How Far Gone...?

[Terrier Sam 297]

I was out for an hour last night. Bit of wind, a few stars but no moon. No end of night shots but heres the dog;

 

 

Ended up with an alright bag of 3 with the youngen. As I took the first rabbit off him to dispatch it, it felt odd - I've had one from this area before that had a 2 inches oval shaped cyst/tumor on it's stomach so I was intrigued to see what it was.

 

I opened it when I got back to the car to see what's going on only to find that it was carrying 4 babies. I was gutted to say the least, we don't have many around here as it is. Around here 3-5 would be a good bag, well worth a trip out and double figures means that you either have a special dog or special permission. Obviously, I won't be back there until next season just in case.

 

These babies were about 2 1/2 inches - 3 inches long. They had formed legs and small ears - surely they can't be much bigger than this when they're born? If so, that means that the doe must have conceived before Christmas..?

 

Anyone else had this yet?

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

That's madness. There is still snow on the ground here and there are does ready to drop.

[paulus 26]

theres been half grown rabbits about all winter here

[TOMO 26,193]

Had quite a few well pregnant does latly whilst ferreting,,, the first one was the week between Xmas and new year year,,,on Tuesday had 4 or 5 that were carrying young

[The one 8,479]

We are normally about a month behind up here but with the snow and minus conditions its maddness i

[baw 4,360]

We are normally about a month behind up here but with the snow and minus conditions its maddness i

 

It was unusually mild before the snow came though.

[The one 8,479]

Aye but the snow then frost should make them reabsorb there young and think again giving us the extra month

[BIGLURKS 874]

We had a couple half grown ones round Xmas so decided that my season is finnished prob a couple more days but nothing serious

[Guest Chancey]

with this shit weather for hunting im sure theres been a few wives left pregnant lol

[airbourne 128]

with this shit weather for hunting im sure theres been a few wives left pregnant lol

yeah and i bet theres a few pregnant when there out late at night lampin

[artful212 394]

have noticed a few halfers up the road havent came across preg ones yet

[chrisbullx 2,541]

We don't have seasons (spring,summer,autumn,winter) like we used to the weathers all to f**k that's why rabbits breed all year round now!!! Atb cbx

[BIG TOM 835]

Past couple of days I put 2 baby rabbits back up in the hedge can t be any older than 2 weeks old its mad but the good thing is more breeding means more rabbits atb Tom

[Terrier Sam 297]

Past couple of days I put 2 baby rabbits back up in the hedge can t be any older than 2 weeks old its mad but the good thing is more breeding means more rabbits atb Tom

 

Too true mate!

 

I did think that today. The pregnant rabbits that havent been caught will probs go on to have another litter, maybe two before next winter!

 

Its good to see that it's happened to other too. I felt really bad after I opened the rabbit up. It's one thing killing a fully grown rabbit after the dogs caught it but it's another when you kill unborn ones.

 

Lets hope the weather gets a kick up the arse soon!

 

ATB

 

Sam

[George (the ferret boy) 15]

Had this last year ferreting was gutting all the rabbits and had a very fat rabbit gutted it, it was a pregnant Doe had bout 4-5 babies but once it's done it's done