Welcome to The Rabbitry Center in Bath, Michigan, where we expertly oversee a Rabbitry and create videos to support your backyard interests. Our videos span the spectrum from wintry chills to scorching summers, unveiling the ins and outs of our outdoor Rabbitry. We employ totes to address heat concerns and reduce winter losses. Our central theme revolves around rabbits, delving into breeding, rearing, meat production, and processing. Our diverse video collection covers an array of topics, and for those seeking additional content, you can find it on our website at therabbitrycenter.com.
At exactly 2 weeks my first litter started jumping out of the nest, and a couple of them got their little feet trapped in the standard 1/2 by 1 bottom. My plan for now is to make a taller nest entrance for next time, but what do you recommend? P.S. The only one that got injured is sprinting and binkying around the cage 1 1/2 weeks later, praise the Lord!
I recommend sticking with 1/2”x1” it allows the manure to fall through the cage. I recommend turning the nesting box on its side at two weeks to get the kits moving out of the nesting box. The kits will quickly make it over to the water bowl and the J feeder to munch on some pellet and it won’t be long their hocks won’t be able to fit through the cage floor bottom. more information on this video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T7GjEd8rWus.htmlfeature=shared
No I don’t hold any current contracts with restaurants or companies. But have been approached and offered What would be considered the lowest return for my Rabbits from these venues? Not to say that you wouldn’t be able to negotiate a better contract with dog breeders more information on our course bobby-s-school9.teachable.com/p/home
@@TheRabbitryCenter i was offered $5/lbs but unsure yet how they want the rabbit delivered. Have you ever ground up a rabbit? If so have you ever ground fur and other parts of just bone and meat.
Wow. Nice. That is genius. I was about to build a box from another channel. The lip cut on yours is better, because the kits will be hanging off at the sides too. One thing was puzzling though. I don’t understand why you make four cuts on the top/bottom piece. You could do it with two cuts…. or is the frame for a photo? Multi-tasking! The poop and urine has nowhere to go when it’s being used as a nest box.
thanks so much for commenting feel free to customize the build however, you don’t have to make those extra cuts. Folks are surprised to hear the baby rabbits are nibbling on cecotropes before their eyes are even open so I change out the nesting box with fresh shavings after 6-7 days. more info on this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-67U3tWyW_Wg.htmlfeature=shared
Thanks for another great video, I'm actually getting ready to build your raised hutch design this summer for our 6 rabbits. If you thought of anything you might change since then, I'd love to hear your ideas.
I personnaly test nesting box with mech !, unfortunatly outside with the wind all duvet come out and it is very bad situation for newborn rabbit. I save them but not whitout effort.
Thanks for commenting! We’re launching a new video tomorrow, Shows a Nesting box/Hide box that works well in the winter time and can be used interchangeably. Stay tuned…
Hi Bobby, this is a long posted comment but I thought I might share this with your readers as we in Australia are really struggling with the destructive viruses deliberately released by our government for rabbit control. In Australia, we have the csiro to thank for the 3 viruses that annialate bunnies in our country. They are necessary because wild rabbits have descimated our land in the past. However for rabbit pet owners or meat rabbit producers, these viruses are merciless and wipe out ever rabbit. The viruses are carried by vectors. Mosquito's, flies, humans shoes, other bunnies. So if you want to protect your rabbit population you need to exclude the above or immunise. In Australia of the 3 strains circulating, it is not lawful to immunise against one of them and so prohibitively expensive for the other two, even a 6 month protection is twice the cost of the rabbit. So we have a set up whereby we use upsidedown IBC cubes instead of wire cages. Before we turn them over and suspend them from the rafters, we have to prepare them so they are sanitary and easily accessed. To do so we unscrew the top two metal bars near the round fill hole. We the remove the plastic cube from its cage. We then cut a approx. 1 square metre hole in the top of the IBC removing the lid. This leaves about a 10cm or 5 inch edge on all 4 sides. Put it back in it's cage. We then turn it over and cut a large gate access hole on the front, between the cage struts. Through this we access the inside and measure, drill and bolt 4 pieces of untreated pine around the inside edge of the bottom hole. Turn it back the right way and screw with wide washers to cover the hole, with appropriate sized strong wire mesh. It must be large enough to let bunny pellets through but also be comfortable for the rabbits paws. Screw through the plastic into the wood. You could use long metal bracing strip to secure the mesh and drill though. Turn back upside down. Now you have a wire bottom to the cube. BUT it has wood preventing the faeces from escaping. So you need to drill on the outside edge behind the wood a series of holes in the plastic. Also drill a few part way through the top of the wood also. These holes are to give the cement something to grip to. You are then going to use premix concrete to slope down the edges over the wood, so all faeces rolls off onto the mesh. This creats a gently sloped edge all the way round and is a nice resting place for the rabbits too and is easily cleaned down with a hand broom or pressure hose. Finally make a fold down wire door to cover the access hole but ensure it is wider in all dimensions than the entrance hole by a good 3cm or 1 1/2 inch. Cover this door entirely with aluminium fly wire by placing wooden battons on the outside and the fly wire attached to these on the outside. Do not let the rabbits near this fly wire. They chew it.. Hang you IBC up, upside down. It will be very heavy, use many strong individuals to help. Secure firmly with carribenas and chain. Purchase a human bedroom mosquito net and a large hard plastic kiddies swimming pool shell. Place the spread out mosquito net under the IBC... sit the shell on it. Lift up the mosquito net up and around the shell and the IBC and attach it with pegs to the metal framing. I stuff all the extra netting in the gaps to prevent insects. Nothing gets to my rabbits and we have been doing this now successfully for 3 years. Yes it is quite a project, but quite cost effective and it keeps the insects away and the netting away from the rabbits and faeces. Therefore the netting lasts. We tried putting nets over wire cages, the rabbits chewed them to bits. We tried aluminium wire on wire cages and nets over, the rabbits chewed the aluminium wire. So this us our answer for ultimate protection. If you wanted more ventilation you would need to create more holes higher up and protect with aluminium screening, probably screwed and glued on the outside. We live in in a -3C up to 44C climate and our rabbits do well with frozen fruit juice bottles of water in the cage, one each to lie on.... on days above 35C. They do fine. We don't breed over summer at all, so it is holiday time for them all. Hope this helps someone. Oh yes always buy a food grade IBC.
Thankyou for taking the time to read it. It has been a long and very concerning journey for my husband and myself to find a cost effective and sustainable way to protect our rabbits from disease. I would expect the IBC cages would stand up well to predator attack too for everything except a bear. So if this helps someone, I am happy.
@@TheRabbitryCenter I work in the meat industry I can expand anyway you want to, if somebody comes with antibiotics then they need to learn why there is withdraw times for, and any farm not using antibiotics for sick in my opinion don't need to have animals. There is no such thing as growth hormones, well if there is they are illegal in the United States of America. Can't say what is sprayed on fields because that does not make it to the feed not even trace amounts, where as I do not agree with using any chemicals on crops because of the ecosystem is destroys, and if people say chemical on corn and other crops then wild meat is not chemical free either if using that logic. I am a full time pig farmer, work part time in dairy. I agree people should be raising their own meat because a lot of what they buy is not even from the United States anyhow, but it is still chemical free.
Your videos are SUPER helpful! Now, as a PH.D in hard sciences with an adult child who is slowly recovering from some serious health issues, I've done a ton of research into glyphosate/roundup. I strongly recommend you don't go near the stuff nor ever use it on your property. If you want, look into it beyond what any agency or company might say. My state of residence had a team in the past trying to get it banned here for good reason. Gut microbiome is suppressed (makes sense, think what it is used for). This can lead to autism in young humans, and many other serious issues for any age group. I teach at the college level and was a national scholar as a young man, so I don't say this lightly. Anyhow thanks again Bobby, YOU deserve national recognition yourself for all your contributions. Bravo!
Thank you for taking the time to share your comment. I’m so happy you find the videos helpful. I agree glyphosate is a product that has the potential to cause real damage. I don’t recommend using glyphosate without educating yourself first. I commend you on your research. It’s not for everyone and doesn’t apply to all situations. I certainly would never debate just anyone using it. While glyphosate’s safety remains a topic of ongoing research and debate, its use should adhere strictly to recommended guidelines to mitigate potential risks to human health and the environment. As a young man, I was state, certified in pesticide application from MSU. I learned how to use the herbicide as well as many other pesticides to ensure healthy turf, trees, shrubs. Not everyone has this knowledge but can still buy it and use it freely. Which is dangerous. Let’s face it, most people don’t read the labeling or use it according to their guidelines. I think there’s a very real danger to just anyone using it without educating yourself in the hazards. That said, I don’t recommend using glyphosate on vegetables and growing food. As you know, Glyphosate is a non selective herbicide that helps control weeds but in my opinion should be labeled “Termination/poison”Which should be used strictly for termination purposes. Also the half-life is another important factor when replanting. It certainly demands correct calculation and precision when applying and if you have any health concerns at all, you absolutely shouldn’t use it. There’s several ways to prep soil and grow food in raised beds garden plots and greenhouses without using herbicides.
I don't suppose you have plans for your 4 cage hutch? I realize I could do the math with the 3 cage plan but knowing me, I would mess it up and I'd rather not re-invent the wheel if its already out there. ..Also, it's missing the Materials List/What you're gonna need. its listed for the roof build but not the main part of hte hutch. I tried piecing it together for a complete list but I can't quite figure it out
Simply enter your email and receive plans to the hutch and more goodies preview.mailerlite.io/preview/37362/forms/54213430306931898 Also here’s a video that shows an addition we put on to make Room for the fourth cage ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--rlvYTFH0zY.htmlfeature=shared
you can if you want, certainly will save you time and cutting wheels, but the hutch I built called for 18 inch tall cages and traditionally, rabbit cages, or 16 to 18 inches tall. Also, studies have shown your rabbit will still stay productive with an average of 1 ft.² per pound a 30 x 30 x 18” is sufficient size.
i’m sorry to hear about your loss. This video shares rabbits that do well in the heat but even these rabbit breeds are still covered in fur which makes them prone to heat stroke. it’s always best to take precautions to keep them comfortable No rabbit breed is exempt. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kzCicl71QOo.htmlfeature=shared
ABSOLUTELY! Plantain, dandelions, and clover are Terrific choices for your Rabbits! Here’s a video that shares more information ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dTWFHLbh6hs.htmlfeature=shared
Cage floor bottoms are not the cause of injured hocks. This is a common misconception. why the biggest rabbit production use cage floor bottoms is because they allow the urine and manure to fall through the cage keeping your rabbit clean and healthy. Rabbits have a lot of padding on their hocks. A heavy rabbit(due to over-feeding is the leading cause of sore hocks.
With our watching, breed the hell out of them, breed let her have her kits breed again 24 hours later wean kits at 4 weeks out nest box with her and boom another litter
@@TheRabbitryCenter I was just sharing how I do it. If I had a ventilated barn would be different but with the heat now we only breed them in the cooler months, so gotta make those does earn their keep. And of course I did not catch my spelling errors or autocorrect whatever one it was lol.
Bobby does a lot of videos. Don’t just watch. Like and subscribe too … that’s it . 80% of some people’s fans don’t even subscribe. Help out the guy who’s helping you.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AFM3hwuaRlo.htmlfeature=shared this video shares more about why folks are raising their own. When you haven’t raised livestock before, the whole thing could be foreign. Often when introducing livestock to a property it’s an excellent complement to the backyard. You get to enjoy beautiful animals and prepare clean chemical free meat from animals that have been raised humanely. It’s a satisfying and honest way to live and you’re doing it because you love your family and you want to provide healthy meat that doesn’t have hazardous chemicals in. Most of the meat available in stores have been shipped from long distances processed from animals that are stressed, and raised in horrible conditions and the meat has been sprayed with ammonia, carbon monoxide, dipped in chlorine, treated with growth retardance, the list goes on and on. These are things you shouldn’t be putting in your body. When you have your own meat production, part of your family can enjoy the animals and prepare terrific dishes, and other family members can handle the processing. Best of luck convincing them and thanks for watching!
Is it possible to sell Rabbits as Pets only @ a higher price ? I bought mine at a pet store for $100/ each. Just wondering if it's possible. I'm not interested in selling meat or poop at this time. Thank you
Jacaranda tree leaves, mulberry leaves, calendula flowers and leaves and sweet potato vines are great fodder too. The sweet potato's even benefit from being cut back regularly, it makes the tubers bigger.
I breed some doe’s through the winter and summer using kindling totes. This video shares more info. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yShBHmrLdvQ.htmlfeature=shared
Adding hay into their diet increases their fiber percentages to 20% which is ideal, whereas pellet averages around 16% fiber. Hay ensures a healthy gut and better digestion and all around healthier rabbit. Hay is also a Beneficial for their ever growing teeth.
We are so excited to get our rabbitry going! We bought some Californians and one was pregnant when we bought her about 8 weeks ago. Her first litter was unexpected and on the wire. One of the kits crawled out of the cage and onto the ground with our chickens. He had his rear leg broken and we feared he wouldn't make it. After considering antibiotics or culling, we let him develop and mom's milk helped him fight off the infection. Now, Tiny Tim is doing great and we are about to rebreed mom again. We also have a Rex litter due in 2 days. We use Bobby's spreadsheet for our breeding schedule and are hoping to have filled cages soon! Thanks for all you do Bobby!
Thankyou for that info. Just to check.. are you referring to the Silphium perfoliatum plant that has cup like leaves and a yellow daisy like flower? Native to Nth America.
