The Colony
Our rabbits are kept in a large enclosure so they have more space to move around and are able to live a happier life. We are constantly making small changes to their enclosure to better suit their needs.
The large space offers many places to hide or take shelter from the heat or cold, including natural burrows underground. This allows the buns to take control of their own health and do what their bodies need to stay comfortable and feel safe.
Rabbits are very social with a natural instinct to frolic and play. Many rabbits will get a small burst of the zoomies or chase each other playfully. Many rabbits like to sunbathe or snuggle up with their favorite friends in their preferred hiding spots.
Our Bucks are kept in a separate 60 sq.ft. enclosure to better control breeding (right side). Our Mammas visit on occasion, plus they gets lots of special treats and enrichment toys to keep him busy!
Colony vs. Cages
Many rabbit breeders choose to keep their rabbits in cages, with the minimum recommended cage size being 3 sq.ft. There are known benefits to this method, including disease control and ease of use overall.
Our homestead decided to forgo these benefits for the quality of life of our rabbits. The average lifespan of offspring produced for meat purposes is 6 to 12 weeks. With such a short time on this earth, we take priority in making the best of it.
Why Rabbits?
Our homestead started raising rabbits for the purpose of meat production. As COVID hit (we are still upset we didn't get zombies out of it), our sense of food security came into question. We found some solace in knowing that we would be able to produce enough meat to sustain not only our family of 5, but also our many other animals. We utilize every part of the rabbit that we can, with the list of uses growing over time. While our family enjoys the benefits of a full freezer, our dogs, cats, and chickens benefit from nutrient rich treats.