Sorry, I'm a day late this week. Sadly, as we had feared our buck, Dodge, had to be put down last Wednesday - it was myxomatosis. He just didn't have the lumps that the disease is named after. Myxomatosis is a viral disease of rabbits, first noted in Uraguay. It is transmitted by rabbit fleas, who can travel on anything that kills them, so foxes and cats. We don't have wild rabbits in the garden - no droppings and the veg patch is untouched. Foxes we haven't seen for nearly 10 years but cats yes our own is de-flead but there are others who pass through. Dodge was a sociable rabbit and spent many an hour with our cat so who knows.
However, as we aren't sure how he caught it, we have moved the rest of the rabbits under cover and have split them up, so hopefully if any more develop the illness it will only be half of them. The incubation period is 5 to 14 days so we will have to sit tight till then. Now I know they are at risk despite no contact with rabbits or foxes, thay are to be immunised.
On Saturday our smallholder group - BASHsmallholders.weebly.com had their Apple Day. Much fun was had by the boys fine tuning the new apple press. Those chopping apples were going faster than the press could press so we had breaks to warm up. The juice produced was delicious so I'll get my smaller press down and give it a go.
The kids have been on holiday this last week. Our eldest went away for a few days with her friend's family. She had a ball. I think our caravan holidays are going to need to be revamped to keep up! Our son was bored within 10 minutes of his sister leaving, however, Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone came to our rescue. He had a friend over for a sleepover aswell. So the week went but not much smallholding done.
This week is PV panels week so I'll let you know how that goes!
However, as we aren't sure how he caught it, we have moved the rest of the rabbits under cover and have split them up, so hopefully if any more develop the illness it will only be half of them. The incubation period is 5 to 14 days so we will have to sit tight till then. Now I know they are at risk despite no contact with rabbits or foxes, thay are to be immunised.
On Saturday our smallholder group - BASHsmallholders.weebly.com had their Apple Day. Much fun was had by the boys fine tuning the new apple press. Those chopping apples were going faster than the press could press so we had breaks to warm up. The juice produced was delicious so I'll get my smaller press down and give it a go.
The kids have been on holiday this last week. Our eldest went away for a few days with her friend's family. She had a ball. I think our caravan holidays are going to need to be revamped to keep up! Our son was bored within 10 minutes of his sister leaving, however, Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone came to our rescue. He had a friend over for a sleepover aswell. So the week went but not much smallholding done.
This week is PV panels week so I'll let you know how that goes!
RSS Feed
