um... mixi rabbit in my garden/horse's temp paddock...

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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there is a little, poorly looking, hunched up, rabbit in my garden/horse's temp paddock (yes, horses are in the garden, it's 1.5acres, don't have kittens...).

horses have ignored it so far, but i know i have to do something... what do i do?

do i have to kill it? (eeek)
can it wait until this afternoon as my dad's coming round...? should i put a bucket over it or something so it can't run away (don't think it will) or will that traumatise it too much?

poor little bunny rabbit (and no, i'm not a bunny hugger...much), it's heartbreaking to see them.
frown.gif
 
It should be killed really - if there anyone who could do it for you? Poor thing - there are so many round us - it's a bad year for it!
 
I have 11 rabbits (crazy rabbit lady) when willow was poorly, I put her in a box with some grass and hay, till my OH came home to take her to the vets.
Or have you looked on the internet for any wildlife rescuers near you, that could come and help?
 
We get this problem. There's no way OH or I could kill one so I tend to take them to the vets. They dont charge as its a wild animal. Chuck a towel or something over the rabbit to catch it. Even though it probably wont run it will kick like mad when you try to pick it up and they have pretty strong back legs LOL. Stick it in a box with some hay/grass and and any vet will deal with it. You and the horses cant catch anything from the rabbit - just be sure to wash your hands though!!
 
I can not kill them either.

Bunny definitely needs to be moved out of th horses reach.

I once asked a vet about this problem ie how to put them out of their misery. he is a hunting enthusiast, has worked in veterinary research etc, so he is no "bunny hugger".

His advice was to leave them somewhere safe ie next to hedge. Not all rabbits die of mixi, and the ones who survive help to build up the population resistance to this revolting disease.

I realise any farmers reading this will be spitting nails.
 
If it's very poorly I tend to dispatch them asap. If you can't or don't want to wring it's neck then the simplest method I have found is to get two buckets, half fill one with water, drop bun in and then put other bucket on top and put your foot in it.

Not pleasant but apparently drowning is less unpleasant than one might imagine as a method of passing from this world.
 
I didn't think they had anything to treat mixi? could be wrong tho.

I would put it in a box keep it quite and dark and wait for your dad, I think if you move it about a lot then you could spead mixi without meaning to.

Poor bunny
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Unfortunately, Mixi isnt curable, but passes from rabbit to rabbit like wild fire, this has frightened me into keeping my rabbits in my house, I havent had a dining room for a year now
 
We get lots of myxi rabbits in our paddock and garden, we've even had them run into the kitchen. They really need to be put out of their misery asap. My vet suggested hitting them over the head with a shovel but I can't bring myself to do it. Luckily we have a neighbour who is skilled at despatching rabbits so I pick them up in a towel or rug and take them to him. Myxi is an awful, awful disease and causes so much pain.
 
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you can take mixi rabbits to the vet?!!?
really?

i always thought they were beyond help? considering my vet is about 2 hours away.... i think i'd have to find a more local one...

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They are beyond help - but the vet will PTS for you (for free). There's no way I could kill one myself - by any method!
 
Hun, you're heavily preggers (yeah, just in case you hadn't noticed lol). Put a bucket over it. It will be quiet and calm in there. If you can, put something round the bucket so's the horses don't go for it. Don't try and pick the rabbit up, you don't want a kick in the stomach. Ask your Dad to either kill it or take it to the nearest vet. Wear thick gloves.

Hugs hun.
 
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Hun, you're heavily preggers (yeah, just in case you hadn't noticed lol). Put a bucket over it. It will be quiet and calm in there. If you can, put something round the bucket so's the horses don't go for it. Don't try and pick the rabbit up, you don't want a kick in the stomach. Ask your Dad to either kill it or take it to the nearest vet. Wear thick gloves.

Hugs hun.

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OOh sorry, didnt know you were pregnant. Definitely dont pick it up - they kick like mad, even when they are ill.
 
I don't know if the vet can do anything for it - it's a horrible death & the kindest thing to do is to put it out of it's misery sooner rather than later I think, as sad as it is.
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I'd neck it, or find a big rock, sorry
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Had to do this a few weeks ago after a baby one got hit by a tractor in front of me, was infinitely better than watching it writhe around in agony
frown.gif

I am still a big girl and had to ask my dad to check if I had done it properly.
 
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Or have you looked on the internet for any wildlife rescuers near you, that could come and help?

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Goodness, if we all phoned wildlife rescues every time we came across a mixi rabbit, they'd never get anything constructive done.

Clipcloppop, have you got a suitable dog to set on it - they would dispose of it very swiftly.
 
We have not been bad for it this year round here.

I just pick them up by the back legs head sticks out (natural reflex) & whack. Broken neck & dead rabbit out of misery.

I always remember a local bobby being stopped by some turoid who had found this mixi rabbit. She asked him what to do. He said best think is place it under your car wheel & drive over it. Mortified the woman sat on grass bank by beck with it.
Rabbit moved forward fell of bank into beck & drowned! Dozy mare!
 
Ditto if you have a dog let it deal with it. I don't think it is doing a myxi rabbit any favours to stress it by taking it to a vet to pts. It will be fine left for your dad to deal with, as someone else has said they don't travel far, and I expect your horse will ignore it, mine do.
 


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Goodness, if we all phoned wildlife rescues every time we came across a mixi rabbit, they'd never get anything constructive done.

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I was only suggesting as some rescues do, "neck" wildlife if it is on deaths door, plus if the person who found it doesnt want to do deaths deed, the rescuers can.
It was only a friendly suggestion...
 
Mixi is horrible! I was told from about 12 to kill any rabbits i see with mixi. I have killed about 5 myself and let the terrier on alot more.
IMO it is cruel to just watch them suffer.
 
Why on earh would anyone want to help build up immunity to mixxi?? Mixxi hits rabbir populations that have become too large, it is nature's way of cutting back the rabbit population so the others can survive. If you find a rabbit with mixxi, please try to kill it quickly. If you can't, just leave it alone.
I would definately not be takng it to any veterinary surgery (where it WILL be put down) as there is a risk that it will spread to pet rabbits that visit, although the surgery staff will do their utmost to avoid this.

I hate killing any mixxi rabbts, but it is a necessary evil.
 
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