Building our Rabbit Colony | From cage to kindness - Free Range Homestead Ep 55

[@NateK-MN]

It seems like aggression is a trait, not just a "personality". Seems like much of what I've read from Australian rabbit colony keepers recommends sending the aggressive females to freezer camp because they only get more aggressive when they get pregnant. That being said, thank you for a great building example with lots of good explanations!

[@Theodor857]

Agreed, I did rabbits and cept them together in 3, the dominant females I just culled, I found the trait got passed on to ⅔ their offspring as well. My rabbits were happy and even chose to share nesting boxes, sometimes all 3 and others one in one box and two in the other. They each had a box but preferred to share. It was quite interesting and the rabbits got them all fed and raised. Had huge litters and the Kittens were well fed, almost over fed, as seeing as the got fed 2 or 3 times as often. They grew quickly. When I bred them I put the buck in with them for 3 days, mostly, it worked well. They were one big happy family and enjoyed each other's company. I weaned them at 5 weeks and the does kindled a week after that. The aggressive does, or does that would keep the combined litter for them selves, not allowing the others to nurse, weren't that commen and they got culled. If I needed to ad a doe to get to 3, I cept one of the females young back and left her with the group. The boxes I made a bit bigger and sometimes the does would split the litter up in the box and fed each group separately. The also sometimes did that with the single litters if they were large.

[@FreeRangeLiving]

Exceptionally informative post thanks. May I ask where the buck lived when not on his 3 day debauch?

[@FreeRangeLiving]

@Theodor857 I think separating the buck is a very good idea. That may have been a cause of some issues with the doe not nesting. Next round, I'll do that. Cheers

[@leebenson4874]

As I near the end of my travel to the afterlife I would like to say Thank You for all the hours of enjoyment you two have given me over the last 5yrs. Again, THANK YOU!!

[@Lana_Warwick]

That sounds sad. Trust you made the most of it, more positive vs negative. All the best with whatever comes next 🕊

[@leebenson4874]

@@Lana_Warwick Well thank you but Happily I just found out that I was not failing but had just gotten a bad batch of my Med's WOW big time Scary!!!😳Wait!! Wow my Anniversary is on the 31st. LOL She be playing games again. Love that girl SO!!! RIP Tracy

[@mary-i7d9d]

Troy, your building skills are out of the ball park. So enjoy your video's!

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

I love watching you build things. Thanks for sharing. 🐇

[@davidstoddard9160]

I have always heard that the long iron that you call a crow bar was called a frost bar, but since I live in Minnesota, where the ground freezes sometime as deep down as 4 ft or more, so using this tool for very hard ground including frozen ground ect. We use a crow bar as we call them , or as some call them a pry bar, to remove or separate building material, such as two boards nailed together, and to remove the nails themselves. It is interesting we name things according to use in the areas we live. and how they are used.

[@onlygoatsfarm]

I’ve never heard it called a frost bar! Where are you from?

[@kasiakordys266]

Rabbits look very healthy and happy. Lots of love from Greece xxx

[@missykuss9975]

Love the rabbity. Well done. You do beautiful work.

[@JayeSpeaks]

Troy has got to be one of the most clever ever.

[@anthonybeck2384]

Rabbit paradise 👏🏻👏🏻

[@richardp4544]

Impressive, not surprisingly, rabbit habitat there Troy. Nice job. Nice video too. Well wishes for you and the gals of the household.

[@iansmith6086]

The dog is filling out nicely she's putting on some good muscle

[@alanrobinson5109]

Hi Troy, the care you show to all your animals, is to admired, they all look so healthy. Wishing you Pascale and your new daughter all the best from the UK.

[@bobuncle8704]

Troy, the way you tackle each and every project with such aplomb, it’s hard to believe it’s a first time for you.

[@larry_anderson]

I'm starting to think there's nothing that Troy can't do, and do superbly.

[@donnarocchio936]

I love your creative ability to take wonderful care of your animals. They all seem to be very happy.

[@jeroenschat6684]

That's a lovely video, Troy. Really enjoyed the process and explanation of the rabbitry.

[@seamusobrien2675]

what a great new word "Rabitat", nice one you three.

[@shellsea9520]

❤ TROY , troy Troy the very HANDY MAN And Dad carer of many HAPPY 🐰 BUNNYS And a short seen of Pasky and Constance Hope I am spelling that correctly LOL YER Weres the muma and baby SORRY Troy u did a GR8 JOB MATE ❤️‍🔥💗💜💙💥💫 Lv

[@Trisha_B_done]

I love the burrows. And the saw dust idea. We have a saw mill not far rrom here, so I'll have t9 check out what they offer.

[@americanbornwalkaway9110]

OMG I LOVE YOU THREE!!!!! SO MUCH!!!!! I LOVE what you have done with your Homestead (FREERANGE)...its BEEN Such a FUN ride with you....Thanks for sharing with us ALL

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Lots of wild rabbits seen on my daily walk here on southern Vancouver Island.They are not as chubby as those in your care.There was an owl watching them from a high perch on a power line the other day!!Viewing with interest! CHEERS from Here!

[@TheBeaker59]

Can't wait to see you guys process and cook one that will be interesting.

[@jeffslaven]

I'm always amazed at your building abilities Troy. Great looking rabbit hutch!

[@moonmountain_2841]

I just love your vlogs, they feel like you're actually talking directly to me...I watched y'all on the boat, I wasn't sure about these, but I've been proven WRONG they are actually so very entertaining and I want to thank you for that...x

[@BirdseyeVu]

“Everyone is getting on quite well…except for Jezebel. She keeps trying to kill everyone.”😂 Names are powerful!😉

[@hamish9917]

BONGO's!!! Very cool!

[@ianlangridge3412]

Congrats on your new arrival. As you said the best thing you have ever done. Thats how we felt when our first was born. We can relate to what you said in the video. All the best for each new days exoerience

[@davidsears5576]

Great job Troy

[@leonard7116]

Greetings from Germany and good night 🎉❤

[@annhysell6064]

Hello all. Just wanted you to know that everyone I chatted with at the Annapolis Sail Boat Show still loves your channel although (obvious) they are invested now with you 3 (and so many more) . Well done Pascale, lol, (when Troy wasn't keen on a you tube channel). I feel like I am watching what we read as kids with my parents.I think it was a Fire fox series.. all about sustainable living. No matter where. So happy for you both. Be well.

[@krisgarwood5733]

Hello Troy, Paski, and Baby C! Congratulations on expanding your farm with rabbits. 🖐 a subscriber in Seattle

[@paulwashington8863]

Well done! And a great video.

[@isnoo1]

Loved this video......... reminds me of my old days on a farm!!

[@MrGaza74]

Always great to watch you work Troy. You’re very capable and intelligent. I used to go ferreting for rabbits. All the best to you and your family.

[@Rittlesleo]

Thanks!

[@FreeRangeLiving]

Welcome!

[@-hopskinny5865]

Troy, I don't know if you have any neighbourhood dogs, but I had rabbits in a tractor like yours, and local dog(s?) simply ripped the mesh apart (how they did it is a mystery) and our bunnies were gone. I doubt foxes could get through mesh, but you would have a better idea - we don't have them over the ditch. I don't know what your thoughts are on this, but possibly some reinforcing like the lattice used to reinforce concrete slabs may be a useful addition?

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal Canada

[@schellywagoner8264]

I agree that Jezebel has earned a spot in the air fryer, but I just love that you named her Jezebel. I wonder, did you name her that as a kit and she grew into the name - or did you name her after she became a pushy bully? LOL

[@redrover9988]

Troy, I really enjoy watching you build things. Doing your arborist talents felling trees I also enjoy Pascal using her talents preparing food, pickling and such. Do you have Fox's around, if so will they try and jump inside for a quick meal?

[@iansmith6086]

I'm glad you're putting them together. Probably make them taste better as well😅

[@vtk9482]

Nice work there 🎉. We are thinking of getting some rabbits too, so thanks for all that good information 🙏💚🌻

[@BillB23]

I suspect Jezebel will soon have a date with the stew pot.

[@bryanbadger6841]

Well done mate. Brilliant presentation. Btw Ann Williams of "Backyard Farming " fame in Prism Press series, has some excellent information in her "Backyard Rabbit Keeping ," book. There may or may not be extra information that you can use. I just pass on that suggestion to do what you want with it. Thanks for sharing. Atb. Hi to Pascale and Bubba.

[@mariemorrissey9378]

Great video,!

[@markwalker5231]

Great vid ❤

[@Andrew-em4ht]

great stuff !!!

[@NotHaunted...]

Mine are outside no restraints loving life

[@cratylusco5270]

I have concerns/questions. Like with your run like that, isn't there a lot of manual work to clean it out all the time with their pee? I love the idea, and want to do something similar just trying to think of ways to make the clean up work easier.

[@FreeRangeLiving]

They pee and poo in a particular spot, so I put a tray there with a layer of sawdust. Every few days, I throw that in the garden. Baby rabbits do scatter poo a bit, but the sawdust takes care of any moisture and smell. Once a week, I shovel any patches with more droppings into an old seed raising tray and sift the sawdust through it. The plastic mesh is pretty large but the droppings don't go through. Again, perfect for the garden.

[@dirtyoldfarmhand3]

Awesome

[@Lana_Warwick]

Nice work, a lot more consideration vs most would do. Not much vitamin D in there tho, maybe a small mesh panel in the back wall. Exchanging males with other breeders can help reduce inbreed issues. @18:05, single vertical end slice cut negates all that chiselling, etc.

[@Mr.Stacey-L-SCC]

You'll have to get some mood lighting in the rabbit tractor before you get another male, you know set the scene 😉

[@mattschaal5578]

Fun.

[@justinlodge2475]

Question: do you get feral foxes on your property? You might want to consider a better protection for foxes digging under the floor to get at the rabbits

[@englishmaninfrance661]

What you call lap joints , we call mortice & tenon . Troy , by any chance is your surname Robinson & was your father called Heath ? Great work ; mate ;)

[@SpiritualButNotReligious]

Hello Troy from eastern Canada, I was wondering if you had any problems with rabbits chewing the chicken wire?

[@FreeRangeLiving]

Not at all, nor the wooden supports. We do throw tree branches in for chewing, like oak and a few legumes we have here.

[@cookshok2014]

Salam alaikum dear friend 🙏 MashAllah great and beautiful ❤️❤️❤️ wonderful place 🥰🥰 my dear friend 🙏❤️🌺🙏🤲 from Pakistan 🇵🇰 I'm New friend 🙏

[@FreeRangeLiving]

Wa alaikum salaam and thanks for joining us

[@victorbitter583]

Aaaah what's up Doc?

[@southafricanrhino]

Wonderful set up! The rabbits look so happy. How would and how often you clean their sawdust bedding out? Do you think woodchip is a good option for bedding, and would it last longer? My chickens have deep litter wood chip bedding and I clean out only once a year and it's clean compared to other beddings.

[@RiaWallace-o7r]

Do you ever have issues with snakes getting into the rabbit tractor?

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

What were the brake rotors for under the sewing machine?

[@brianrobinson7390]

Great set up just starting out with rabbit's myself Are you not concerned about them getting through the light chicken wire ?

[@dylanwebb421]

Yep! Kept rabbits too. Wait 'till you hear one scream. You will think some child is being seriously injured. Oh! Both my girls' first word was "raaabbit". Not "dadda" or "mummum". You have been warned so prepare for disappointment.

[@jamieminton172]

Rabbit... The other white meat. Yummy 😉I am curious to see how the colony works out. For years I had four New Zealand White Does and two Bucks, one a Lhasa Apso and the other a New Zealand White. I found that Kittens would put on weight much faster when they were independent of the Doe and the Doe would come back into heat quicker too. Word of advise... Bucks fight and Does will establish a hierarchy (thru violence). Mature Bucks and Does should not cohabitate and the Doe should be taken to the Buck for the "Deed". Bury the kittens in hay and they will eat their way out and don't forget chew toys (wood for the teeth). Another chapter for that cook book.😋

[@Lana_Warwick]

Great tips

[@MindfulStir]

First time I ever heard a dad say his time had freed up after having a daughter 😂

[@garrybourke507]

Do you have outside visitors to tour your farm I'm travelling from Qld

[@Fish-please]

How do they taste?

[@mmoore102]

Great video, is there anything you can’t do.

[@absmith666]

Thanks mate. Do you have myxomatosis and the calici virus in Western Australia and do you vaccinate your breeding rabbits?

[@briannahollenbaugh3826]

What breed is the mean one

[@CAPTJohn47]

I think maybe Jezebel will be dinner pretty soon.

[@not-fishing4730]

The rabbits I have had were both social and anti-social especially toward some humans.

[@sheerluckholmes5468]

Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits! 🐇🐇🐰

[@thomasthornton5737]

😀👍👍👍❤

[@Antipodean33]

But they'll never get direct sunlight, thats a shame. All animals need direct sunlight, even my little Jack Russell goes out and gets and hour or 2 of direct sunshine if we haven't gone out for a walk in the morning. That said it must be better than living in a wire cage for your entire existence

[@scotty6435]

If you don't call the male rabbit tractor "The Love Shack" I will never watch your videos again! 😂

[@bertski60]

i like rabbit meat and goat meat but those are 2 animals i couldn't raise myself for food. i just wouldn't have the stomach to kill them.

[@planet4allofus]

Rabbits or hares life close to the North pole , as long as they can graze they're OK. Just keep them dry and they are fine. Wouldn't worry too much about temperature. I thought Australia had a rabbit infestation , you should be able to shoot them down the road without putting in the effort of razing them.

[@TheBeaker59]

Much as I like wild rabbit and do eat and hunt them regularly, farmed ones are so much better.

[@Lana_Warwick]

Must be American, us Aussies, & most other commonwealths, don't have the same access to guns. We can trap them tho.

[@walkinginsingapore8548]

圆圆的

[@HayleyReeds]

unfortunately rabbits are not always "social animals" and when they are raised apart from other rabbits, they tend to prefer their own space. It is actually more common to have aggressive adult rabbits than it is to have rabbits that get along just fine. This is coming from a show breeder who raises rabbits using both the cage method as well as the colony method.

[@iansmith6086]

If you feed them a little bit of cannabis each day, they will get the munches and eat more and put on weight much quicker. You think I'm joking, don't you? But they often do this to pigs in Cambodia. I reckon it might work on rabbits😂😂

[@onlygoatsfarm]

and be the happiest animals ever 😂 thanks for the new rabbit hole for me to go down now

[@planet4allofus]

I feel the same way as you keep the government at a distance. Greetings from dictatorial Canada.

[@wonka6848]

So much nicer than these ugly hanging cages. See, how they like to interact with each other, how they like to run around, etc. Nothing that they can have in the cages. Nice, you decded to change that.

[@FreeRangeLiving]

They are also more amenable to getting human attention. Just all-round relaxed, happy rabbits.

[@wonka6848]

@@FreeRangeLiving Definitely. I think the animals must be treated as living individuals and therefore be treated as good as possbile. No matter if they end as a meal at the end of the day or are children's pets/seen as familiy members.

[@austina5813]

Hopefully he makes enough 💰 to afford shoes before that 💩 gets much deeper 🤢