New arrival Part 2

This is Billie the Bunny. She is a young doe who was unwanted and taken in by a fellow bunnyphile who could not keep her.

We collected her on Sunday. this will be her diary.

Day 1 - Sunday - Collected Billie and transferred her into Mr Chips' hutch/run combo. she was shaky but soon started to eat and look around. Left her completely alone for 24hrs.

Day 2 - Monday - Needed to get her into a run on grass for the day but when I approached her she stamped her feet and boxed her paws at me. Managed to usher her into the bunny carrier and transport her into the run without touching her. This is going to be fun. I can't keep a rabbit i can't pick up - you have to check them healthwise, everyday. I had a chat with Billie and said she had to buck (no pun intended) her ideas up or ship out! Mr Chips seems very keen but polite. laying next to her run, cleaning himself, nose to nose contact. I got Billie back into the hutch by the bunny carrier to save stressing her out.

Day 3 - Tuesday - I offered up the bunny carrier to Billie, she hopped in, transferred her to the run, no problems. I hand fed her cabbage while making little clicking noises, so she will associate, my smell, the noise and the food with good things. She still will not tolerate being touched yet. Mr Chips still interested. I'm off to purchase a larger run today, so I can get on with their introductions too. The current run is not large enough to let them get away from each other should they choose to. I'm getting lots of help and support from Agatha, the local bunny rescue lady. She is so knowledgeable and kind.

Fingers Crossed

This is Billie, say hello to Billie, she was left in a box on a rabbit owners doorstep in a nearby town. Billie will be coming to join the Fink family after our holiday. I'll be trying to introduce her to Mr Chips over the 3 weeks of the Summer Hols. "How did this come about?" I hear you ask.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeell. As you know, after the Blue Cross fiasco of finding a friend for Mr Chips I kept looking through the Tinternet and came across Agatha's Annex. A lady who lives not far from me who has been rescuing rabbits for a number of years. I contacted her, visited her and had a lovely afternoon surrounded by bunnies and guinea pigs. Agatha even showed me how to groom Mr Chips. what a lovely lady (and her hubby too!). Unfortunately circumstances were such that there mere no suitable companions available for Mr Chips there.

The next evening as i was doing my usual 'bum-check' on RabbitFink, I found fly eggs, the first stage of Flystrike' which is a serious/fatal disease for rabbits, where a fly is attracted to a rabbit because it is dirty for whatever reason and lays its eggs on the rabbit, near its behind, after as little as 12 hours, the eggs hatch and the infant maggots start eating the rabbit. Needless to say it is a distressing and terrible death for a rabbit. I have always prided myself on the fact that my rabbit was clean and well cared for, so it just goes to show, it can happen to anyone. With the help of Mr Fink, I removed all the eggs, cutting away some of Mr Chips' fur to make sure they were all gone. Mr Fink phoned our vet and was told the fee would be £105 as it was after hours - that was just to open the doors, we would have to pay the consultation fee etc. on top. Well, I was certain Mr Chips was now out of danger, so I left the visit till the morning. the vet kept Mr chips in, shaved his tail and bum (the rabbit's, not the vet's) and painted him with a medicine called, "Rearguard" to protect him from flystrike for the next 8 weeks. All to the tune of £80. Now you know me, I love my animals but why do I always feel ripped off by this Vets? On the itemised bill it showed the medicine cost £15. That's why.

Rant over.

The lady who has Billie contacted Agatha to try and find Billie a home as Billie doesn't get on with her 2 rabbits (they have the most beautiful Beagle there too - i fell in love with him!), so Agatha told me about her.

So cross your fingers that Billie and Mr Chips like each other!!

There will be no posts for 2 weeks as I am on holiday in Weymouth. Do you remember, years ago when the daily newspapers used to offer a £5 prize to anyone who could quote the phrase of the day to Chalky White carrying the newspaper? (The Sun or The Mirror I think). Well, if you spot me, Mrs Fink, in the next 2 weeks, and you say, "My word Mrs Fink, you are looking slim and gorgeous." I will reward you with a big smile and a firm handshake!

No rain dances now - we're camping!

Mr Chips the recluse

I must be utterly mad.
One line on a rabbit welfare leaflet said, "Rabbits are social animals and for them to be truly happy, should be kept in groups or at least pairs, never singly."
Vet check up = £60
Skin mite treatment = £10
Further checkup prior to neutering = £20
Neuter rabbit = £80
Myxy jab = £20
Larger Hutch £35

All for nothing. I took Mr Chips to the local Blue Cross (much more approachable and sensible than our local RSPCA) to meet his potential friend, Millie today. (I took the afternoon off work - my boss said it was the most bizarre reason for someone having time off - bunny bonding).
This was the second time he met her. The first was on Saturday. Neither meeting went well. Millie was overbearing and territorial (who does that remind you of?) despite us trying 3 different, neutral locations for the meeting and Mr Chips just lay down, desperately trying to become a blade of grass. Alas he is to spend the rest of his life alone. Never mind, i suppose there is a lot to be said for one's own company?

A New Arrival - Countdown

In about 3 weeks the Fink family is due to expand by one.
Watch this space......