Windows Completed in the Rabbit Barn

Hubby had lots of help getting the windows finished up in the rabbit barn. They are hinged at the top and tip outward, allowing for fresh air flow, light, and protection from the elements.



Daughter was a big help getting the curtain material stretched and fastened to the window frames.



There are 4 windows along the east side and 2 on the west.



This is what it looks like on the inside.






This about completes the rabbit barn upgrade. We will put another single row of pens on this side of the barn 6-8' from the wall, making a total of 176 holes (pens) This has been an on-going transformation, from a cattle barn to a proper set-up for commercial rabbit production.

I appreciate my husband's dedication to this project and the opportunity to be able to keep working with animals that benefit not just ourselves but a whole generation of people. There are strict guidelines to follow in order to sell to the medical research community, and medical research is important if we are to find new cures and treatments for diseases.

A Video of what's going on in our Barn

I love watching the does when they begin making their nests, the scratching around they do and chewing up the wood chips before pulling hair. I was fortunate to catch this doe doing just that ....



Turn up the volume so you can hear her toward the end of video. I am so excited as I just learned to use this feature on my camera and just had to post!

What's going on in our barn

When I first enter the barn a pleasant sight greets me; a doe cleaning and looking after her babies.



This is a young doe with her first litter, about 3 wks old



Here is one of our older does with her litter of 10



Another with her litter of 8. See the baby on its mothers back?



This doe is pulling hair to make a nice soft nest for her babies. She will kindle (give birth) in a day or two. You can see the hair in her mouth. Click on the picture to enlarge.



Here are more young does that will be ready for breeding in Dec. They are raised 2 in a pen until breeding age.



Can't forget the boys ........ There are 12 of them but these 2 are my favorites.
This is JMJ3, one of the younger ones



And this is our Grand-papa, Mr Big. He was the first buck when we started raising commercial rabbits.



He has a face only a mother could love, but has nice, fast-growing babies!



Hubby has finished the last wall, getting ready to put in the windows. This will keep the cold out and let light in.



A whole double row of cages, cleaned, and waiting to grow out the young. It gets real busy when the pens are all full.



Thanks for stopping by. Leave us a comment. We always try to answer.

Rescue...

Can you guess what is in this basket?



In the barn early yesterday morning I found this little newborn on the floor, very chilled, lethargic, and dirty. Apparently it had come through the wire on the front of the cage and fallen out. We have baby-saver wire on the sides and back but not the front. Sometimes the babies will be hanging onto the does breast when she jumps out of the nesting box and they end up on the wire.



I brought it in and ran warm water over it until I had lots of movement, being careful not to get water near its mouth or nose, then wrapped it in a washcloth and put in a basket on the warming shelf of the wood cook-stove. Within a couple hrs the chilled bunny had warmed and was comfortable so I returned it to the mom.



He was doing just fine last night. With our 20-30* below normal temps for this time of year I am checking the babies often. We have had 36 new litters so far this fall and 5 more to go in the next couple days.

Unfortunately, we have lost several litters of 1st time moms. Some don't have a clue as to what is going on, and have them on the wire even though a nest box is provided. Some don't pull hair or wool to line the nest box with. Usually this is remedied by the time their next litters are born. And then there are some, who even though it is their first time I am able to foster some extra ones to and they take very good care of all. The next several are due the 29th.

Fall Start-Up

First kits of the fall season... 3 wks old



They get playful, and want to investigate what on the other side of their 4 wall



My heart just isn't into blogging right now as I am dealing with some physical issues, but just wanted to post a couple pics

No Free Lunch .....

It is time for the does to start back to work ....... yes sirree! No free lunch here. We have just finished cleaning 2 double rows of cages and getting the does all back in order according to age and bloodlines.

We have 47 does that have kindled before(after weeding out the older ones or any with health issues such as mastitus, that were not going to be profitable for the next year)

46 jr replacement and expansion does .......

We are currently running 11 bucks, 2 of which are older and may be replaced. We have room for 12 total. Their pens are lined on the sides and back with a washable material. Keeps them so much cleaner.

I am going to add a counter and keep track of the rabbit harvest this year starting with the first litter which is due to be born mid Sept. I wish I had done it earlier. These first ones won't be ready until the first run in Dec. We still have 180 - 200 this years bunnies who will be going in the next month.

I do know that the last 4 times we sent rabbits the numbers have been 103, 97, 47, and this week 83 again, all 2 weeks apart. Of course I have records here, but no sense going backward when you can go forward, right?

Are any of you breeding your rabbits yet, and how soon do you re-breed after that litter is born?

I would like to be in contact with others who are raising meat rabbits commercially as well as back-yard rabbit raisers. We welcome any and all comments. Thanks for visiting my blog

Quieter times

Sometimes I just like to go to the barn and enjoy watching the rabbits eat



....especially when I take them a green leaf. There is something about them munching it down that makes me smile.



Oh! so you think you would like some too? I guess a little taste won't hurt you.



"Move over, brother, quit crowding... save some for me please?"
I don't give the young ones much , just a taste.

This is the quieter, slower time of year for rabbit raisers in the mid-southern states. Breeding has stopped for now. This is the time for cleaning , repairs and changes. Mostly we are cleaning the barn and pens, getting the window covers made for cooler weather, organizing rabbits in the order we want them, making sure the does are gaining in condition, and gearing up for breeding to start again this fall.