I have been raising rabbits and watching your channel for nearly 3 years now. I so appreciate your information I am stoked to not be going into these uncertain times with this lifestyle! Thank you for what you do!

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

That's an awesome comment. I'm glad you found the videos helpful. I'll try to keep them coming.

That rabbit manure is pure garden gold!!!! The tote system is awesome. So much fun getting to check on the littles with you.

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

I feel the same way you don’t have to worry about crop rotation when recharging your soil with rabbit manure. Thanks for watching!

Just wanted to share my idea for collecting manure: We took down a 48”x16’ pool to make our garden. I used the vertical part of the pool liner and some schedule 21 1/2” pvc as a frame to make “poop slides” so the manure goes into a tote. I’m new at this so I’m really amazed how much manure I’m getting from 5 rabbits (3 does & 2 bucks). Mine eat about a cup (+) of 16% rabbit pellets, some hay (not Timothy) plus a small amount of kale every day. I used 360 bank line to “sew” the liner to the pvc & cheap leash chain to hang it.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

That's awesome. Great idea. Gotta love that rabbit manure. It's good stuff. Stay tuned I'm about to upload a video on my four reasons to start a Rabbitry and that's one of them.

@YouButter

Жыл бұрын

We have tin placed underneath cage at a pitch so poop rolls down into gutter. We push the poop into a bucket at the end of the gutter

Great garden bed... I love rabbit nuggets for the garden no more store bags :)

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

I hear ya. It's very nice to have. I buy one bag of 13-13-13 a year and it's only for my food plot. Everything else gets a boost from the rabbits.

Lol... Totally agree... Well done... We have 1 big pen for them to have a Warren in its worked well because I have all sand here... I buried some totes and I can access them.... But rabbits redecorate it's best I leave it alone.... New moma will redecorate again and kick everything out Wire doesn't work for us... We had 2 litters inside this winter 40below we didn't want them in anything but underground and the underground one was just fine.... Spring I on its way now... Spring things are wet but carbon sources help dry out... We don't get flooding we are blessed in this spot for good drainage...

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

No flooding. We don't have a lot of pests other than raccoons. We did get record rains last year though but hopefully it's a little drier this spring.

@wildedibles819

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter that's great... I've seen some underground bins get flooded but we are lucky to have sand here Great work on your videos

Thank you for making these videos. I subscribed this morning and I have already watched all of your "Rabbit Videos" playlist. I learned a lot. One thing that I and possibly other viewers would benefit is a complete walk through of your setup with the why of each thing.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting. Do you mean a video that expands on starting a meat production in your back yard and what is needed in order to do that or a property tour on equipment. Any feed back is very much appreciated. Thanks for the idea. I be sure to add it to the list.

@kirtusstruthers3175

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter More like a property tour. It would be nice to see the full layout of your setup.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

@@kirtusstruthers3175 gotcha it's going on the video list. Thank you for that.

Love those kindling totes

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching.

great info, let's keep our 2nd, be safe

Hello. I'm just starting out. Really just getting my materials gathered and choosing my location . I found your videos to be immensely helpful. Ty

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Best of luck! so glad they helped.

The Peanut Gallery was hilarious in this video! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for the info, in both topics covered.

Hello , I loe your video I just got 3 bunnies , so Im learning ALOT FROM YOU !!!

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help thanks for watching. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you this video helped a lot.

@TheRabbitryCenter

Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you found it helpful

Hi.... Thank you 🎥👍👍👍

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

Welcome 👍

I liked the video but it seemed like it would be much less work to put the rabbit manure on your beds in the Fall, cover with leaves and be done until Spring. Seems like removing the leaves to add the manure and then having to put them back is doing double work?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

That works too That time of year I’m doing spring cleanup and I pull back the leaves blanket beds it’s not that much work at all I want to be outside that time of year so it works for me In the fall it’s cold and I’m busy gearing up for deer hunting season and wrapping up my beehives that’s probably why I do it the way I do but there’s no reason why your way wouldn’t work. Thanks for commenting

Very nice video thanks for sharing 👍

@TheRabbitryCenter

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

Great video. I think separating the tote system from the fertilizer system into 2 videos might be a good idea. :) Thank you so much!

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing I appreciate it

No! Please, do not burn the leaves. Put them in your compost bin, or make extracts, or apply compost directly on top. The worms will take care of them, and the rabbit manure/compost will add balance. If you see problems with this method, take a soil test (a bit from each bed) and adjust accordingly.

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

On the kindling totes, you don't punch any air holes except for the tunnel tubes going in and out into the outside tractor runs? I love how you keep the composting system easy & utilize the wire to hold the leaves on the raised beds :) great ideas!

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

No air holes. The newborn rabbits have more than enough oxygen in there. in most cases Mama will bury the entrance. Just like wild rabbits bury their nests. Thanks for watching.

Bahahahha I feel that so hard. The chickens just won't shut up! 🤣🤣

That ought to do it. Hopefully you'll have some videos showing how well those raised beds performed.

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

It’s very good soil which needs to be weeded regularly- We don’t do very many gardening videos but we do share our lettuce bed in this video. Thanks for watching! kzread.info/dash/bejne/lm16vLWQiNuyqLw.html

I wish I could do kindling totes like that for them to escape the Texas heat but the darn ants are so bad. Don't know how I would keep em out? Anyone from Texas figure anything out concerning this? I started this thinking I would just figure it out as I go and well now I'm here lol. Love that I found your channel and it gave me the inspiration to not give up and take some advice. Your attitude is so welcoming and your help is priceless so thank you very much!

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Have you tried DE?

@garwoodgerdes5585

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter I use Diatomaceous earth for my garden but not sure of it's effect on carnivorous fire ants but wouldn't hurt to try, thank you! I'll set up an experiment (love experiments)

@Scoutdogs

3 жыл бұрын

@@garwoodgerdes5585 Did you try it? Did it work? The fire ants were my concern too.

@garwoodgerdes5585

3 жыл бұрын

@@Scoutdogs I had a guinea die so I layed it out and put a thick circle of DE around it. The next day I checked it and it was a skeleton so I abandoned the thought of underground nesting boxes!

@Scoutdogs

3 жыл бұрын

@@garwoodgerdes5585 That's what I figured. I can't see fire ants being deterred by DE considering what it takes to kill them! Can't flood them out. Tried gasoline down the hole, tried lighting said gasoline and had an interesting explosion, but the ants that survived just relocated. Their excavations are massive! The yellow granules that got outlawed were the only thing that worked reliably. Don't recall what it was called now. That was 30+ years ago. I saw a video in which molten metal was poured into a hole and then they dug it out to show what the nest looked like and it looked like the roots of a huge tree and went many feet deep. So only way to take them out is with something they eat, that they feed to their queen, that takes long enough to kill them that most of them will eat it before they start to die off. If it kills them too fast, the rest won't eat it.

Thanks so much! I'm so doing that with our garden.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you found it helpful.

Good video I do love my rabbits I dont sift the manure I put it on my plants straw leaves and all it breaks down at 60 I'm working less lol

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds great!

@Skashoon

2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering that myself, why do you sift the manure? My guess is that you want to concentrate the pellet application, or to ensure more even coverage by separating the clumps.

How long are you keeping them in the kindling totes now? When you first started using the kindling totes I think you removed them around day 10.

wish i could do this ground too wet has not rained in 3 weeks and still have about an inch of water on my whole lot

Just found you! Great video! What is the oat mixture you fed your rabbit? She looked so happy. I think my rabbits would love to know! Thanks!

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome! Thanks for watching

How preditor proof are those totes? We have some problems with raccoons

Today I just top dressed around my apple trees with rabbit manure hopefully it's a good idea??? We shall see

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Awesome you won't be sorry. Rabbit manure breaks down fast and is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. It's also a cool manure so you can't burn them. No need to worry. I do it every year.

@russrasmussen9514

3 жыл бұрын

It is

Bobby why wouldn’t you burn the leaves that you have in the raised beds, I have heard that Ashes are good for the soil

Could you do a control burn of the leaves on the garden instead of removing them ? Aah is good for the garden

@TheRabbitryCenter

Жыл бұрын

Good idea!

How big are the holes in the screen you us to sift the manure? I enjoy your videos, thanks.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

It's hardware cloth. 1/2" x 1/2"

Did you ever do a video on your food mix we keep haven problem with the stuff we are buying

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

I'll kick that topic up on the list. It's on there it's just farther down. I'll try to get to it here soon. Thanks for asking.

hi i am 12 years old and i am starting my rabbity this spring raising polish rabbits and i need cages and i am wondering where you got yours thanks

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

We have bought cages from TSC. We also have built cages. Store bought cages will last about 4-5 years before they start to fall apart. If you build them they'll last much longer. Check this out if you haven't already. kzread.info/dash/bejne/moeYvMRygZewacY.html

That's not a peanut. That's a runt. A peanut is born in ONLY rabbit breeds that have the dwarf gene. Not in meat rabbit breeds. And the peanut will only live about 2-3 days, up to 2 weeks. They never survive, whereas a runt can die from malnutrition, but will live if it gets enough milk. Peanuts also look very different with a weird looking large head and tiny ears and bulging eyes, etc. Thanks for showing more of your system here. Can you please tell me what the dimensions are of the rabbits' tunnels that go down to the totes? The size of the square tunnel so that I can make sure mine is big enough? And what did you line the bottom of it with? How is it attached to the tote? Do the rabbits use the tote as a potty? Is it hard to clean? Do you have drainage holes in the bottom of tote? Or where does the kits' urine go? Is it hard to clean? I imagine if there were holes, then worms or bugs would get in...Maybe you can do a very detailed video on this system please? 🙏 Not sure if you have already, in that amount of detail.

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

I know very well about those hens. Some of'em sounds like laugh at me all the time.....

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

They want out bad. But I'm tired of them tearing up my mulch beds. It's a love hate thing

Do you remove the bloody straw from the kindling boxes when you see it? Is it actual straw or hay in them? Do you clean the out after each litter?

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

I do. Mama rabbit will eat the placenta but I will replace any bloody straw with clean straw

hey... what about chickens ?? u said you would upload some how u made the coop

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

I'm gonna try to get some chicken content in there soon thank you for reminding me.

Do you use any other fertilizer in your beds or is that manure enough to make it through the year?

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

That’s it I use it with everything I haven’t had any trouble at all

Do you use straw in the bins in summer too? Seems like that would be too hot? I'd be doing this in TX, so 90* and higher for several days is not uncommon. Not sure how deep the totes would need to go to stay cool. Also, any concerns with ground water rising or flowing into the tote? Or into the hole and "floating" the bin out of the ground? Not sure if MI gets the "gully washers" that dump several inches of rain in an hour or two. Might have to create raised mounds for the tubs to sit in, but not sure if that would provide the same insulating qualities. Might also try this with a chest type cooler for more insulation? I have seen people cut holes in those for feral cat huts. Other concern, as mentioned below, is fire ants. NASTY buggers. Anyone know if chickens eat them? I plan to have my rabbits in the same area as chickens, but don't have either one yet. Still learning- a LOT!

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

The straw works as insulation in the summer keeping the tote cool.

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

The mama does use the straw to make their nest

I’m Obsessed with your rabbit set-up! How many acres do you live on?

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Our property is only a couple acres but we boarder public land so if feels like more. We're surrounded by Rose Lake DNR research center. It's a lot of public land all around here dedicated to deer, turkey, pheasant, woodcock habitat and much more. It's a pretty area.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching

@steph4248

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds beautiful! 🐰

hello great video … can you use the bedding boxes made onto the rabbit pens .. and can you use the wood chips that you get at Walmart for the rabbit bedding...what size should the rabbit cages be when you build them ….

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

What do you mean by made onto the pens? Yes wood chips from walmart wood be fine but there's different kinds. Chips, shavings, fine pine. There's lots of products on our website if you'd like to compare that to what you're using. We spent a long time putting that rabbit product page together. We found a lot of quality products at a great price.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

30x30 for a single buck or doe. You can house 2 doe if needed. 36 x 30 for grow out cages. Just stick to .6 sqft per pound and you'll be fine. This is what many rabbit productions have found to be the right amount for a rabbit to be productive. It doesn't hurt to go bigger but it will hinder their productivity if you go any smaller.

@johnniebunton4978

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter thanks so much for the information

@johnniebunton4978

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter thanks

@johnniebunton4978

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter it like you put a box on back of the pen made out of wood. Like they do for chicken to nest in.

Do you have any ideas of how to break up the rabbit manure? I would like to use it fresh to dress pots and in the flower beds but my wife scowls at me😅 i guess she thinks that coco puffs are unsightly😏...

@kiras6241

4 жыл бұрын

🤭🤣

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

Rabbit manure breaks down pretty quickly. Can you get a way with mixing it in with a half a bucket of soil or compost. Do you use a compost pile?

@guerillagrace

4 жыл бұрын

Another compromise might be to cover the layer of coco puffs with another aesthetically pleasing layer like coconut coir -woodchips -moss -crushed dried leaves... 🤷‍♀️ Would prob deter flies too

@simmonds6063

4 жыл бұрын

@@guerillagrace Good idea, thanks!

@simmonds6063

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter I actually ended up attatching an old egg beater paddle to my drill and mixed the puffs with egg shells and charcoal in a tote. It broke everything up pretty well and after sifting it made a nice addition to some homemade potting soil. One cool thing is that the charcoal got busted up pretty well without all the dust flying around. I could compost it and that would make more sense, but this was more fun😅!

howd you build the poop skimmer?

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

I'll do a video on it this weekend.

Do you let them breed year round? Also, why would it hurt leaving the straw in the manure.?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Using kindling totes you can breed year round. But using nesting boxes can cause losses due to them hopping out and getting stuck outside the box I remove the straw to get at the manure which is most beneficial to the soil. the straw goes to the compost pile which will break down over time making good soil as well.

@therabbitswhisper

3 жыл бұрын

yeah, you've got me sold on the tote method. I still just put the straw and manure straight on to the beds, doesnt look as pretty, but still works. Thanks for the response.

This is my first year having rabbits (2 of them) and I'm not sure how to use the litter. They use a litter box so there is usually pine or aspen shavings, pee, and sometime hay mixed in with their poop. I rototilled some of this into the garden this spring but I wanted to keep using it on my plants through the summer if possible. How often can I apply it without over fertilizing, is it safe to use the pee and everything mixed in, and what is the best way to apply it?

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

I suggest joining a Facebook rabbit group there's thousands of folks ready to answer your questions Rabbit manure is a cool manure it does not need to be composted you can add it directly to your plants

@kyriamartin503

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't have Facebook or any type of social media.

Where did you get the 6 inch pipe? I can only find 4 inch

@michaelripperger5674

3 жыл бұрын

Look up plumbing supply stores in your area

@michaelripperger5674

3 жыл бұрын

Stores

after sifting the out the manure, do you reuse the hay and put it back under the cages?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

The wheelbarrow full of manure goes in buckets the other wheelbarrow gets dumped in the compost pile hay and straw break down pretty fast

@chris4370

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter awesome thank you! right now we're collecting ours in trays and it can get pretty smelly and messy. Plus I'm not a big fan of using the manure that's been soaking in urine so I usually throw it out and use the manure that fall around the trays for fertilizer. The hay at the bottom seems like a way better idea and I'll be able to utilize more manure for fertilizer! I appreciate the quick response

Rabbitry Center, I'm up in Northern Canada and wanted to get into meat rabbits my concern is the fact we hit -40 / -50'c do you have suggestions for a design of a good rabbit hutch?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

I would build a insulate a rabbit barn and use a t-stat to control the heater turning on and off to keep it around 34-35F so to not break the bank in heat cost.

@Skashoon

2 жыл бұрын

I’d build the rabbit barn but I’d also build a rocket mass heater that you can burn wood in and save on the heating costs. It’ll be warmer for you too.

What does broken mean?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Broken refers to the solid color being broken into spots of color. Broken rabbits will only have spots of color instead of a solid pattern.

What are you using for your water system

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

This video shows our watering system kzread.info/dash/bejne/pJWFxtN8ZZCyfsY.html

@cholland3440

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter thank you.

What kind of hoe is that you used at about 10 minutes? I have seen it on other videos but don't know what it is called.

@simmonds6063

4 жыл бұрын

Hula hoe or scuffle hoe is what I'm familiar with.

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

amzn.to/2wphEro

Do the doe have enough milk for 14 kits? :)

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

A rabbit only has 8 nipples but a good mom will work her way around the nesting box to feed them all -you can foster to another lactating doe but I’d make sure the kits are around the same size so the kits have a fighting chance for a nipple

@eirikausteng3543

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter Great. Thanks for replying. I have two does that are kindling their first time in a couple of weeks. They probably won´t have that big kindles, but I had to ask.

What do you do with the straw?

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

I throw it on my compost

@mariekiraly100

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter I use straw in their bedding. Could I just start piling it also? It's obviously all mixed together. Thanks for your reply!

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

@@mariekiraly100 Piling it on the compost? absolutely

@mariekiraly100

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter thank you! Last question! I want to do this on the ground - should I lay flat boxes first, then start piling?

It's ashame those leaf mulches are so expensive. Trees bring nutrients from deep down in the soil. It would make a great compost if they would break down faster.

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

They sure do. It keeps the soil nice and rich and ready for planting.

@Skashoon

2 жыл бұрын

Run a weed eater through the pile a few times. Pour your (or rabbit) urine on them a few times. You’ll find that they breakdown much faster.

@vonries

2 жыл бұрын

@@Skashoon I ended up getting a leaf mulcher which is basically an inverted Weed Wacker with a double string head with a shoot around it. I ended up running them through the shredder a few times. It didn't cut them as well as I had hoped, but it helps with most of them. However like you'll said it helped break them down much faster in my compost.

Why do you remove the leaves?

@TheRabbitryCenter

5 ай бұрын

I use the leaves to keep the soil covered and protected from the sun. I cover with compost which is more beneficial than leaves if you don’t have compost i’d em recommend mulching the leaves.

@stacyclark5910

5 ай бұрын

We have VERY PLENTIFUL leaves & a leaf shredder, so l try to make as much use of the leaves in the garden as possible! I use them in my compost as well! Btw, love your channel… I watch your videos a lot… appreciate your calm, kind & thoughtful demeanor. God bless!

So where are you located?

@TheRabbitryCenter

Жыл бұрын

Bath MI. More info on therabbitrycenter.com

14 kits, dam, if I were that doe, I would hide my breeding side in the corner when the buck was around, lol. Humans have it easy.

@TheRabbitryCenter

3 жыл бұрын

Rabbits have a superpower reproduction system. It's pretty nuts to think that in the wild it's common for a buck to breed a doe BETWEEN KITS BEING BORN.

I got me a black bunny just to give me compost. I named her Blacky poo

@TheRabbitryCenter

2 жыл бұрын

It's a never ending supply!

@svelanikolova5776

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheRabbitryCenter I am hoping to start making black gold for sale next year

I think Bobby don’t really cares for chickens 🐓 lol

@TheRabbitryCenter

4 жыл бұрын

This made me laugh. We just got 15 chicks today. I just can't quit them.

Good content here!

@TheRabbitryCenter

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!