Here’s an example of one of the ways you can use super lean and tasty rabbit meat. We slow cooked one and then removed the bones. The meat that was left was used to make tortilla soup (perfect for these chilly days) and today’s lunch: soft tacos. Look good? They were!
Tag: Rabbits
Fall Rabbit Kits
We have new rabbit kits! Our proven REW New Zealand doe, Ava, had 8 healthy kits about ten days ago: 4 white and 4 agouti. Ava is an excellent mother – her kits are well-fed, big, and active. Their eyes will open soon and they’ll be climbing out of the nest box.
One of our new black Silver Fox does, Niamh, kindled a couple of days after Ava did, which was a little later than expected. With first-time moms, there’s always the possibility that something will go wrong, so it’s particularly stressful.
She had been haystaching and looking uncomfortable in the evening, and had started to pull fur. When we checked on her the following morning, she had pulled a lot more fur and had the kits completely covered. After morning chores, we removed the nest box to take a closer look at the kits. Continue reading “Fall Rabbit Kits”
Shorts Weather Is Over – Fall Is In The Air
Just when we were starting to think that this would really be a never-ending summer, the chill in the air has brought summer to a close. The leaves are falling are here. When a strong breeze blows, it looks like it’s raining leaves. Fall is definitely in the air.
It seems a bit surreal to think that just a few days ago, it was warm enough to comfortably dress in shorts and t-shirts, even in the morning, to do chores (mind you, it’s shorts, tees, and rubber boots – no sandals or flip flops for farm chores!). With the still-warm weather, the biting bugs lingered, unfortunately, and grabbed a few last meals. Continue reading “Shorts Weather Is Over – Fall Is In The Air”
New Silver Fox Rabbits Join The Herd
We recently acquired three new pedigreed Silver Fox rabbits for our breeding program. Two are the familiar black color – very pretty in its own right. The third is a new color for us: lilac. Silver Fox colors also include chocolate and blue. Silver Fox rabbits have beautiful coats, and actually are named for the similarity to the Silver Fox’s fur.
The black SF rabbits are junior does, with nice ticking (the white hairs) in their fur and good size. Though the does look very similar, personality differences are emerging: one is more gregarious than the other. Given time and treats, we expect both to become better socialized. Continue reading “New Silver Fox Rabbits Join The Herd”
Still Life: A Bowl Of Rabbits
Our most recent litters of kits are 16 days old – time is flying by! Siobhán’s 4 kits are healthy and very well fed, and Oonagh’s 7 also look great.
Siobhán’s kits all have her chinchilla coloring; Oonagh has some agouti and some steel coloration in her litter. Since their eyes have opened, the little ones have been getting out of their nest boxes and seem to like sleeping in the food dish. We were able to get some cute shots, but they’ll outgrow that dish in no time. Continue reading “Still Life: A Bowl Of Rabbits”
Update On The New Moms (And Sad News)
Our two first-time moms, Siobhán and Oonagh, kindled 9 days ago. Each had 7 kits, and they all appeared healthy. Over the next few days, that changed. 3 of Siobhán’s kits died.
Oonagh is a Silver Fox/New Zealand cross. Our NZ breeding stock is amazing: large litters, excellent mothering instincts, unperturbed by their kits being handled, willing and able fosters. In short, ideal mothers. Though she’s half Silver Fox, Oonagh seems to have retained the NZ mothering attributes – she haystached, pulled fur and lined her nestbox, kindled in the nest box. All 7 of her kits are big and thriving.
Siobhán is a pedigreed American Chinchilla doe, our first of this breed. Unlike Oonagh, she didn’t haystache or show much interest in her nest box. She kindled on some hay she’d spread in a corner of the cage, so we moved the kits into the nest box. Continue reading “Update On The New Moms (And Sad News)”