raising rabbits - question

[WarriorMonk]

Hey all, I have a bit of land which I visit once or twice a week. I was wondering about the feasability of raising rabbits there. Does that sound possible, or do they need more attention? I was thinking that maybe if I leave them enough food and water, and have them adequately fenced to protect them from predators, this just might be possible. What do you think about this? If you were to do it, how would you fence it? We have coyotes, foxes, and neighbor's dogs of course. If a bear discovers it, there's probably no enclosure that would keep it out. But I don't think bears come around here very often.

[pheasantplucker]

IMO any livestock (aside from honeybees), need/deserve daily attention and care...

[nehimama]

I have to agree with pheasant. None of my livestock would thrive if I checked 'em only once or twice a week. Besides, you know in the back of your mind, you'd only be laying out a buffet for the predators, my friend.

NeHi

[WarriorMonk]

I was afraid that might be the answer. Looks like I need to get some fish for the pond instead...

[Jan Doling]

On the other hand, there is no reason you can't raise the rabbits in your garage or garden where you live now and then you can tend them daily. If you set up the cages so the droppings feed a worm farm underneath, you would be making compost ("Black gold") as you go. You could feed some kitchen scraps to the rabbits and some could go straight to the worms. So now you have no excuse for not getting started raising rabbits!

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

IMO any livestock (aside from honeybees), need/deserve daily attention and care...

I wouldn't recommend it.

You can set up an automatic watering system, but if it were to malfunction your rabbits would be dead before you got back out there.

Having enough feed to last for several days would not work very well. If the does eat too much they can develop fat around the ovaries and become infertile.

[Little Quacker in OR]

Just a thought there, don't forget that many predators can FLY and many are super diggers! ANd by the way, rabbits are super diggers too.

You can't "raise" anything properly without good husbandry. No free ride with animals and a living creature deserves better.

LQ

[Wisconsin Ann]

Another thought....even if you make the cages/coop/barn perfectly predator proof, and you have perfect automatic feeders and waterers...which you KNOW for certainsurepositive will never fail....You'll still find yourself worrying every day you're not there And if, God forbid, one of the rabbits died from something TOTALLY random, you'd go through the "if only I'd BEEN there" thing....<sigh> been there. done that. dont' want to do it again.

[Wisconsin Ann]

Is it possible to put up a few cages in your garage or back yard? We live in a small city of 12,000 souls, and quite a number of folks keep "pet" rabbits in the backyard. generally 4-H folks, but there are a few who, er, cull them for dinner. You might want to check with your town's ordinances about pets