I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
We've been raising rabbits for a while now.We sell most of them because they mature so quickly they are really a good cheap cash crop for kids to learn about livestock with.You don't invest alot in them before you can sell 'em either.30 days gestation,30 to wean.We have six does and two bucks.You can swap out your babies and breed them to their parents if you need more does more offspring and therefore more cash.They live in two foot by three foot hutches.They are in one of my horse stalls so they stay cooler and I can close the door at night from predators. I have a radio on for the horses but it also acclimates the rabbits to human sounds so they are very calm even as babies.Rabbits are really good to have because they require so little space and not much food or upkeep.Water is really the main concern to have for them at all times.You always know you have a good meal at hand too and you know everything you're putting in it as well.You pretty much have to keep from getting sentimental and look at them like livestock,not pets.It's an excellent way to get kids used to caring for animals so they can eventually care for larger, more expensive animals.
Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
The rabbit is the ultimate city livestock animal. I use mine for wool and manure, with the occasional fryer. Urbanites should look into it as I did. I use mine in tractors mounted to my garden beds. Almost a perfect low maintanence thing.
Joined: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 1482 Location: Appalachian Foothills of Virginia
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:37 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
For those planning on rabbit tractors, I found the below info on rabbits and tall fescue to give me pause (tall fescue is almost always infected with endophyte) as my yard and pasture is overrun with tall fescue;
Recently, some rabbit research pens at the Green Area near Columbia, MO, had to be abandoned. It was found that despite brush piles and an artificial feeding program to make all research compartments comparable, there was a consistent difference in rabbit production and survival between bluegrass pens and pens which had been invaded by fescue. During two years of research, four fescue-dominated (approximately 75%) pens produced a total of 42 rabbits compared with 112 rabbits in the four bluegrass pens. During the following years, solid stands of fescue developed and it became increasingly difficult to keep rabbits alive in them. These pens were ultimately abandoned. The evidence seemed to unmistakably point to a negative relationship between fescue and rabbit abundance. The explanation probably lies in the high stem density of a typical stand of fescue and the virtual elimination of other food species.
Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5658 Location: Body in OK, Heart in TX
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
I'm about to purchase a couple of rabbits. I decided to go ahead and raise them in cages since the semi-free range setup didn't work out for us (they escaped and got eaten). So, I was trying to learn how to sex them, and I came across this page:
which has great photos and is helpful. Figured I'd post it here in case anyone else needs that info.
The pencil on a string divination method of rabbit sexing commonly used around here doesn't seem too successful from what I can determine. _________________ "Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
I actually entertained the idea of raising rabbits for food and then found a tiny baby rabbit outside my front door. It was raining pretty heavy and he was trying to stay dry. My girlfriend picked him up and fell in love with him....so....we bought a cage for him and he plays with my cats. He even has a little blanket that he drag's around with him.
So much for me killing rabbits for food. What can I say, I'm a suck. _________________ lateralus
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1126 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
lateralus wrote:
So much for me killing rabbits for food. What can I say, I'm a suck.
lol, really. Me too. I guess when I'm hungry enough and there's no other food in the house...well, then Thumper becomes dinner.
And just today, as I was tending the garden, a small wild brown cotton tail rabbit was sitting there munching on the grass and weeds. I was able to slowly walk around it to the garden, got within just six ft. from it, and had a staring contest for a few minutes as it munched its grass...
How does one get over killing such a cute animal? No one has related on this thread the killing technique for meat rabbits. Is it that bad? What do you do? Shoot it with a gun or break it's neck? Where's Gollum when you need him! Perhaps I'll just try some bow/arrow practice with the rabbits as targets. If I miss, lucky for the rabbit, if I hit it, then I will feel compelled to eat it.
I guess I'll browse through this thread again and see if there's a book reference someone has posted concerning the proper way for harvesting and preparing wild rabbits. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Sydney, Australia
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
I think the best way to dispatch rabbits is to use a club about as long as your forearm - fingers outstretched. Make it out of heavy timber. Size four by three is about right. The three side should be the impact side. Also chisel out a handle.
Hold the rabbit by the lower back legs in one hand - most will drop down with their heads tilted slightly back - if they don't drop down straight away they will after a short time. Deliver a firm accurate blow to the base of the head and the animal will die instantly.
The first one you kill will be hardest. After that you get used to it.
Never name any of your rabbits.
If you have children and they absolutely must have one of the rabbits as a pet, then choose a good natured buck you have bred yourself (you'll know his history then). Note that a good buck pays his way for longer than a doe.
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
I am trying to make a start in rabbit raising. I've got all the stuff, cages, etc. Now I just need some damn rabbits! People have rabbits. People are willing to sell me rabbits. However, everyone is so busy with their summer plans that no-one can seem to make the time to give me information about pricing, when I could pick them up, or even whether they still have what their website lists.
Oh I'm sure I could find someplace on the other side of the country, but even then I 'd have to wait for weather to be cool enough for shipping, arrgh! Besides which, I would never buy an animal that I couldn't see the environment where it came from.
Hopefully someone calls me by Monday.
Oh, and the first breeder I called, his wife said that he paid $135 each for his breeding stock of Florida Whites! I am not going to pay anywhere near that much! Those rabbits better be laying golden eggs!
Anyway, enough of my rant. Can't harrass the breeders too much or they'll start thinking I'm a psycho stalker...sigh.
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 3225 Location: Resiliency Farm
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
In a few weeks the 4 H and county fairs will be beginning. That would be a great oportunity to connect with some people who raise rabbits but do not advertise. I got my first rabbits from an old guy who lives in the hills of Southern Illinois, $10 a piece I believe. Since then I have bought bucks from some people who raised rabbits for show and one from a commercial meat facility but those rabbits have done me well. If your looking for meat I'd say look to someone small time.
If your ever in Wisconsin I'd probably give you a triad just for the cost of a bale of hay if you tell me how you found out about Peak Oil. I'm going to have another year of more than I know what to do with... Growing up in S. Il you could always find someone to buy them. Here in Wi tastes are a little different I guess. _________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
[quote="wisconsin_cur"]
If your ever in Wisconsin I'd probably give you a triad just for the cost of a bale of hay quote]
Sigh...therein lies the problem. I can find reasonably priced rabbits far away, but by the time I paid for GAS, I might as well have bought top show stock.
I have tried to get info about upcoming rabbit shows, same amount of luck. The exact location can be gotten from the contact person...you can guess how many of them have gotten back to me, 0.
So far I have contacted five breeders, no responses. I'll give it a few more days before I start calling again.
UPDATE: I was able to get ahold of a rabbit club lady here in Omaha, who gave me the name of a breeder in Iowa. This breeder not only has rabbits ready, but he is currently over-run and is willing to sell them to me for less than $10 a piece. I am positively manic about this!!! Don't worry, I'll come back down to depressed pretty soon, LOL.
Joined: Mar 18, 2005 Posts: 2690 Location: Minnesota
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
You face these mental "delemas" because we are in good times...If you or your wife or your child were starving to death...you would have absolutely NO problem with rabbit stew!
If your family was truely HUNGRY and you had a "pet" turkey...how long do you think that turkey would last?
I'd be looking for the mashed potatoes & gravey ~ _________________ Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:58 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
So here is a question about cages. Pet oriented places recommend ridiculously large cages, like 3 ft by 6 ft for a medium rabbit. On the other end, I've seen some meat producers who recommend only 18" by 20" for the same size rabbit.
What do you do? I can't/won't keep my rabbits in a colony style arrangement.
Right now my cages are 24" by 24" and I 'm thinking of getting a few bigger ones for nursing does and their littters.
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 3225 Location: Resiliency Farm
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:05 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
Each of my does have a cage that is about 24" by 36" with an enclosed "den" in the back of an additional 12" X 36". The den allows them to get out of the wind in the winter and gives them a place to give birth and raisel their young. My buck's accomidations are smaller (24" x 24") and also has a "den."
My motivation was to make sure I could get thre cages on a frame using 2x4x10's so I have three cages per pair of 2x4's.
For my "fattening pen" I took a set of 2x4x12's and made it into one large cage. I did not put any dens in there since I do not keep any over the winter. They are also less fastidious in their housekeeping than adult rabbits and (as I had found out in the past) when you give them dens they tend to poop in them (my dens do not have wire floors since this would defeat the purpose). _________________ “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:47 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production - Rabbits
My cages are indoors so getting out of the weather is not a concern. I just want to make sure that my adult rabbits are not too crowded. It does sound like I will need to get some bigger cages for my does. Thanks for the perspective.
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