 9 months, from February to October. Normal gestation is about 30 days. The average size of the litter varies but is usually between 4 and 12 babies, with larger breeds having larger litters. A kit (baby rabbit) can be weaned at about 4 to 5 weeks of age. This means in one season a single female rabbit can produce as many as 800 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A doe is ready to breed at about 6 months of age, and a buck at about 7 months. Courtship and mating are very brief, lasting only 30 to 40 seconds. Courtship behavior involves licking, sniffing, and following the doe. Spraying urine is also a common sexual behavior. Female rabbits are reflex ovulators. The female rabbit also may or may not lose clumps of hair during the gestation period.
Ovulation begins 10 hours after mating. After mating, the female will make a nest or borough, and line the nest with fur from the dewlap, flanks, and belly. This behavior also exposes the nipples enabling her to better nurse the kits. Kits are altricial, which means they're born blind, naked, and helpless. Passive immunity (immunity acquired by transfer of antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes from another animal) is acquired by kits prior to birth via placental transfer. At 10 to 11 days after birth the baby rabbits' eyes will open and they will start eating on their own at around 14 days old.
Although born naked, they form a soft baby coat of hair forms within a few days. At the age of 5 to 6 weeks the soft baby coat is replaced with a pre-adult coat. At about 6 to 8 months of age this intermediate coat is replaced by the final adult coat, which is shed twice a year thereafter. Due to the nutritious nature of rabbit milk kits only need to be nursed for a few minutes once or twice a day

Now you get a higher mag scope !:D

I used to use a .22lr on bunnnies, after a .223 I could never go back. Range & accuracy is all that matters;)

All bunnies are on the menu

dicky82

i know im leaving myself open to be shot down in a blaze of glory here (pardon the pun) but would i be right in thinking that shooting the odd youngster and the odd milky doe actually helps the rabbit population by reducing stress levels in the colony thus making for healthier bunnies. . i know people might disagree but im open to correction.

Tackleberrywho

dicky82 wrote: »

i know im leaving myself open to be shot down in a blaze of glory here (pardon the pun) but would i be right in thinking that shooting the odd youngster and the odd milky doe actually helps the rabbit population by reducing stress levels in the colony thus making for healthier bunnies. . i know people might disagree but im open to correction.

I shoot Bunnies, Old young no diff to me. The area was destroyed with them until I started shooting them. now there is still a good supply but they are not out of control.

And I have only seen one mixy Rabbit this year which I also shot!

Mixy used to be much more common

meathstevie

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I shoot Bunnies, Old young no diff to me. The area was destroyed with them until I started shooting them. now there is still a good supply but they are not out of control.

And I have only seen one mixy Rabbit this year which I also shot!

Mixy used to be much more common

The best way to prevent mixy is keep the numbers slightly lower than what you know the area can sustain at full occupancy.

landkeeper

it makes no difference what you do to to 'your' rabbit population as regards mixy nothing you can will/do makes the slightest difference its a viral disease spread by fleas etc when they bite the rabbit as well as rabbit to rabbit
the only thing that might be affected by keeping down numbers is the mixing between different populations one that may have mixy and one that dosn't
as far as shooting rabbits in milk thats one of the problems in shooting them this time of year i'm afraid , it's not the fist size lads you need worry about they are out and eating its the pinkies underground that are totally reliant on mammy