Tattooing and loosing kits

Creamers · #1 06/12/12, 12:24 PM

I have tattooed many goat kids, but we just tattooed our first litter
of rabbits yesterday - they were 8 weeks old.

I used the small clamp - did not try to retrain them - sat them in a box and
it seemed to go well -

7 hours later when I fed for evening, all 4 looked fine -

This morning, one had died

Should I assume that it was stress from the tattoo process?

Is that common? I surely can't afford to lose 1 in 4 from it.

wolffeathers · #2 06/12/12, 12:27 PM

I've never lost a rabbit tattooing. I think mine were usually a bit older though, because I would only tattoo the ones retained.

Creamers · #3 06/12/12, 12:29 PM

these all, as well as the other litters I haven't done yet, have deposits on them and are sold -

Lazy J · #4 06/12/12, 01:57 PM

We've never lost a rabbit to tattooing.

Pat Lamar · #5 06/12/12, 04:21 PM

You say you "sat them in a box"... would that be a tattoo box? If so, then yes, you CAN literally kill a rabbit by breaking its back if you're not careful when closing the lid. Death does not happen instantaneously, either. For that reason, I don't recommend using tattoo boxes.

Pat Lamar

**mygoat** · #6 06/12/12, 05:04 PM

I doubt it was stress from the tattoo.

I wean and tattoo on the same day. Can't get much more stressful than that. Knock on wood, I have yet to lose a single kit to weaning enteritis. I have had them freak out in a cage and break their backs, or escape their cage and be caught by our varmint killing dog... But not from weaning or tattoo stress.

bassmaster17327 · #7 06/12/12, 06:10 PM

I have never had one die from a tattoo, I often tattoo very young so I can keep growth charts on the babies

akane · #8 06/12/12, 08:16 PM

If it was a very hot day I could see the extra stress killing them. It's been in the 90sF some days here recently. If he jerked or thrashed around a broken back or other injuries are also possible but mine usually flip themselves around in a ball all upset and have never managed to injure themselves. A box to contain them seems to only help prevent possible injury rather than me trying to keep my hands on them.

Creamers · #9 06/12/12, 11:47 PM

No - when I say box - I literally just mean a box I sat them in to keep them from running - didn't hold them in it, no top - just a little box that contained them - none struggled much and they were allowed to move freely when they did - not restrained or held -

They were totally fine when they went back in around noon yesterday - then this morning, one was dead.

My husband opened her up - nothing obviously wrong.

The temps were mild here, they are in a very open and cool barn . . .

so I have no idea. . . glad to know tattooing isn't likely the cause - they were still in with the dam, as well.

SilverFlame819 · #10 06/13/12, 02:42 AM

Nope, never lost a baby from tattooing. I held mine still with an arm wrapped around them, or wrapped them in a towel... Had a few scream like I was murdering them, but never had any die. A few minutes after tattooing, they were back climbing in the feeders and chasing each other...

scpankow · #11 06/14/12, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creamers

I have tattooed many goat kids, but we just tattooed our first litter
of rabbits yesterday - they were 8 weeks old.

I used the small clamp - did not try to retrain them - sat them in a box and
it seemed to go well -

7 hours later when I fed for evening, all 4 looked fine -

This morning, one had died

Should I assume that it was stress from the tattoo process?

Is that common? I surely can't afford to lose 1 in 4 from it.

I have tattooed many rabbits that age and never lost one....so I don't think it is common or even normal.

Creamers · #12 06/14/12, 01:09 PM

Well, I'm hoping it was some strange fluke- I know the tattoo process was as smooth and quick as possible - no way they could have injured themselves. I just wonder what happened - lost no more from that group - did the last group today - hoping all make it and that was a once time occurrence.