Sue Bratcher, zone four director said it all: "Experience is the best teacher when it comes to raising any breed of rabbit." It can be heart breaking however when things don’t go "by the book" and you’re doing your best to acquire this experience.

Yes I have "rabbit" in my blood. My husband tells me so. After I read the book LOP RABBITS AS PETS, by Sandy Crook, I realized that I had to have one. I purchased my first French Lop from breeders Susan and Kirt Campbell in 1993 and fell in love. Dolly is her name, a "queen bunny," very demanding at times, but always sweet and soft.

I began seriously getting involved in the fancy two years ago. Being a beginner can be difficult, but we all have to start sometime and somewhere. I spent time going to the local shows as an observer to learn about the judging process, talking to rabbit breeders, and reading various books, and, of course, THE LOP DIGEST to gain as much knowledge as possible. I purchased my first show quality buck and doe in 1995 with the intent to show and eventually breeding them.

My doe "Lucy" was a baby obtained from Montana’s Patrick Eden. Traveling 1,400 miles by car with one so young back to Southern California was an experience. I started showing her in California early in 1996, and she became more competitive each time she appeared on the table.

In late April I bred Lucy at ten months of age before the hot California summer season. Being a registered nurse, familiar with basic "human" medicine and with the knowledge gained from my rabbit buddies and books, I thought I could successfully nurse Lucy through this event. To be additionally prepared, I researched the veterinary use of the drug Oxytocin.

Unfortunately, veterinary medicine is not an exact science. There are also many different opinions from breeders and other professionals, based upon their experience and education. For example in the September ‘95' DIGEST Betty Munk wrote an article discussing the "after bunny" shot and mentioned using a 0.5cc dose of Oxytocin. Ava Frick, D.V.M. in the December ‘95' DIGEST recommended a different dosage of 0.5 units for a doe weighing 6 to10 pounds. I asked three very reputable French Lop breeders and was told that they give 10 units IM. To further complicate matters, I remembered the article entitled "Rabbit Drug Dosages" in RABBIT HEALTH NEWS, where Susan Brown, D.V.M., listed the proper dose of Oxytocin as 0.2 - 3.0 units/kg. Of course, one may see how a beginner can get confused and frustrated let alone the experienced breeder.

My next challenge came when my doe went off feed at approximately 18 days’ gestation. In the ARBA GUIDEBOOK, the late Dr. T.E. Reed stated that after twelve to fourteen days of a confirmed pregnancy, the feed should be gradually increased until about two days before kindling. But what if my doe wouldn’t eat her pellets? I read that high-protein pellets are a must, but this doe would have starved to death than eat her regular diet. I decided to feed her good-quality alfalfa hay and took the suggestion of a local breeder to supplement daily with approximately 30cc of Ensure. Lucy liked the wild berry flavor and relished the hay. I felt reassured at last. She was doing well until May 26, when ALL WENT WRONG!

My rabbit books concurred that the normal gestation for a rabbit averages 31 days. Lucy kindled one kit on the wire of her cage on her 27^th day of gestation. I wasn’t prepared, and neither was she. She appeared stressed, breathing fast and in pain. She ambulated at a slow awkward pace moving all extremities. Was she still in labor I wondered? Did she abort this kit for some unknown reason to deliver the balance of her litter at term? Was she bleeding internally or suffering from toxemia?

My local helpful breeder was out-of-town in our time of crisis. I tearfully called my adopted zone director, Helen Eden in Montana, for advice and moral support. I felt helpless due to my lack of experience. When Helen asked if the kit was large, I thought, what is large? I had no experience to base my answer on. My books never mentioned the size of a normal newborn French Lop. Lucy’s baby was four inches in length.

What can I say? Lucy passed away shortly afterwards. Whimpering, she attempted to say good-bye by extending her head outside the cage door. Will I continue my fancy? You bet I will. Just because I couldn’t find my answers to my questions in a book didn’t mean that the problems didn’t exist. Perhaps I didn’t know where to look or as Sue Bratcher stated, "Some things cannot be read or taught." Thank you, Lucy, for giving me more experience, however stressful, and the opportunity to learn more.