successes and failures part 4 - the rabbits

Raising the rabbits has been pretty fun. I love the babies, they are just so cute. I love watching them grow bigger each day. I love dragging myself out of bed in the morning, and as soon as I get down there they are all hopping towards me, waiting for food and fresh water. I can't go long without smiling. While processing day is always hard, I know that they lived good lives. 

Failure - Late start breeding. We didn't have a litter to sell until July. Next year we will start breeding in January with a heat lamp in the big hutch, giving us late May to early June rabbits for sale.

Success - Demand. We sold all the rabbits we had to offer within two weeks of having them available. Next year we will up the price from $7 a pound to $8 a pound. 

Both - The rabbit tractors we used in the front yard worked pretty well, except for several escapes. Next year we need to make bigger tractors to allow for a 6 inch run of fencing along the edges to prevent digging out. 

Failure - How much is it worth? I'm not sure yet, but I don't think we made enough money to justify the amount we spent in feed. We need to work on a fodder system to grow our own grasses to feed, and we are discussing the idea of focusing on mushroom logs more and not selling the rabbits at all, although I don't think we are going to eliminate them completely. 

I think we would enjoy the entire process more if we we were eating more rabbit is all.

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

the growing rabbits and our laziness

Jonathan and I were fortunate enough to have a weeks vacation coinciding with his birthday and our trip to Massanutten resort for a few nights. It has been a great week, ending too quick of course, and we completely neglected any sort of farm work (unfortunately we couldn't neglect septic tank work, so there's that.) However the rabbits are still growing, the ducks are warm, firewood is being split, mushroom logs are still slowly being prepared. We are hoping to have lots of mushroom logs and rabbits for sale at the Catawba Holiday Market on Saturday, November 23, so we need to get to work- but not today.

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

among the clouds

April showers seem to be here to stay, making us a big wet mess- but we're adapting.

chicks. I'm not sure what breed they are yet, but those two little ones are growing very slowly.

The Pekin ducklings seems to protect the smaller Rouens constantly, even from my camera

cloudy

onions (and weeds)

hello there

bunnies bunnies bunnies

flowers, in an amazingly rocky flower bed

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

a big step

There's been lots of little projects, growth, achievements...

the garlic grows more every day

our white rock chicks are getting fat

the pekins are obviously much bigger than the rouens

the little layers

bunny pile

but the biggest step of all... we finally have a greenhouse.

at long last

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

april showers

Well spring is definitely here! The trees are blooming, flowers and grass growing. Oh, don't forget the rain. Our first litter of rabbits are growing fast, already out exploring with their mom. The ducks and chicks are quickly outgrowing their brooders. Today we moved the ducks into their new yard pen until we get the coop finished. The chicks are definitely jealous, but their time is coming soon. 

Life is busy busy busy, and it couldn't be better.

baby bunnies are growing fast

Rose and Hopper are enjoying their time together. I think Hopper is quickly becoming a bit of a farm mascot.

Rose

the ducklings settling into their new home

the chicks are definitely jealous

Live simply,

Angela 

bunnies and birds

Today was a very busy day.   

the birds enjoying a field trip outside

duckies are growing so fast

the red pullets are so pretty, and small compared to the white cornish rocks

Our mornings start around seven am, when we tend to the rabbits and birds before we leave for work. We returned home about five o'clock, and thanks to this wonderful spring daylight had plenty of time for projects. We planted nearly all the onions and put together the frame for the poultry tractor. 

the poultry tractor frame being assembled

onions planted

We just need to buy a whole bunch of chicken wire to finish the poultry house, as well as the rabbit tractor. It was a great day, and each one seems better.

Leela, a good mother

the babies are growing fast

Until next time!

meet the very first additions to our farm

We welcomed three precious rabbits to the farm this week. They are all girls (does, in the farming world) but three different breeds (all known for their meat) in three different colors. They don't have names yet, but they certainly need them since they will probably be around for the next 5 years. They are all still young, so we will wait a few months before we get a boy (a buck.) I have enjoyed the past several days, waking up early and going out late after work to check on them. 

It's a pretty good feeling to have something depending on you.

pretty brown lady, she is a Dutch cross

white with grey ears, tail, and nose- she is a New Zealand / Tennessee Redback cross

this fancy girl is a pure Dutch- she is certainly the prettiest

Apologies for the red eyes and low quality photographs,
but I am finding that life is too short for editing.

Until next time, live simply,

Angela and Jonathan

progress

japanese maple

It has been a productive week, without a penny spent. 

the shop- after losing a cabinet and creating the tool wall

the transformed rabbit hutch

complete with functioning doors!

the new brush pile

relocated compost pile - dog proof

fresh stain on the front steps

The last week has been busy busy busy working around the house, the future farm, the homestead. We haven't had any money to spend on anything but we have still managed to get a few projects done. The rabbit hutch we were given by a neighbor has been revamped with a fresh coat of paint, new hinges, and now new doors. The compost has been moved, a real pile started. The field has been mowed, the garden marked out. The shop created, organized and reorganized, yet still unfinished. Firewood has been an ongoing chore which will continue at least until the end of the month; it would help if the chainsaws quit breaking. Next week will be productive in outside areas; we are going to stay with my sister's family, something we have not be able to do the entire year. We introduced them to grass fed beef back in May, and in the few short months since they have undergone a food revolution, trading the supermarket for the farmers market, as well as the orchards and an Amish store. I'm excited to visit with them and share our new knowledge with each other. They have thoroughly kicked our butts at connecting with their food.

Live simply,

Angela and Jonathan