I want to point out, I raise English Lops, and they do much better in the heat than my New Zealands. They have huge ears with lots of veins to cool themselves off. They also will put their ears in the water to cool off. I don't know about shorter Lop rabbits, but English Lops do very good in the heat. I just wanted to let you know I love your channel. Ty for sharing. ❤
Hey Megan! I enjoyed meeting you at the Homestead Festival & I have loved your books since getting them there. My Megan found out the next week she’s having a girl, not a boy as previously thought, but still due right close to your due date! We were just about to install fans, so I’m really glad you talked about that in this video! I just feel so bad for all the heat they’re having to deal within central/ northern Mississippi. We’ve got ours (Californians, REW New Zealand’s, Lops, and Lionheads) all in the shade out in the woods near the house. They also have either gotten through the summers outside before or came from parents who did. Thanks for all your advice and sharing your wisdom about these beautiful creatures. I pray you, and your whole family are doing well!
At least her having a girl will make it less confusing so we were so close! 😂 Congratulations on the soon to be baby girl 💕 Just keep the cool water coming and keep them in the shade. If they come from lines that handle heat well they should be fine. If you get concerned that one of them looks to be struggling wet their ears and feet to cool them down. A temporary cool down is much better than completely changing their environment.
Thank you for this! I am in central tx NW of Austin and have 3 pet rabbits that live outside. I’ve been wanting to make them a man-made burrow, which is how I ended up finding your page and subscribing. 2 of them are adopted pets and one is the baby of one them when a “wild” domestic rabbit that lives in our neighborhood got in lol. One is a California meat rabbit and the other one is a lop and they both do ok staying cool but I have noticed the lop loses a lot of fur off her ears in the summer to adapt. She was an indoor bunny but only 5 months old when I adopted her. I have tried the tiles for keeping cool and wondered why they didn’t work, but they are definitely too thin! I also freeze water bottles for them and hard ice packs only (they eat the soft ones). Mostly I just make sure they have lots of water available and shade and they dig down in the dirt and lay in it to stay cool :) I have a goal to be self-sufficient one day but I’m still struggling with the idea of eating an animal I raised 😬 I fully support the idea and I know it’s miles better than what animals get put through in factories, I just don’t know if I can do it lol..
I agree with you 100%, Animals are Animals, provide them food, water and shade/shelter is all they need. The only thing I do when it get hot like it is now in the south is I do have a fan moving the air around. I raise American Blue Rabbits.
I have thought about solar fans since we don't get much wind this time of year. They wouldn't make much more than a breeze but I'm sure the rabbits would enjoy it
For what it’s worth, we also breed our TAMUK rabbits for thinner fur, especially on the backs of their ears. Some of us do attempt to rebreed in the summer as it also works towards producing a more heat resistant rabbit. This will be my first summer trying this, but then again I’m not 22 weeks pregnant! I feel for you! Shade and bowls of water are absolutely Key. Nice video!
Our Californians lose fur on the backs of their ears in the summer. It's the weirdest thing. They lose most of their ear coloring because of it, but by fall their ears are perfectly dark grey again. Good luck on continuing to breed. It's risky, but hopefully it will pay off for you.
Thanks! One correction is that Tamuk rabbits are not only known for having large ears. They also have a thinner wispier summer coat to allow more airflow and cooling. This is not something that a person would necessarily notice while handling them a much a they would notice the huge ears, but hey it's not surprising that this would evolve when breeding rabbits for 110+ degree heat tolerance, right? They need all the help they can get. I'd bet there are other adaptations that took place over the breeding program that are even more difficult for people to notice, like metabolic changes or personality changes making them better at proactively cooling themselves before heat gets too bad. I say all this because people might like to know that your home line can evolve many more heat adaptations with time, so you can look out for more features than just big ears
I appreciate this video just setting up with our first rabbits,currently on our terrace in shade with deep hay to help with airflow and no sun,theyre final area is being built in our high ceilinged water tank brick built shed( one open side is in shade most of the day) ..our temps get similar to yours,so don't plan on breeding til September/Oct, only worry might be that our doe may have been covered before we got her or in transport with the buck, coming up 4 weeks since we got them so keeping fingers crossed she wasn't! We don't have extra power or refrigeration possibilities either but hoping finding the coolest location on the holding will keep things right .
I will keep my fingers crossed for you, but rabbits are so quick she may have bred without you realizing it. Just try to keep her cool and hopefully she will pull through.
We have TAMUK and they do have longer ears, they also have a thinner coat that sheds. We still stop breeding through the hot, humid, central Florida summer.
Our Tamuk had a coat that matched our new Zealand perfectly. Have you ever had a new Zealand to compare them? They are real thin coated and molt in the summer shedding most of their fur.
Ended up hanging a tarp today because that sun was just baking everything. Plus side every time the wind blows its like the parachute game and they all get the zoomies.
I think me breeding for heat resistance would be a mistake. Way up north here in Canada we still get hot and humid were I am 100f plus humidity feeling well over 110 (40c feel over 45c) but it does not last as long only a couple months. Unfortunately we get very cold where I am as well, -40 happens most years and windchills feel -50's this happens for 2-3 months as well. Winter is longer then summer so I picked Silver Fox ( not known to be great in heat but very cold hardy) and when the temperature swings to hot(whenever there is a heat advisory) I do give frozen bottles for the hottest part of the day and feed mostly at night not during the day. When old man winter rears his ugly head I give oats and BOSS at night feeding and unlimited hay and pellet so they can keep digestive full and making heat. How do you feel about feeding whole oats and BOSS at times? I do feed mostly forage in summer but keep pellet in diet incase I need help feeding wile away or emergency.
So are you separating your rabbits in the colony? Mine are not separate but they were in the shade. Lord, I’m hoping none more get pregnant but I’m sure they will!
I haven't, but I may have to soon. I just had a new litter pop up so I know they are still breeding. They dig in the dirt and don't seem to have issues with the heat. That's the only reason I haven't separated them yet
I want to point out, I raise English Lops, and they do much better in the heat than my New Zealands. They have huge ears with lots of veins to cool themselves off. They also will put their ears in the water to cool off. I don't know about shorter Lop rabbits, but English Lops do very good in the heat. I just wanted to let you know I love your channel. Ty for sharing. ❤
I'm glad you are having great success with your lops. Do you do anything special to help them through the heat?
Mine is an unknown lop but I think she’s French and she does well too :)
Hey Megan! I enjoyed meeting you at the Homestead Festival & I have loved your books since getting them there.
My Megan found out the next week she’s having a girl, not a boy as previously thought, but still due right close to your due date!
We were just about to install fans, so I’m really glad you talked about that in this video! I just feel so bad for all the heat they’re having to deal within central/ northern Mississippi. We’ve got ours (Californians, REW New Zealand’s, Lops, and Lionheads) all in the shade out in the woods near the house. They also have either gotten through the summers outside before or came from parents who did.
Thanks for all your advice and sharing your wisdom about these beautiful creatures. I pray you, and your whole family are doing well!
At least her having a girl will make it less confusing so we were so close! 😂 Congratulations on the soon to be baby girl 💕
Just keep the cool water coming and keep them in the shade. If they come from lines that handle heat well they should be fine. If you get concerned that one of them looks to be struggling wet their ears and feet to cool them down. A temporary cool down is much better than completely changing their environment.
Thank you for this! I am in central tx NW of Austin and have 3 pet rabbits that live outside. I’ve been wanting to make them a man-made burrow, which is how I ended up finding your page and subscribing. 2 of them are adopted pets and one is the baby of one them when a “wild” domestic rabbit that lives in our neighborhood got in lol. One is a California meat rabbit and the other one is a lop and they both do ok staying cool but I have noticed the lop loses a lot of fur off her ears in the summer to adapt. She was an indoor bunny but only 5 months old when I adopted her. I have tried the tiles for keeping cool and wondered why they didn’t work, but they are definitely too thin! I also freeze water bottles for them and hard ice packs only (they eat the soft ones). Mostly I just make sure they have lots of water available and shade and they dig down in the dirt and lay in it to stay cool :) I have a goal to be self-sufficient one day but I’m still struggling with the idea of eating an animal I raised 😬 I fully support the idea and I know it’s miles better than what animals get put through in factories, I just don’t know if I can do it lol..
I agree with you 100%, Animals are Animals, provide them food, water and shade/shelter is all they need.
The only thing I do when it get hot like it is now in the south is I do have a fan moving the air around.
I raise American Blue Rabbits.
I have thought about solar fans since we don't get much wind this time of year. They wouldn't make much more than a breeze but I'm sure the rabbits would enjoy it
Yes, as humid as it gets just a little breeze make a difference.
For what it’s worth, we also breed our TAMUK rabbits for thinner fur, especially on the backs of their ears. Some of us do attempt to rebreed in the summer as it also works towards producing a more heat resistant rabbit. This will be my first summer trying this, but then again I’m not 22 weeks pregnant! I feel for you!
Shade and bowls of water are absolutely Key.
Nice video!
Our Californians lose fur on the backs of their ears in the summer. It's the weirdest thing. They lose most of their ear coloring because of it, but by fall their ears are perfectly dark grey again.
Good luck on continuing to breed. It's risky, but hopefully it will pay off for you.
Thanks! One correction is that Tamuk rabbits are not only known for having large ears. They also have a thinner wispier summer coat to allow more airflow and cooling. This is not something that a person would necessarily notice while handling them a much a they would notice the huge ears, but hey it's not surprising that this would evolve when breeding rabbits for 110+ degree heat tolerance, right? They need all the help they can get. I'd bet there are other adaptations that took place over the breeding program that are even more difficult for people to notice, like metabolic changes or personality changes making them better at proactively cooling themselves before heat gets too bad.
I say all this because people might like to know that your home line can evolve many more heat adaptations with time, so you can look out for more features than just big ears
I never noticed any TAMUK having a thinner coat than our New Zealands. They were pretty on par with each other.
I appreciate this video just setting up with our first rabbits,currently on our terrace in shade with deep hay to help with airflow and no sun,theyre final area is being built in our high ceilinged water tank brick built shed( one open side is in shade most of the day) ..our temps get similar to yours,so don't plan on breeding til September/Oct, only worry might be that our doe may have been covered before we got her or in transport with the buck, coming up 4 weeks since we got them so keeping fingers crossed she wasn't! We don't have extra power or refrigeration possibilities either but hoping finding the coolest location on the holding will keep things right .
I will keep my fingers crossed for you, but rabbits are so quick she may have bred without you realizing it. Just try to keep her cool and hopefully she will pull through.
We have TAMUK and they do have longer ears, they also have a thinner coat that sheds. We still stop breeding through the hot, humid, central Florida summer.
Our Tamuk had a coat that matched our new Zealand perfectly. Have you ever had a new Zealand to compare them? They are real thin coated and molt in the summer shedding most of their fur.
Ended up hanging a tarp today because that sun was just baking everything. Plus side every time the wind blows its like the parachute game and they all get the zoomies.
😂 it takes them forever to adapt to anything new.
Good video, i was Expecting a UP Date on Goat milk Weening Kits'.
I havent created that video yet. There are a few other videos planned before then.
This video is on time! We just had two female rabbits die, both were pregnant. We are off-griddish & NC! I wish I had ice!!! 🥵💦
Oh no. I'm so sorry! We stopped breeding in May to be prepared for these temperatures
@@LivingtheHightLife your videos are great! It’s our first year off grid homesteading and we never knew we’d learn so much!!! Whew!!!
I think me breeding for heat resistance would be a mistake. Way up north here in Canada we still get hot and humid were I am 100f plus humidity feeling well over 110 (40c feel over 45c) but it does not last as long only a couple months. Unfortunately we get very cold where I am as well, -40 happens most years and windchills feel -50's this happens for 2-3 months as well. Winter is longer then summer so I picked Silver Fox ( not known to be great in heat but very cold hardy) and when the temperature swings to hot(whenever there is a heat advisory) I do give frozen bottles for the hottest part of the day and feed mostly at night not during the day. When old man winter rears his ugly head I give oats and BOSS at night feeding and unlimited hay and pellet so they can keep digestive full and making heat. How do you feel about feeding whole oats and BOSS at times? I do feed mostly forage in summer but keep pellet in diet incase I need help feeding wile away or emergency.
Oh I feel ya were in Texas
I bet your lips are melting off too 😂
@LivingtheHightLife yes they are lol 😆 😂 🤣
Where did you get the barrels from?
We found a local dealer on Facebook marketplace.
So are you separating your rabbits in the colony? Mine are not separate but they were in the shade. Lord, I’m hoping none more get pregnant but I’m sure they will!
I haven't, but I may have to soon. I just had a new litter pop up so I know they are still breeding. They dig in the dirt and don't seem to have issues with the heat. That's the only reason I haven't separated them yet
@@LivingtheHightLife I’m getting ready to fill my colony with a butt load of dirt then!