Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[Tombull10]

Hi guys,

 

New to all this. Just picked up 3 ex batts today. They are just standing in their eglu run looking bewildered and not moving. It's so cold should i be encouraging them into the eglu or leaving them alone? I'm worried if i get them into the eglu they won't have had any food or water before i shut them in for the night. Any help greatly appreciated as i'm worried about my poor bewildered shivering girls!!

[Guest]

I'd leave them to it, they need peace and quiet to get used to their new surroundings. Do you have a cover for the run though, just to keep the cold wind off them? Some plastic sheeting or an old shower curtain? Something that lets the light thru but keeps the wind off. If not, just use what you've got to shelter them.

 

If they haven't gone into the eglu when it's gets dark though you'll need to help them to know where bed is. Once they've done it a few times they'll start to put themselves to bed.

 

Good luck and let us know how you get on. Hope to see some photos soon

[Redwing]

Hi Tom, well done on taking on some ex batts

 

I would leave them alone, they will head for the Eglu when it gets dark hopefully, if they don't pick them up and post them through the eggport (side) door!

 

Do you have anything you can make a cover with to put over part of the run so they can get out of the cold breeze? the Omlet shade would do. if you can cover a section of run from one side to the other (not the whole run obviously) it would provide some shelter

 

It must be a heck of a shock to come out of a warm shed in to an English winter but they will get the hang of it

 

As tonight is going to be so cold you could try filling the base of the Eglu with bedding so they can snuggle not roost on the bars, I don't think this would be a good idea long term but it may keep them warmer initially, someone may come along and advise against it though as I am not very experienced!

 

Well done again and best of luck

 

Edited to add - sorry Poet I spent so long typing my reply that I didn't realise you had already covered most of this!

Edited February 7, 2009 by Guest

[Guest]

......

As tonight is going to be so cold you could try filling the base of the Eglu with bedding so they can snuggle not roost on the bars, I don't think this would be a good idea long term but it may keep them warmer initially, someone may come along and advise against it though as I am not very experienced!....

 

I think that's a great idea.

[Tombull10]

Thanks for your help so far. They are still just stood looking shocked but i'll leave them to it. I have put plenty of straw in the eglu to hopefully keep them warm. I'm just worried that they are so still, not even wondering round the run. Any more advice greatly appreciated!!

[poachedegg]

Collected mine this afternoon too and they are doing the same! 2 have moved slightly, however 1 hasn't moved at all.........such a big shock to their system.

[Redwing]

Judging from what posts I have read on ex batts it seems quite common for them not to move a lot initially, they were in such a small space that it all must be overwhelming at first - a bit like you dumping me in the middle of the sahara (my husband may pay you to do this..... )

 

I guess all that standing still won't have done a lot for their muscles either

[Guest]

our girls ate and drank virtually right away but we had open trough type feeders, might be worth putting a bit of food into something more obvious, if that makes sense?

 

by the way, have you got layers mash for them?

[mrsallen08]

Hi

We rescued some exbatts 2 weeks ago. We originally gave them mashs but mixed in a few pellets too, they soon realised that they were eating the same stuff and now we just use pellets. Ours are kept indoors overnight and then allowed outside in the day. I must admit ours are still not really moving a great deal even after 2 weeks but are looking a bit healthier and have stopped laying now.

 

Good luck

[dancing cloud]

Everything Poet and Redwing have said about keeping them warm, plus I found my little lot liked my company . They are so naturally nosey that they felt obliged to come and see what the big human creature was all about and they might appreciate sharing the body warmth too . Of course, this does mean you will get frostbite and double pneumonia , but it's all in a good cause. It also means you'll have a little flock of followers for ever too!