Hello from the UK

[Rex79]

Hello Everyone,

I'm so glad to have found this forum. Only had my 4 Rex rabbits and my 2 New Zealand Whites since the summer. I'm sure two of my Rexes are pregnant and I'm hoping my NZW doe is too.

I did have a litter nearly 3 weeks ago from one of my Rexes - she had 4 kits and they have just started jumping out of the nest box a few days ago.

We also have 5 hens, a dog and a cat.

Looking forward to asking questions and hearing rabbit stories from the experts!

 

[River Buffaloes]

Welcome to BYH @Rex79 , glad to have you here. I have absolutely no experience with rabbits, but rabbits seem to be a popular livestock form of livestock on this forum. I am sure you will find some very insightful opinions regarding rabbit husbandry.

 

[Rex79]

Thanks @River Buffaloes

 

[Baymule]

Rabbits make great backyard livestock. They are quiet, don’t smell and make manure for the garden!

Welcome to the forum from Texas!

 

[Rex79]

Hi @Baymule,

We are using the manure on our allotment - it rots down very quickly!

I like that they are quiet as I don't want my nosy neighbours knowing what we are doing.

My only fear is that when butchering day arrives I won't want to kill them! I remind myself daily that they will be our food one day but having never kill anything before it is a bit daunting.

 

[WeegMisty]

So happy your here! Welcome and enjoy yourself! Fell free to take me, and the rest of these fine members if you ever need any help! Avery

 

[Baymule]

Hi @Baymule,

We are using the manure on our allotment - it rots down very quickly!

I like that they are quiet as I don't want my nosy neighbours knowing what we are doing.

My only fear is that when butchering day arrives I won't want to kill them! I remind myself daily that they will be our food one day but having never kill anything before it is a bit daunting.

The first time is always the hardest. But the bottom line is that you can't keep them all and they are supposed to feed your family. When we slaughter any animal, we say a prayer, thanking the animal for providing us with good food to eat and thank God for the ability to raise the animals that we eat.

So when that first slaughter day rolls around, get yourself together, get through the first one, go have a good cry if that's what it takes and don't feel bad about having a loving heart. It will get better, you can do this.

 

[Rex79]

Thank you @Baymule,

I was thinking we'd say a prayer or bless the animal in some way. I'm looking forward to serving up my first rabbit meat meal to our family knowing that I've raised it from a kit - I will have seen it from day one, watched it open its eyes, grow fur, jump out of the nest box and nibble real food. And then I will have killed it, butchered it and cooked it - even just writing this fills me with excitement that I can raise my own food, something that I feel is becoming more important.

 

[WeegMisty]

Wow, we hunt wild deer, but something about raising a habit for meat sounds just, bleh. I think thee just to cute! I could never do it, thats for sure, but good for you!

 

[Baymule]

Wow, we hunt wild deer, but something about raising a habit for meat sounds just, bleh. I think thee just to cute! I could never do it, thats for sure, but good for you!

Not everyone has access to hunting, but still wants to provide meat for their family. If all you have is a backyard, rabbits make the perfect small livestock animal. For people that have been raised on Bambi and Walt Disney, shooting a deer is tantamount to murder. Those same people will sure eat a steak. calves are cute too! LOL

Yes, you could butcher a rabbit. If you raised them for meat and had a family that you put ahead of a cage of rabbits, then food for your family would be more important. We all do what we can to make better lives for our families. Like you said, rabbits are cute, but they sure are tasty too! LOL