Our Rabbitry Expands

[@rickbrauer6794]

Rabbits! Many years ago, early 70's.Had 2 bucks 5 does, that was plenty. One running pen. I've dressed out and sold so many. With the price of beef, wish I could talk my wife into letting start rabbits again.

[@elderacres]

That’s how many I’m gonna keep myself I believe probably only 4 does tho. What’s the old saying ask for forgiveness instead of permission!!

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Old tymers tip . make pans to put under the cages and save the dung for fertilizer .

[@elderacres]

I’ve seen pans used but I think the smell is worse so I just collect it off the ground

[@40NPermaculture]

Nice setup!!! Dang -‘I’m gonna have to step it up. Question- Any plan for catching and using the manure? You will get some big piles. Wondering if those cut open ICB totes would slide under to catch the manure? 😅

[@elderacres]

So I don’t plan on using anything to catch it. The smell is much better when the urine makes it to the ground to be absorbed. But I most certainly plan on scooping up from the piles to use!

[@40NPermaculture]

That make’s great sense!

[@aperson1181]

What supplements do you make for rabbits and how? Like Vitamin (C) and digestive support? Any feed that you DIY for rabbits?

[@elderacres]

I do not supplement anything as of now. I feed pellet and hay. With that being said I am building a large bed for comfrey and other plants and herbs just waiting on spring to get it in the ground and that will be fed to the rabbits. Using the plants and herbs I grow those will act as the supplements you asked about!

[@fayekeller7411]

Don't raise rabbits but I have met other people who've kind of like droppings fall in it is a mess and it's easier to put the pan underneath as the person in the previous comment states! You can even put big huge totes underneath and once you get enough of it you could sell it because it's great for gardens because it doesn't burn plants it's one of those fabulous fertilizers!

[@elderacres]

They gather up on the ground nice and I just use a flat square shovel and get what is easy. Helps the smell when the urine can be soaked up by the ground

[@caseyscarrotpatch]

The buns should always have access to water. Those 2 bowls were empty. Maybe you filled them after you filmed. I don't know. But please make sure your buns always have plenty of water. They drink and need a lot of water.

[@elderacres]

Well I most certainly wouldn’t have left them empty after seeing them and making a video! But yes I always fill them twice a day when I’m working and I check them more when I’m home. I’m going to be building some squares out of extra plywood soon that fit there bowls perfect so they can’t tip them anymore!

[@ludmillaannaovna]

Awful. How can you not see that your rabbits are all in the corners of your boxes because they have no straw and ground as they need ?

[@elderacres]

They get hay every day. Rabbits have been bred for many years to be raised in cages. These rabbits were not picked from the wild and thrown into a cage. I have also read in many case raising these meat rabbits that are bred for cages is cleaner this way as far as parasites making it better for the rabbits. Do you raise rabbits?

[@ludmillaannaovna]

Clean does not mean necessary better. My grand-father grew many of them for years and gave me one which has a long life in my garden. I have never seen such a distress in these animals like I noticed with yours. Doing with animals and human beings the same industrial treatment entreprises offer us in order to rationalize the costs and meet hygienic standards may sound clever but please make a test. Put your animals one week on wood and raw and see the difference in their behavior. If they are happier, there's a great chance they'll be healthier because I have no doubt you take care of them. Of course I cannot guaranty they will always be without illnesses but nothing can guaranty this in fact. @@elderacres

[@Gods-Elect]

lud lol