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Haha thanks for sharing. Could you please 🙏 share a picture of your setup? Because all my expensive feed and hay ends up with poop and pee. My setup is a double hutch with trays underneath each level to collect the poop. Did not realize it was going to be 90% hay and feed mixed poop. I was trying to sell my Rabbit poop but don't know how since so much hay and food is in there.

I don't feed much hay, not really needed. A proper pellet is alfalfa based, with a bit of other stuff to round it out. New moms get it bc they eat the nest over time, and that's no good for babies. And when they're shedding, they'll get hay.
Hay cubes, for horses, can be used instead. Many rabbits need time to get used to them. But only tiny slivers end up wasted, bc they get eaten down to the size they fit through the cage. But some rabbits play with them, which is fine, unless you use water bowls...ugh.

If you have access to a lot of small cardboard boxes, you could feed hay in there. Then toss the whole thing as it gets soiled and replace.
 
Right! That is so awesome. So do you track it on your expense report for your business to file taxes on? Also how do you manage to get your poop without hay and leftover feed?


No business here. I used to have rabbits years ago and was constantly feeling like I was wasting an absolute fortune on them with zero return.
So, this time around, I decided to keep track of actual cash sales and sales to myself, where instead of buying feed for my dog, I used the rabbit meat, and same for garden soil. I don't use actual worth of the rabbit, I use the worth of how much dog feed I saved by feeding a rabbit that day vs feeding kibble. And soil from the store is about 4 a bag, even though the poo bags are nearly double the amount of store soil, I use the value of one bag. Why go on the cheaper side? Idk. Poo bags hardly sell, and when they do, it's just 5. Buns have almost no value for pet food, since almost no one buys and dealing with the public about it is such a hot mess and insanely picky. Not worth the stress, my dogs eat them as is, no hoops to jump through.
Anyway, keeping track of it all helps me see it's not a massive moneypit. I mean, I spend what, 1.2k or more on feed alone? If I'm not seeing what I'm getting out of all that money, it feels like I'm just throwing money away on a silly hobby.
 
I quit in 2014, but sheep tastes terrible. When it is good, it's still difficult to eat a lot of it or often. I'll be trying grain fed sheep, but grass fed is too gamey.

So, I want a different meat source.

Might have found three cages that can stack. Next is some rabbits!

I'll have to build something safe in the barn, as I don't want them near the house in the shed. The smell is too much & it's too enclosed. Barn has a nice breeze, which will be nice for them & our noses.
I'm thinking either hot wire net around or wrap the cages in hardware cloth & use extra clips to close doors. 🤔

As for breed. SF or Rex would be nice, but I need to find a breeder with fast growers. Either way, any breed will work, as long as breeder culls for good weights.

I won't be pasturing them nor pulling any grass. They'll be more commercial style raised this time around.

So, how has everyone been?
Any meat breeders in Va/Md?
Anything crazy happen while I was away? 🧐
I'm starting out too. Best of luck to us both.
 
No business here. I used to have rabbits years ago and was constantly feeling like I was wasting an absolute fortune on them with zero return.
So, this time around, I decided to keep track of actual cash sales and sales to myself, where instead of buying feed for my dog, I used the rabbit meat, and same for garden soil. I don't use actual worth of the rabbit, I use the worth of how much dog feed I saved by feeding a rabbit that day vs feeding kibble. And soil from the store is about 4 a bag, even though the poo bags are nearly double the amount of store soil, I use the value of one bag. Why go on the cheaper side? Idk. Poo bags hardly sell, and when they do, it's just 5. Buns have almost no value for pet food, since almost no one buys and dealing with the public about it is such a hot mess and insanely picky. Not worth the stress, my dogs eat them as is, no hoops to jump through.
Anyway, keeping track of it all helps me see it's not a massive moneypit. I mean, I spend what, 1.2k or more on feed alone? If I'm not seeing what I'm getting out of all that money, it feels like I'm just throwing money away on a silly hobby.
Great idea tracking everything. How do you feed your dog rabbit . Do you grind it. Feed raw. Thank you
 
Put most of the bottles up. Of course, nature has decided to try and redo a winter storm...🙄
Some took a day, others up to 3, but they all can use them now. Bowls are still there, though, as it is still winter.
Also made new cage tags for everyone. Gotta name the new round of keepers.
20250207_120232.jpg

played more musical rabbits, Berry kits are all in one cage again.
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tealy buck has his own cage.
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navy kits. 2-3 need culling. Rest are a good weight and growing.
20250207_113737.jpg
This one was very licky
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Jet kits. So much silvering
20250207_113344.jpg20250207_113335.jpg20250207_113334.jpg
 
So licky. Blue kept coming over, but didn't want to get too close.
Screenshot_20250208_085644_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250208_085703_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250208_085735_Gallery.jpg

Berry kits, all fed and growing great!
Screenshot_20250208_085534_Gallery.jpg

Gilt kits & fosters, also fed and growing great!!
Screenshot_20250208_085445_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250208_085456_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250208_085503_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250208_085515_Gallery.jpg


And Berry × Vapor kits. Regular fur vs Rex fur at 11 days old.
Vapor has a great grandparent that was half rex. That's also where the broken pattern came from. Genetics are fun.
Kit vid
 
I don't feed much hay, not really needed. A proper pellet is alfalfa based, with a bit of other stuff to round it out. New moms get it bc they eat the nest over time, and that's no good for babies. And when they're shedding, they'll get hay.
Hay cubes, for horses, can be used instead. Many rabbits need time to get used to them. But only tiny slivers end up wasted, bc they get eaten down to the size they fit through the cage. But some rabbits play with them, which is fine, unless you use water bowls...ugh.

If you have access to a lot of small cardboard boxes, you could feed hay in there. Then toss the whole thing as it gets soiled and replace.
I have been mixing my own feed and use alfafa pellets in there. But I have bought 4 bales of orchard so I think the box idea will be a grand idea until I run out then will switch to the hay cubes, which is around great idea too! Thank you so much!
 
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