Members of the Animal Liberation Front, an animal rights group, allegedly raided a rabbit ranch in South Carolina Monday evening, taking several animals.
Blue Chip Farms, owned and managed by Dean and Arlene Goforth, is one of the largest commercial rabbit farms in South Carolina. A recent Yahoo article reported that there was no sign of illegal activity on the farm. Blue Chip Farms is also regulated and inspected by the the Food and Drug Administration.
According to ALF's website, the animal rights group is threatening to take further action if the farm is not shut down.
February 22, 2007
February 20, 2007
"How farmers aim to save ancient animal breeds from extinction"
This article is about heritage livestock breeds in Britain, but I believe anyone would be interested.
How Farmers Aim to Save Ancient Animal Breeds From Extinction
"There are just a few thousand tigers left in the wild, and mountain gorillas are down to a few hundred. With figures like these, it's easy to overlook those less exotic animals closer to home that are facing extinction. But, while they might not grab the headlines, the plight of native British livestock breeds such as the bagot goat, the British lop pig, the boreray sheep and even the original Aberdeen angus beef cattle is no less critical." more...
February 16, 2007
Gut stasis
This is a little sad. A friend of mine just lost her sweet German Angora buck this week. I/we thought it may have been gut stasis at first, because he'd stopped eating. It turns out that it wasn't, since our vet didn't see any signs of intestinal problems in the necropsy. The vet thinks the rabbit may have contracted pneumonia, but we're really not sure.
Anyway, in the initial oh-my-goodness-the-rabbit-is-sick-what-does-it-have research frenzy, we learned some interesting things about gut stasis. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, gut stasis basically means your rabbit's gastrointestinal system shuts down. Food is passed through the gut too slowly, allowing bad bacteria to multiply. The bacteria produce toxins, which poison the rabbit's liver. The rabbit's tummy often bloats up with gas too. It's a pretty serious condition, but I was happy to see that there are some things you can do to pull your bunny through it.
(I'm also slightly morbid about rabbit diseases. They speak to my inner mad scientist.)
So, if you also are morbidly curious about bunny diseases, here's some links for more info on gut stasis:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html
http://www.lopsandcavies.com/woolblock_fur_block.htm
http://www.mybunny.org/info/gi_stasis.htm
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/gutstasis.asp
Anyway, in the initial oh-my-goodness-the-rabbit-is-sick-what-does-it-have research frenzy, we learned some interesting things about gut stasis. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, gut stasis basically means your rabbit's gastrointestinal system shuts down. Food is passed through the gut too slowly, allowing bad bacteria to multiply. The bacteria produce toxins, which poison the rabbit's liver. The rabbit's tummy often bloats up with gas too. It's a pretty serious condition, but I was happy to see that there are some things you can do to pull your bunny through it.
(I'm also slightly morbid about rabbit diseases. They speak to my inner mad scientist.)
So, if you also are morbidly curious about bunny diseases, here's some links for more info on gut stasis:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html
http://www.lopsandcavies.com/woolblock_fur_block.htm
http://www.mybunny.org/info/gi_stasis.htm
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/gutstasis.asp
February 13, 2007
Will she like it?
Does this particular post really belong in a bunny blog? Well, perhaps...
Guess what? I finally bit the bullet and submitted a rabbit-related article (along with a few photos) to a magazine. The editor emailed late last week to let me know that she'd recieved my submission, but I won't know for at least a week if they'll be able to use it or not. Rejection slips are something I'll have to deal with if I pursue free-lance writing full-time, but as a rank beginner, I still hope I'll be lucky the first time around.
Here's the kicker: besides writing for my websites and this blog (my website writing really isn't that hot, trust me :-) ), I've never queried an Real Live Editor. And I had the nerve to submit my little piece in hopes of payment! (Goodness, is she a little nuts or what?) Hopefully the *subject matter* is unique enough to warrant a closer look from this publication.We shall see!
Keep your fingers crossed!
Guess what? I finally bit the bullet and submitted a rabbit-related article (along with a few photos) to a magazine. The editor emailed late last week to let me know that she'd recieved my submission, but I won't know for at least a week if they'll be able to use it or not. Rejection slips are something I'll have to deal with if I pursue free-lance writing full-time, but as a rank beginner, I still hope I'll be lucky the first time around.
Here's the kicker: besides writing for my websites and this blog (my website writing really isn't that hot, trust me :-) ), I've never queried an Real Live Editor. And I had the nerve to submit my little piece in hopes of payment! (Goodness, is she a little nuts or what?) Hopefully the *subject matter* is unique enough to warrant a closer look from this publication.We shall see!
Keep your fingers crossed!
Bunny pics & nature walk
Whew, another photo shoot. The Nursery page on our Angora website finally got an update, and [drum roll...] we have a whole photo album with pictures of each of the Angora babies! Woohoo! Take a look...they're CUTE. [grin] (I'm developing another website right now, so keeping the blog and the bunny sites up-to-date have been put on the back burner.)
My loving family-of-the-warm-bodies (see earlier post about warming baby bunnies) threw me out out of the house Sunday. I've been spending a lot of time on the computer lately, so this week I came dangerously close to communicating solely in a series of grunts and burps, wearing animal skins, and putting a bone in my nose. It took a while to pry the mouse out of my cold, stiff fingers, but I'm really glad now that I didn't miss out.
We took a hike with the dogs through the woods behind our pasture. The sun was out, and it was surprisingly warm for a February afternoon. Leaves crunched underfoot, and the birds that haven't flown south were out en masse enjoying this beautiful winter day. To top it off, I even remembered the camera! Attached is a couple of shots, one of pine trees against a winter sky and another of a bird's nest we found along the trail.
My loving family-of-the-warm-bodies (see earlier post about warming baby bunnies) threw me out out of the house Sunday. I've been spending a lot of time on the computer lately, so this week I came dangerously close to communicating solely in a series of grunts and burps, wearing animal skins, and putting a bone in my nose. It took a while to pry the mouse out of my cold, stiff fingers, but I'm really glad now that I didn't miss out.
We took a hike with the dogs through the woods behind our pasture. The sun was out, and it was surprisingly warm for a February afternoon. Leaves crunched underfoot, and the birds that haven't flown south were out en masse enjoying this beautiful winter day. To top it off, I even remembered the camera! Attached is a couple of shots, one of pine trees against a winter sky and another of a bird's nest we found along the trail.
February 6, 2007
Wild parties - breeder style!
Anytime you're expecting six litters of rabbits during the coldest night of the whole winter, something offbeat is bound to happen! This party started Sunday afternoon. Doe #1 (Californian) kindled a bouncing litter of nine live kits, and really didn't pull a lot of fur. The kits got chilled and my wonderful family stepped in and helped warm them up. So, we're good there. The kits made it through the night just fine and everyone was happy.
Until Monday afternoon, that is. My father called from work yesterday to warn us that the temperature was supposed to drop pretty low during the evening. Then I heard the weather report: "Low temperature advisory: temperatures in the single digits. Some areas will experience a windchill of -15 degrees. If you must venture outside, wear a hat and gloves to prevent frostbite."
Being an intelligent, level-headed individual, I naturally reacted with calmness and self-control. "OH MY GOODNESS, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE -15 TONIGHT?! I have an OPEN RABBIT BARN! THEY'RE ALL GOING TO FREEZE TO DEATH!" There was only one thing for I and my brave comrades to do: protect the innocent bunnies and ducklings at all costs! (Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot to tell you that we also have a three ducklings and a chick that a very dedicated hen hatched in the middle of January.) And so, the newborn litter of eight found themselves safely sheltered in my bedroom from the bitter cold. Not to spoil the fun, the ducklings also joined the party. (This particular room used to be a laundry room, so it has a washable linoleum floor.) Then, I remembered poor Lacie the Angora and her five-week-old litter. If the rest of my rabbits were going to freeze to death, I wasn't about to lose my fuzz babies too! So, they also settled in for a sleepover, sharing a nice big dog crate pressed into service for the night. (Ribo, my spoiled spaniel, had something to say about that, but when you're facing the annihilation of your barn, nothing stands in the way!)
Things were getting pretty cozy. We had the outside critters bedded down as best we could and the zoo inside was settled in. Ah, we could finally relax with some popcorn for our Monday night Heroes tradition. After the show was over, I stepped into the bedroom and flicked on the light to check the menagerie. Oops! Six saucy little pixie faces blinked up at me from the middle of the floor. Those naughty little English Angora bunnies had somehow squeezed out of the wire dog crate! ("Goodness, it's a good thing the other dog hadn't found them. He's only a pup and he wouldn't know not to hurt them!") So, I ushered the little furry rascals back to bed and stopped up the gap along the bottom of the crate. Problem solved.
I, my roommates, three dogs, four birds, and 18 rabbits of various sizes finally settled down for bed. But, I just had to check the rabbits one more time before bed (this was about midnight). After donning my down jacket, wool stocking cap, insulated gloves, and heavy boots (remember the weather report?) I stepped out into the Artic tundra, fighting my way across the field through a swirling blizzard to check on the poor snowbound bunnies. (Errr, a slight exaggeration...) Ah ha! Doe #2 (Butterscotch the Creme d'Argent) had kindled! Seven kits! Again, they weren't covered, but they were slightly damp and completely warm. Must be only a few minutes old. Well, back to the house with them too.
Twenty-five rabbits. Three dogs. Four poultry. Plus people. In one room. (Does that set some kind of record?)
I finally was able to get to bed, but suddenly I heard this...splashing sound. Ducks! They had woken up and, doing what ducks do best, demanded a midnight swim. (I woke them up going outside. My poor sister.) Well, another night in the Bennett house. :-)
When all was said and done, the temperature only dropped in the 20's. Figures.
Until Monday afternoon, that is. My father called from work yesterday to warn us that the temperature was supposed to drop pretty low during the evening. Then I heard the weather report: "Low temperature advisory: temperatures in the single digits. Some areas will experience a windchill of -15 degrees. If you must venture outside, wear a hat and gloves to prevent frostbite."
Being an intelligent, level-headed individual, I naturally reacted with calmness and self-control. "OH MY GOODNESS, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE -15 TONIGHT?! I have an OPEN RABBIT BARN! THEY'RE ALL GOING TO FREEZE TO DEATH!" There was only one thing for I and my brave comrades to do: protect the innocent bunnies and ducklings at all costs! (Oh yeah, that's right. I forgot to tell you that we also have a three ducklings and a chick that a very dedicated hen hatched in the middle of January.) And so, the newborn litter of eight found themselves safely sheltered in my bedroom from the bitter cold. Not to spoil the fun, the ducklings also joined the party. (This particular room used to be a laundry room, so it has a washable linoleum floor.) Then, I remembered poor Lacie the Angora and her five-week-old litter. If the rest of my rabbits were going to freeze to death, I wasn't about to lose my fuzz babies too! So, they also settled in for a sleepover, sharing a nice big dog crate pressed into service for the night. (Ribo, my spoiled spaniel, had something to say about that, but when you're facing the annihilation of your barn, nothing stands in the way!)
Things were getting pretty cozy. We had the outside critters bedded down as best we could and the zoo inside was settled in. Ah, we could finally relax with some popcorn for our Monday night Heroes tradition. After the show was over, I stepped into the bedroom and flicked on the light to check the menagerie. Oops! Six saucy little pixie faces blinked up at me from the middle of the floor. Those naughty little English Angora bunnies had somehow squeezed out of the wire dog crate! ("Goodness, it's a good thing the other dog hadn't found them. He's only a pup and he wouldn't know not to hurt them!") So, I ushered the little furry rascals back to bed and stopped up the gap along the bottom of the crate. Problem solved.
I, my roommates, three dogs, four birds, and 18 rabbits of various sizes finally settled down for bed. But, I just had to check the rabbits one more time before bed (this was about midnight). After donning my down jacket, wool stocking cap, insulated gloves, and heavy boots (remember the weather report?) I stepped out into the Artic tundra, fighting my way across the field through a swirling blizzard to check on the poor snowbound bunnies. (Errr, a slight exaggeration...) Ah ha! Doe #2 (Butterscotch the Creme d'Argent) had kindled! Seven kits! Again, they weren't covered, but they were slightly damp and completely warm. Must be only a few minutes old. Well, back to the house with them too.
Twenty-five rabbits. Three dogs. Four poultry. Plus people. In one room. (Does that set some kind of record?)
I finally was able to get to bed, but suddenly I heard this...splashing sound. Ducks! They had woken up and, doing what ducks do best, demanded a midnight swim. (I woke them up going outside. My poor sister.) Well, another night in the Bennett house. :-)
When all was said and done, the temperature only dropped in the 20's. Figures.
February 4, 2007
The rare breeds are coming!
Guess what? Rare breeds are taking off in Virginia. Besides yours truly [wink], there's several other folks here in the Old Dominion state with heritage bunns:
Heidi Brashear, Roseline Bunnies - Silver Fox
Ranch Phoenix - American Chinchillas (just found this link yesterday, so don't ask me any questions about them)
Cher Brown, Rabbits of Harvest Moon - Beverens and Creme d'Argents
Heidi Brashear, Roseline Bunnies - Silver Fox
Ranch Phoenix - American Chinchillas (just found this link yesterday, so don't ask me any questions about them)
Cher Brown, Rabbits of Harvest Moon - Beverens and Creme d'Argents
The rare breeds are coming!
Guess what? Rare breeds are taking off in Virginia. Besides yours truly [wink], there's several other folks here in the Old Dominion state with heritage bunns:
Heidi Brashear, Roseline Bunnies - Silver Fox
Ranch Phoenix - American Chinchillas (just found this link yesterday, so don't ask me any questions about them)
Cher Brown, Rabbits of Harvest Moon - Beverens and Creme d'Argents
Heidi Brashear, Roseline Bunnies - Silver Fox
Ranch Phoenix - American Chinchillas (just found this link yesterday, so don't ask me any questions about them)
Cher Brown, Rabbits of Harvest Moon - Beverens and Creme d'Argents
It All Evens Out
Who'd have thought it: today we *almost* had a repeat of the disaster with Liberty last week. I think I'm developing a complex!
Anyway, one of my Californian does kindled this afternoon (a whopping litter of nine!). I remembered the nestbox *this* time, but the ol' girl didn't pull much fur. I can't say as I blame her: it was COLD and WINDY this afternoon. They were chilled when I found them. But - they were alive! Even better, their breathing and circulation was still good. Thank God. After some skin-to-skin cuddling from my obliging family, all the bunnies were warmed up safely. With the addition of some extra nestbox fur, the babies are warm and dry now! If it was a small litter, I'd probably also fill a small pop bottle with hot water, cover it with a handtowel (hot water bottle thing) and nestle it down in the nest so the babies would have another heat source.
So class, what did we learn this time? [grin]
Anyway, one of my Californian does kindled this afternoon (a whopping litter of nine!). I remembered the nestbox *this* time, but the ol' girl didn't pull much fur. I can't say as I blame her: it was COLD and WINDY this afternoon. They were chilled when I found them. But - they were alive! Even better, their breathing and circulation was still good. Thank God. After some skin-to-skin cuddling from my obliging family, all the bunnies were warmed up safely. With the addition of some extra nestbox fur, the babies are warm and dry now! If it was a small litter, I'd probably also fill a small pop bottle with hot water, cover it with a handtowel (hot water bottle thing) and nestle it down in the nest so the babies would have another heat source.
So class, what did we learn this time? [grin]
- Checking rabbits that are due is a good thing. Getting up at 2 A.M. to check does is another good thing if you can drag yourself up that early.
- Having cool family members with warm bodies is another good thing.
- Creme d'Argents that pluck themselves bald when they have a litter is another good thing - "Tulip's" fur is insulating the Cal babies now!
- Having a cage in the house for pregnant does would be REALLY nice if I had the room and I wasn't a Big-Evil-Commercial-Breeder-Who-Breeds-Six-Does-to-Kindle-on-One -Weekend. [grin again]
February 2, 2007
Awww, cute!
I snapped some pictures today of our five-week-old English Angora kits. The pictures didn't come out as well as I'd hoped, but the bunnies sure are cute! (You can see them at www.freewebs.com/cremerabbits/nursery.htm.)
Those little fluffballs are totally fearless. Gideon (dog) was chilling out in the living room when we had the bunns out and the rabbits were all over him. I think he was a *little* perturbed, but he eventually let the rabbits cuddle up to him. (yes, we do have a picture of that.)
Those little fluffballs are totally fearless. Gideon (dog) was chilling out in the living room when we had the bunns out and the rabbits were all over him. I think he was a *little* perturbed, but he eventually let the rabbits cuddle up to him. (yes, we do have a picture of that.)
Cool Link
Remember the post from two weeks ago on raising rabbits naturally? You'd never guess what I found: a whole forum on Yahoo! Groups dedicated to raising rabbits in colonies (family groups) and pasture pens! Click here to check it out.
"Colony Raising Rabbits" is a relatively new e-group, but it looks like there's some interesting messages in the archives. If you're thinking about ditching the rabbit cage, it would be worth your while!
Have a hoppy day,
Hannah
"Colony Raising Rabbits" is a relatively new e-group, but it looks like there's some interesting messages in the archives. If you're thinking about ditching the rabbit cage, it would be worth your while!
Have a hoppy day,
Hannah
Hard lesson
Egads! I realized I haven't updated the blog for two weeks: bad, bad.
I learned a hard lesson over the weekend. About a month ago, I bred a doe, but I didn't mark her exact due date down on the calender. I knew about when I needed to put in a nestbox, so when the day arrived, the rabbit got a nice nest full of bedding. No kits. "Oh well," I thought, "she must not have concieved."
Wrong.
I left the nestbox in for several more days, but eventually I had to pull the box out. The temperature dropped over the next few days and we had a bout of freezing, damp weather. Of course, she kindled a lovely litter of eight all over the floor of her cage. The poor babies were partially frozen when I found them the next morning. I felt so terrible about it. If she had a nestbox, that wouldn't have happened! That was not a fun lesson, but I think this breeder got the hint. When you breed your rabbits, make sure you know exactly when they're due so you can provide a nestbox!
On the upside, if you find newborn kits on the wire, you can sometimes save them. This doe's babies were beyond hope. But sometimes even if they appear dead, there's still a spark of life lingering. I've successfully warmed babies by cradling them next to my skin or by holding them in a bowl of warm (not hot) water. You want to make sure your kits are completely warmed before you take them back to Mom.
Until next time,
Hannah
I learned a hard lesson over the weekend. About a month ago, I bred a doe, but I didn't mark her exact due date down on the calender. I knew about when I needed to put in a nestbox, so when the day arrived, the rabbit got a nice nest full of bedding. No kits. "Oh well," I thought, "she must not have concieved."
Wrong.
I left the nestbox in for several more days, but eventually I had to pull the box out. The temperature dropped over the next few days and we had a bout of freezing, damp weather. Of course, she kindled a lovely litter of eight all over the floor of her cage. The poor babies were partially frozen when I found them the next morning. I felt so terrible about it. If she had a nestbox, that wouldn't have happened! That was not a fun lesson, but I think this breeder got the hint. When you breed your rabbits, make sure you know exactly when they're due so you can provide a nestbox!
On the upside, if you find newborn kits on the wire, you can sometimes save them. This doe's babies were beyond hope. But sometimes even if they appear dead, there's still a spark of life lingering. I've successfully warmed babies by cradling them next to my skin or by holding them in a bowl of warm (not hot) water. You want to make sure your kits are completely warmed before you take them back to Mom.
Until next time,
Hannah
January 15, 2007
Advertising Online
It’s hard to believe that spring will be upon us in a few months! We pretty much missed winter this year in
So far, one of the most important tools I’ve used in advertising my rabbits is our website (www.geocities.com/cremerabbits). I may actually be a little too dependent on it, but it can be such an effective tool! Websites are usually quite inexpensive, and they allow you to have information available to potential bunny customers 24/7. If you use a so-called “free” (supported by banner ads on your site) website hosting service like Geocities or FreeWebs you can get started very cheaply indeed!
Another valuable tool in advertising is online classified sites. Placing an ad online is faster than updating a website. You can also use classified ads to encourage people to visit your website. ("Want to see pictures of my adorable English Angora babies? Visit my website!")
I feel that classified websites like these are especially important in reaching the general (read: non-breeder) public. They get a lot of traffic, and they’re probably one of the first websites someone will visit when they’re looking for a new pet. Thus, having regular ads running can be very helpful in drawing new customers!
When you write a classified ad, be specific about what you have for sale and try to narrow down your location (I'd strongly advise you not to post your actual address online, but it doesn't hurt to say that you're half an hour north of Chicago.). Think about some of the key words people might use to find rabbits like yours - use those words in your ad! Here's an example:"Adorable Holland Lop Bunny Rabbits For Sale or Adoption - Baltimore"
We have an adorable litter of Holland Lop bunny rabbits for sale or adoption. Parents are ARBA registered Grand Champions. Hollands are sweet, friendly dwarf rabbits. The bunnies are well-socialized, and would make great pets, 4-H projects, or show prospects. Visit our website at www.yourname.com for pictures and more information! $35.00
We have an adorable litter of Holland Lop bunny rabbits for sale or adoption. Parents are ARBA registered Grand Champions. Hollands are sweet, friendly dwarf rabbits. The bunnies are well-socialized, and would make great pets, 4-H projects, or show prospects. Visit our website at www.yourname.com for pictures and more information! $35.00
Having photographs of the rabbits you're trying to sell is invaluable when using online classifieds. PetClassifieds.us, a popular free classifieds site, said that ads on their site with pictures get four times as many responses as ads without! This goes without saying, but make sure the picture is clear and flatters your rabbits. [grin] Try to get pictures that capture the "personality" of your rabbits, not simply a static posed shot.
Here's a few of my favorite classifieds sites:
Network
And last, but not least: join a few rabbit-related forums and message boards. There's a myriad of them on Yahoo Groups, plus independent boards like the rabbit forum on HomesteadingToday. You do want to be polite and avoid posting a lot of unwanted ads on a forum, but it can still be a good place for hobbyists to advertise. (Make sure your board allows ads before you post, by the way.) One of the advantages of advertising on a forum you visit regularily is that people can get to "know" you a little. Some people are more comfortable with that. How many responses you get will vary with the board.
When you post an ad on a forum, I'd avoid the "hard sell" type ad - write your sales post in a friendly, personable tone. (Forums are where people go to have fun, after all. While they may be interested in what you have to sell, they don't want to be bombarded with "advertising".)
Here's an example:
"Hey guys! Remember that litter my Californian doe Snowhite had a while back? They've gotten huge! I need to make room in the barn now. They're from good lines, of course, and their relatives have been wonderful mothers. I think they'd be great for a home meat herd. Email me and I'll send you some pictures!"
Anyhow, I hope this post has given you some ideas for advertising. Feel free to drop me a line and share your own tips and ideas! I'm always looking for new stuff for the blog.
Anyhow, I hope this post has given you some ideas for advertising. Feel free to drop me a line and share your own tips and ideas! I'm always looking for new stuff for the blog.
January 8, 2007
A Natural Way?
I subscribe to a number of rabbit-related forums and e-mail lists, and over the past year or so, I've noticed a growing interest in raising rabbits naturally. Some people just want to move away from a "traditional" pelleted ration and brew their own rabbit diet; others are interested in something a bit more extreme like colonies and "tractoring".
I can tell that "tractoring" is conjuring images in your mind of a bunny sitting on the seat of a John Deere. [grin]
So, let me explain a little bunny Greek before we go on: a rabbit tractor (pasture pen) is a portable enclosure that combines a shelter and a pen for grazing. (They're often used for chickens and other poultry.) Every day or so, sometimes twice a day, the "tractor" is moved ahead to fresh ground. By confining them this way, rabbits can run around and stretch their legs, graze fresh forage, and remain protected from predators. It's a relatively simple concept.
A Quick History
Let's start with a quick history of rabbits so you know where we get some of our ideas in the first place. When rabbits were first bred in captivity roughly 2,000 years ago, they weren't raised in cages. The domestic rabbit's wild cousin, the "European" wild rabbit (actually native to Spain), is a burrowing creature. They dig intricate networks of underground burrows to protect themselves from predators and to shelter their young. So for the earliest rabbit breeders, it was simplest to mimic the rabbit's natural home. In fact, the ancient Romans gave their walled rabbit colonies a special name: leporaria.
In the Middle Ages, rabbit breeding began in earnest. People started raising rabbits for specific purposes, like meat, fur, and wool. Specific breeds developed. Then somewhere along the line, people discovered that breeding could be controlled much more easily if their rabbits were caged!
And so, modern rabbit husbandry evolved.
Why colonies and tractors?
Today, some of us are looking to the past for ideas. We question "unnatural" ways of raising other species of livestock, so we're looking for ways to raise our rabbits in as natural an environment as possible. The only problem is that rabbits have been raised in cages for so long that they often have a hard time adapting to "natural" husbandry. Young rabbits switched suddenly to a diet of greens may get fatal diarrhea. Rabbits raised in portable grazing pens often struggle with coccidiosis parasite infections. Rabbits fed a more "natural" diet of hay, grain, and green foods are usually less productive than rabbits fed a diet of strictly pellets.
So if colonies and tractors have so many drawbacks, why do we do it? To put it simply, we want to raise our bunnies in an environment that complements their natural instincts. Rabbits are gregarious social animals with a complex social order, so why confine them - alone - in a cage? When their instincts say "Dig a burrow!” why are we putting them on a wire mesh floor?
Frankly, do we want the rabbit barns of our future to look like this modern rabbit farm in Italy?
Modern colony raising and tractoring are still in their infancy, but I think that both have long-term potential. (Perhaps not in a commercial barn, but definitely on small farms and in backyards.) When my rabbits are in a tractor, they nibble fresh pasture, they cuddle and groom, and they have room to stretch their legs.
They seem happy.
-Hannah
If you’re curious about learning more about tractoring or colonies, here’s a link to a translated French website with some really good, detailed pictures of some tractors over there. There are also photos of creative housing methods in third-world countries. (If the link doesn’t work, here’s the original link. Click on “Cages mobiles”)
I can tell that "tractoring" is conjuring images in your mind of a bunny sitting on the seat of a John Deere. [grin]
So, let me explain a little bunny Greek before we go on: a rabbit tractor (pasture pen) is a portable enclosure that combines a shelter and a pen for grazing. (They're often used for chickens and other poultry.) Every day or so, sometimes twice a day, the "tractor" is moved ahead to fresh ground. By confining them this way, rabbits can run around and stretch their legs, graze fresh forage, and remain protected from predators. It's a relatively simple concept.
A Quick History
Let's start with a quick history of rabbits so you know where we get some of our ideas in the first place. When rabbits were first bred in captivity roughly 2,000 years ago, they weren't raised in cages. The domestic rabbit's wild cousin, the "European" wild rabbit (actually native to Spain), is a burrowing creature. They dig intricate networks of underground burrows to protect themselves from predators and to shelter their young. So for the earliest rabbit breeders, it was simplest to mimic the rabbit's natural home. In fact, the ancient Romans gave their walled rabbit colonies a special name: leporaria.
In the Middle Ages, rabbit breeding began in earnest. People started raising rabbits for specific purposes, like meat, fur, and wool. Specific breeds developed. Then somewhere along the line, people discovered that breeding could be controlled much more easily if their rabbits were caged!
And so, modern rabbit husbandry evolved.
Why colonies and tractors?
Today, some of us are looking to the past for ideas. We question "unnatural" ways of raising other species of livestock, so we're looking for ways to raise our rabbits in as natural an environment as possible. The only problem is that rabbits have been raised in cages for so long that they often have a hard time adapting to "natural" husbandry. Young rabbits switched suddenly to a diet of greens may get fatal diarrhea. Rabbits raised in portable grazing pens often struggle with coccidiosis parasite infections. Rabbits fed a more "natural" diet of hay, grain, and green foods are usually less productive than rabbits fed a diet of strictly pellets.
So if colonies and tractors have so many drawbacks, why do we do it? To put it simply, we want to raise our bunnies in an environment that complements their natural instincts. Rabbits are gregarious social animals with a complex social order, so why confine them - alone - in a cage? When their instincts say "Dig a burrow!” why are we putting them on a wire mesh floor?
Frankly, do we want the rabbit barns of our future to look like this modern rabbit farm in Italy?
Modern colony raising and tractoring are still in their infancy, but I think that both have long-term potential. (Perhaps not in a commercial barn, but definitely on small farms and in backyards.) When my rabbits are in a tractor, they nibble fresh pasture, they cuddle and groom, and they have room to stretch their legs.
They seem happy.
-Hannah
If you’re curious about learning more about tractoring or colonies, here’s a link to a translated French website with some really good, detailed pictures of some tractors over there. There are also photos of creative housing methods in third-world countries. (If the link doesn’t work, here’s the original link. Click on “Cages mobiles”)
January 2, 2007
New bunnies!
Today's post will have to be short, but I did want to let you know that our first litter of English Angoras was born Saturday! Lacie, the mother, delivered nine kits. One was stillborn, unfortunately, but the other eight are healthy and growing bigger every day! Pictures are coming soon (check our Nursery page for the latest updates)
December 31, 2006
An Introduction...
Happy New Year! Thought I'd start this new blog with a little introduction.
My name is Hannah. I raise rabbits. Lots of rabbits, LOL. The bunny barn houses several breeds, although my true passion is Californians and Creme d'Argents. I also have five Angoras and a lonely Silver Fox buck. I show, but the rabbits also help provide food for the family, with a few extras for a local abattoir.
I'm a big fan of heritage breeds and sustainable agriculture. My family and I live on a small farm about 14 miles from the closest city. We've lived here about three years, so we're starting small. Currently, we have ducks, turkeys, and chickens in addition to the bunns. We raise mainly rare breeds. All of the birds are free-ranged.
I also crochet a bit and I'm also having a lot of fun learning how to HAND SPIN!
So how did an otherwise normal person become obsessed with RABBITS? (As if you really wanted to hear more of this, eh?) I picked up a pair of mutt bunnies several years ago, with the idea of raising their offspring for meat. That never happened, of course.
It took a while, but we finally ended up getting a little starter "herd" of four Californian rabbits from a breeder near Richmond, Virginia. Under his influence and that of a dog-eared tome called "Raising Rabbits Successfully", we visited our first show. Two of the new Californian does tagged along...and one won her class, earning a leg toward her grand championship! What a fun hobby!
So, I'm now thoroughly hooked on rabbits. I showed four or five times in 2006, which really isn't a lot, but it allows me to have fun with the rabbits and keep my life SOMEWHAT normal. I'm also on the board of directors for a new local club, but other than having my name on a paper buried somewhere in the ARBA office, I'm not really sure what that means yet. hehehe
Learning about rabbits is an ongoing journey, but I'm looking forward to the trip.
Yours,
Hannah
Verdant Rabbitry
My name is Hannah. I raise rabbits. Lots of rabbits, LOL. The bunny barn houses several breeds, although my true passion is Californians and Creme d'Argents. I also have five Angoras and a lonely Silver Fox buck. I show, but the rabbits also help provide food for the family, with a few extras for a local abattoir.
I'm a big fan of heritage breeds and sustainable agriculture. My family and I live on a small farm about 14 miles from the closest city. We've lived here about three years, so we're starting small. Currently, we have ducks, turkeys, and chickens in addition to the bunns. We raise mainly rare breeds. All of the birds are free-ranged.
I also crochet a bit and I'm also having a lot of fun learning how to HAND SPIN!
So how did an otherwise normal person become obsessed with RABBITS? (As if you really wanted to hear more of this, eh?) I picked up a pair of mutt bunnies several years ago, with the idea of raising their offspring for meat. That never happened, of course.
It took a while, but we finally ended up getting a little starter "herd" of four Californian rabbits from a breeder near Richmond, Virginia. Under his influence and that of a dog-eared tome called "Raising Rabbits Successfully", we visited our first show. Two of the new Californian does tagged along...and one won her class, earning a leg toward her grand championship! What a fun hobby!
So, I'm now thoroughly hooked on rabbits. I showed four or five times in 2006, which really isn't a lot, but it allows me to have fun with the rabbits and keep my life SOMEWHAT normal. I'm also on the board of directors for a new local club, but other than having my name on a paper buried somewhere in the ARBA office, I'm not really sure what that means yet. hehehe
Learning about rabbits is an ongoing journey, but I'm looking forward to the trip.
Yours,
Hannah
Verdant Rabbitry
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