Hopping into it

We are planning on getting our first rabbits this weekend. We are very excited these will be the first three in our breeding program for our own meat rabbits. We have read, joined forums, researched and talked to many people and believe we are ready to take the step into owner ship of buns and a breeding program to sustain our selves with good lean meat.

I have chosen two 9 week old New Zealand does. They are not pedigreed but pure stock. One is a Red, Poppy, and the other is a Gold Tip Steel, Blossom. Both should mature to good size rabbits 10+ pounds and hopefully bring us many kits. Im interested in selling the kits for pets, show animals and as meat rabbits. I am also getting a 1 year old Black New Zealand buck, Captain Carrot. All three were intended for 4-h but never found homes. Im hoping this will be our foundation stock to a healthy happy breeding system that will keep us stocked with rabbit. After processing the kits for camp freezer we will be tanning the pelts also for crafts and resale. We will also be using and selling the manure they make.

We have a diet plan all set up for them and a breeding plan to keep all of our animals healthy and continuing to produce to their best ability. In our diet research we found that bunnies actually need very little pelleted feed. They need lots of hay for fiber and chewing time. We will be doing an organic non gmo rabbit pellet with added rolled oats, alfalfa pellets and black oil sunflower seeds. We will also allow free feeding of timothy orchard grass mix hay. In the future we may be adding a fodder station to feed our rabbits and chickens but that is more for when we are more established and certain how many rabbits we will be keeping and processing. They will also have free access to water and salt/ mineral blocks. We will also supplement some of their diet with fresh garden clippings and yard weeds.

We have our hutches and are prepping to have our buns come to their new home. Our hutches are a bunch of hand me downs for now but we will imporve and add to them as needed. We also have a nice shed that they will be moving into once we get the chicken yard and bun yard fenced in.

Although I'm sure they will end up in the pot we will give them the best life possible and love them until they are no longer producing. Knowing where our meat came from will be a great peace of mind.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD EAT RABBIT MEAT

Back in the 1940s and 1950s rabbit meat was as common for dinner as chicken is today. It is the meat that got many people and their children through the lean times of the Great Depression. They lost their popularity after Big AGRA, who wanted to get maximum profits with the cheapest bottom line using the government endorsed chemicals and handouts. Because of this rabbits didn’t make sense to keep around anymore. So why even eat rabbit meat now? Below you will find a few reasons why you should consider adding rabbit meat to your diet. Raise some rabbits in your house, yards, or pastures. Become closer to your food supply know what you eat!

One of the best white meats on the market today

High in digestible protein

Least amount of fat among all the other available meats

Contains less calorie value than other meats

Almost cholesterol free

Sodium content of rabbit meat is less than other meats

Calcium and phosphorus contents of this meat are higher than any other meats

Ratio of meat to bone is high

Mild, Versatile Flavor

Rabbits are one of the most productive domestic livestock animal

So as you can see there are many health benefits to eating rabbit meat. It is healthy for you and cheap to produce. Why not try to incorporate some rabbit meat into your diet today! Try it you’ll like it! Use rabbit as a replacement for chicken in any chicken recipe.