Sustained

One of the many things rabbit breeders love about rabbits is the supposed ease with which they breed — you know, like rabbits . But this reputation can be misleading. The truth is, rabbits can run into the same kindling complications as any other animal. Good Breeding Starts with Good Breeders Prevention is your best friend here. Start by breeding only does with solid breeding conformation — namely, those who aren’t “pinched in the hind.” You can assess this by flipping your doe on her back and checking her foot base. Ideally, her heels should fall wide apart, and her feet should sit perpendicular to each other. We’re breeding to improve our lines, so both bucks and does should show these traits. Age and Condition Matter Your doe shouldn’t just be old enough — she needs to be ready . Age: Large breeds like New Zealands or Californians can technically breed at 4 months, but they’re not truly sexually mature until 6–8 months. I’ve had much better long-term success starting does...

From Cage to Table: How We Make the Most of Every Rabbit This week, we processed rabbits. “Processed” is the polite way of saying we dispatched them, broke them down, and served them nine ways from Sunday. Here’s the thing: if you’re not serving your rabbits nine ways from Sunday, you’re missing the thriving part of sustainable living. You can keep it basic or go full bougie—it’s your homestead. Personally? I’m bougie as heck. One of the unexpected joys of all this back-breaking work and worry is discovering new ways to do old things. I’ve been raising rabbits for over three years now. I’ve put hundreds into our freezer, filled shelves with jars of rabbit stew and broth, and shared plenty with friends and family. Sharing is caring, after all. And while many people today turn up their noses at anything that doesn’t come shrink-wrapped, bleached and parked on a styrofoam tray, I’ve made my share of converts. Nothing compares to knowing where your food came from, how it was raised, ...