What About the Poop?!

Meat Rabbits, Pet Rabbits, Show Rabbits October 17, 2012 Leave a comment

Bunny Berries are excellent for reuse in gardens.

USES FOR RABBIT MANURE

Rabbit manure, or “bunny berries,” used as a plant fertilizer is superior to other manures due to its unique composition. Often referred to as “super fertilizer” or “Bunny Gold,” gardeners revel in the fast and abundant growth of their crops, plants, gardens and produce. Rabbit manure will not “burn” the plants when applied directly to the plants.

Composting with rabbit manure is also popular and rabbit manure ranks among the finest of all manures to use for this purpose.

Worm farming (Vermiculture) has additional benefits as the worms thrive in properly maintained worm beds and rabbit manure is the favorite manure to use for raising worms. The raising of worms under cages can be used to eliminate odor in the barns. Open, ventilated barns are ideal for this venture.

Worm farming also provides additional income by selling the worms for bait or composting, and the worm “castings” as potting soil.

 

Written by Pat Lamar, President of the Professional Rabbit Meat Association (PRMA) and the Chairperson of the Commercial Department Committee for the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), 1998

Preparing Your Hutch for Winter

Champagne d'Argent, Holland Lop, Meat Rabbits, Mini Rex, Pet Rabbits, Show Rabbits, Silver Marten October 15, 2012 1 Comment

Now that winter is upon us, we take a few different precautions winterizing our rabbits. Rabbits thrive in cold weather, but it still makes sense to make sure you don’t wake up one morning after a frigid night and discover your livestock frozen solid!

Our hutch is a double-decker, lean-to style. The sides are made of T11 insulating material with corrugated fiberglass interiors. We’ve attached a heavy tarp to the front of the hutch that can be dropped down in driving rain, super snow, or during our terribly windy spring days.

We also give each of our rabbits a box stuffed with hay for the below-freezing weather.

Image

Meet the Holland Lops!

Holland Lop, Pet Rabbits October 15, 2012 1 Comment

Our Holland Lops are from three separate bloodlines and are currently living in three homes as pets! Here are just a few of the babies from Grand Champion lines we have as part of our breeding stock! (Look for more babies around Christmas 2012!)

 

Caramel Machiatto

 

Chocolate Chip

 

Brownie

 

Meet the Mini Rex!

Mini Rex, Pet Rabbits October 15, 2012 Leave a comment

Well, we went a’rabbit huntin’ this weekend. We intended to come home with a Silver Marten buck but due to several circumstances, including our very spoiled daughters, we ended up with Min Rex rabbits!

 

We now have two does, two bucks who were born in August 2012. Almost got all of them in one picture, but Snowy was too quick for my camera!

 

Butterscotch, Bushy, and Maverick one their first day at Mad Hatter Rabbits.

High Protein, Low Calorie Rabbit

Meat Rabbits October 7, 2012 1 Comment

Though rabbits does not have the popularity of, say, chicken, it is a wonderful meat to add to your dinner table.

Rabbit is easy to digest.Remember that when feeding children, senior citizens, or those with weak stomachs or digestive problems. Those on bland, soft-food diets take well to the tender texture and mild flavor of domestic rabbit.

Recent studies have also shown that rabbit compares favorably to chicken in its low cholesterol content. Anyone concerned about heart disease should consider the merits of rabbit meat.

Consider the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistical breakdown of several meats and then decide to give rabbit meat a try:

USDA findings, as quotes in Storey’s Guide to Raising Rabbits, 2009.

Excerpted from Storey’s Guide to Raising Rabbits by Bob Bennet, 2009.

How To Choose Your Bunny

Meat Rabbits, Pet Rabbits, Show Rabbits October 5, 2012 Comments: 4

Duchess

Choosing a healthy rabbit is quite simple as with rabbits, barring unseen genetic deformities, etc. what you see is what you get!

First, take your time with the seller.  Whether you are at the sellers rabbitry or have met somewhere else, spend several minutes listening for sneezing.  A rabbit with snuffles will likely sneeze or have a sneezing fit in a 10-15 minutes period.

Look at the nose and eyes, which should be clean and clear.  The ears should be observed, but before that, if the head or ears appear oily or greasy it could be an indication that the rabbit has recently been treated for ear mites.

Check the hocks for sores or unhealthy-looking pads.  Don’t buy a greasy rabbit, sneezing rabbit, a rabbit with a runny nose or gunky eyes, a rabbit with audible breathing or rustling/raspy breathing, a rabbit with sore hocks, or a dirty coat.

Most rabbits that pass this quick audio/visual test should be fine quality.  Remember, however, nothing can guarantee that the rabbit will be a good breeder except experience.

Reprinted from Sky Island Livestock, LLC.

30 Rabbit Facts

Meat Rabbits, Pet Rabbits October 5, 2012 Leave a comment

There are many reasons to raise your own rabbits.

The following “rabbit facts” were taken from C. Park Romney’s book, Raising Rabbits at Home:

1. One doe can produce 70-110 lbs. of dressed meat each year.

2. Rabbits are multipurpose animals. They are used for meat, fur, wool, laboratory experiments, etc.

3. They are raised in all 50 states.

4. There are over 40 known breeds of rabbits.

5. Presently over 200,000 families raise rabbits.

6. Only 500 to 600 does provide full-time employment.

7. There are over 300 different recipes for rabbit. Additionally, any chicken recipe can be substituted with rabbit.

8. Rabbit wool is lighter and warmer than any other animal wool.

9. After slaughter 93% of the entire carcass is useable.

10. Only about 7% of the rabbit consists of bone.

11. Rabbits have no diseases communicable to humans.

12. Most felt hats are made from rabbit pelts.

13. Rabbit fur can duplicate 85% of all other furs.

14. Rabbit meat helps stomach disorders.

15. The rabbits foot has been a good luck charm for centuries.

16. Gardeners will virtually beg for rabbit manure as plant food.

17. Rabbits are the only edible farm animal able to produce 1,000% of it’s own weight in offspring per year.

18. They are the cleanest of all vegetarians.

19. They can produce a litter in only one month’s time.

20. They can breed all year around.

21. Some people claim rabbits are rodents. They aren’t; they are lagomorphs.

22. Rabbit manure is almost odor free if kept fairly dry.

23. Rabbit manure will not burn plants even when applied fresh.

24. Rabbits won’t crow, bark or howl at the moon at midnight or any other time.

25. Domestic rabbit meat does not have a strong or wild taste.

26. Rabbits can begin reproducing by 4-to-5 months of age.

27. In 1/70 of an acre about 5 tons of rabbit meat can be produced annually.

28. Raising rabbits requires a very low investment.

29. Geologists claim that rabbits are opposums are the oldest known living animals.

30. Rabbits have been reported to weigh up to 26 lbs.

Meet Duchess

Pet Rabbits October 3, 2012 Leave a comment

Duchess is a beautiful Champagne d’Argent doe. She comes from championship lines on both father and mother. She’s a little shy and quite the observer.

Meet Bucky

Pet Rabbits October 3, 2012 Leave a comment

Bucky is our Champagne d’Argent buck. He’s quiet and laid back.

Meet Peppermint

Pet Rabbits October 3, 2012 Leave a comment

Peppermint is a beautiful black Silver Marten doe. Her coloring is lovely and she has a sweet, gentle personality.