Today I had to tattoo our bunnies. It is actually harder for me to tattoo them than the goat because the bunnies look so innocent and sometimes make a little squeak when they hurt. I procrastinated as long as possible before this task. The first two bunnies I used too much alcohol to clean their ears, and the ink got on their wool. The brown bunny above has this, but it is hard to see in the photo. Then I improved my technique and less green bunnies occurred.
Below are our two bottle bunnies Too Slim and Polly. They are living in a cage outside under one of the hutches. But with our recent flooding rainstorm, they got a little wet.
I have been milking two of our Nigerian Dwarf does for milk. They were not extremely cooperative today. So after feeling bad about hurting bunnies and dealing with uncooperative goats, I saw this scene.
I had to smile.
Poor Bunnies! I hate ear tagging and tatooing the cattle too. It’s so wrong. I have not tattoed our cattle yet because I think it’s way too cruel. You’d think in this day and age the technology would allow us to tag or identify our animals in a much more humane way 🙁
When is someone going to come up with some simple pain-free identification ideas for cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, etc?
Our dogs and cats have those microchips under the skin (small as a grain of rice) but even that method although only painful once is still invasive and uncomfortable for the animals.
There’s got to be a better way!
The cute photo at the end of your post is what makes it all worthwhile 🙂
I’m glad you got a little ray of sunshine at the end!
Oh I love the picture at the the end. Kids will always make you smile when you’re having a difficult day. At least it’s over with now.
I agree that there ought to be a better way. But really people tattoo and pierce themselves for fun so I tell myself it can’t be that bad. The cute goat definitely helps! And it is over now. Next will be ear tagging the lambs.
Your bunnies are beautiful! Having had a couple of Angoras a few years ago, my hat is off to you for all the work you do. I remember how much work mine were and I sold them because I just didn’t have the time. I absolutely LOVE the fiber but have decided that I’ll BUY it ~ and not complain about the price because the brave souls who put in the time and effort to produce it DESERVE to make a little money!
😉
Thanks Nancy. They are a fair amount of work. Especially now that we have so many of them. Soon the bunnies will go to their new homes and the work level will go down. I love mixing their fiber with Shetland wool and spinning it up.
Have you ever rubbed some liquid Ambesol in their ears before tattooing? Numbs the nerves so it hurts them less.
I have not. That is a good idea.
Goats always find a way to brighten your day.
They do, plus lambs and bunnies do as well.