Today I opened up the bunny barn for the first time since Christmas Eve when we lost two ducks to a suspected raccoon attack. The ducks are not enjoying being cooped up in the barn, they needed some fresh air. I opened the door and only Josh the goose came out. The ducks (and two roosters and last remaining guinea) decided they'd rather stay in. Well, at least I gave them the opportunity.
I did notice the pawprints around the bunny barn. Something has been snooping around, circling the barn, looking for a way in. Oddly enough, the three rabbits in the cages outside do not seem to be troubled by the night visitor. The prints go right by the front of the cages, but don't seem to stop or circle them.
I set the trap again today, but no luck during the day. Maybe we'll catch the culprit tonight. It's clearly revisiting the scene of the crimes. Perhaps I need better bait. Ham doesn't seem to be doing it.
The bucks in the grow out pen in the bunny barn are having serious issues. It's been a long time since I've been out there. I have problems going out in the cold, so #3 has been doing bunny chores. She was off at grandma's house last night and this morning, so I went out to do morning water chores and open up the coop and barn. There are four bucks in the grow out pen. Three of them are now missing the tips of their ears. It's a frozen bloodbath in there, and I don't understand. We've kept bucks together much longer than these four young ones have been together without issues (in fact the three older bucks are still living communally in our basement right now). I'm left to assume the aggressor is the one bunny who still has intact ears. To this evening #3 moved Boon to his own cage. It's a risk putting him in a solitary cage when it's so cold - nobody to snuggle with for body heat - but if he's the one attacking the other boys, I can't let him continue. Vesuvius, Ulysses, and Ulrich have damaged ears now. They don't appear to be in any mortal danger, but they won't be as pretty now. Their ears will heal. I think the cold helped by reducing blood flow, and thus reducing blood loss. My poor boys. I stood out there until I couldn't feel my toes anymore, hoping to see who was the bully, but they all seemed sweet and they all got along while I was watching.
Between the blind eye and the damaged ear, I think if Ulysses comes through the winter, he may earn a place in our breeding lines. I love weird and different critters, and since his damage is all cosmetic and not genetic, he'd be better suited for breeding than eating. I will reserve that decision for spring when the weather warms up and I can see where we stand with cage availability and where we want to go from here with rabbit breeding.