Myxi rabbit

[binley100]

Yesterday when we went to the lottie there was already a visitor on it in the shape of a rabbit. Unfortunately the poor thing was suffering very badly with myxomatosis . Not knowing what to do we tried to catch it but after crashing into the fencing round the beds it disappeared round the back of the shed. I don't know what we'd have done if we'd caught it someone else said it would be kind to put it out of its misery .What is the general opinion?

[WrexTheDragon]

Lots of it about here.

I tend to stay clear and when offered a rabbit in the pub, I decline.

At least it will keep the rabbit population down, but not a nice way to go.

[Alison]

Didn't realise that was back again, not seen one for years, thanks goodness.

[FionaH]

Only thing to do for a rabbit with mix is despatch it quickly

[organic]

"First, catch your rabbit."

Hold the rabbit by the hind legs in your weak hand and hold its head* in your dominant hand.
Twist its head backwards while simultaneously pushing down and away from your weak hand with your dominant hand.
The neck bone will crack and death will be instant.
Be firm and confident with the move - you'll feel the break when it happens.


I'm lucky not to have had to dispatch one yet, but I take an interest in hunting so have done plenty of homework on the methods. If you prefer not to be so hands on - a hard hit to the back of the rabbit's head will have much the same effect. Depending on how close you can get you could do that with a very well aimed shovel** or (preferably I think) pin it down and bring down a hard blow with a sturdy stick (I imagine a trowel handle or the business end of a dibber would do the job there).


As to how to catch the rabbit, it will depend how close you can get to it, but one option might be dropping a jacket over it. From behind the shed maybe one person scares it towards another stood waiting with a net is probably the best. Look up purse nets and long nets and you'll get an idea of the kind of thing you'll be trying to set up with your bird netting.


Myxomatosis is a horrible disease... if you can do anything to speed an infected rabbit from this world you've done a very good thing. Apparently about 30 odd percent who get it in the UK actually survive though.

On the plus side - I'm told mixy rabbits are ok to eat, plenty of people won't due to (perfectly understandable) squeamishness - but it's a rabbit thing, not a human thing. Of course, you'd want to be able to tell mixy from other illnesses which might be less desirable to eat. Inspecting the paunch should give an indication as to the health of the animal apart from the mixy.


*some hold the head almost like a hammer with the thumb and forefinger encircling the top of the neck - others hold with the back of the head against their palm with the neck coming between the middle and ring finger.

** If your aim is slightly off you'd end up just hurting or launching the poor thing so I'd only do that if had no other choice.

[tamsin]

If they are bad enough off you can approach them then they won't recover.

If you can't humanely kill then or know someone that can a vet will euthanise them for free if you drop them off.

Watch out for fleas/ticks though as these carry it and could pass it on to pet rabbits if you have them.

[binley100]

Although I killed a rat once with a hefty whack with a shovel I'm not sure if I could depatch a rabbit. Perhaps it's to do with how they're shown in books etc., Nasty evil rats and nice fluffy bunnies.

[Snadger]

Hold with back legs and give a 'rabbit chop' to the back of the neck (just like a karate chop) Simples!

[Two_Sheds]

someone ...said it would be kind to put it out of its misery .What is the general opinion?

Yes, definitely. They don't recover from it, and it can take a couple of weeks of suffering before the thing dies.
What I didn't know was that the disease is carried by fleas, ticks and mozzies, so is more prevalent in years when more mozzies are about.

[jacob marley]

What i do when i come across one is catch it bump it at back of the neck and when dead chuck it on top of the nearest hedge that is my way to stop it spreading to others....jacob

[coreopsis]

We had one here about a month ago-it's horrible sight,the poor thing crashed into the fence(blindness).Unfortunately our dog got to the remains...
It used to be plenty of rabbits in my place,I went for a walk yesterday and couldn't see even one rabbit.
I was told that myxi outbreak happens when the area is overpopulated with them-maybe that's why it spreads so quickly from one to another.
I'll see in the wintertime-lack of food elsewhere attracted them to our garden every winter.

[Nicos]

I used to breed pet bunnies- 4 gals and and male- and because we had the lottie and a horse, we always made sure our bunnies were vaccinated against myxi- just in case we brought it back on our shoes/clothing.
4 bunnies...not cheap!

Just be aware of your pet bunnies folks- esp if there is a sudden rise in myxi in your area