Check out our blog to learn more about how we raise rabbits for meat: kummerhomestead.com

We’re getting into rabbits because we want to get away from the centralized food system! We decided from the go that we were going to do a colony. I think we can give them such a better life then in small cages

Very good philosophy.

Great video. So much misinformation about this on some channels. Thank you.

@kummerhomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I love this concept so much and love the videos you have shared about colony rabbits! My two questions are: 1. Do you think this would work in a humid subtropical area that gets a lot of rain? I'm assuming we'd have to be very careful about design and placement to avoid the burrows filling up with water (which would be disastrous), but I'd also be worried about the ground being too wet during the many months of rain we get. I'd love your thoughts about that! 2. I'm very curious about your deep litter method for rabbits, as I haven't come across that before (deep litter, yes, just not for rabbits). With them so close to the ground all of the time, do you find the deep litter method is still working for you? Do you "harvest compost" or just "muck out" the enclosure and how often do you feel that is needed? Sorry for all of the questions, maybe another video? 😆 Even if you don't have time to answer, I still appreciate the videos and information you have shared! Thank you so much!

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

1. For sure. I recommend raising their hutch a few feet above ground level so they can dig without risking flooding (happened to us). 2. It's still working for us. The rabbits are actually really good at mixing their manure with the carbon we add -- even better than chickens. But every couple of months we have to remove some of the composted material so the layer doesn't get too thick.

I love tuis concept 100%

"Everyone" are advising against colonies, so its so nice to see a successful set up. And I wholeheartedly agree when it comes to diseases. They are a good thing - as then you get to know which rabbits have good genes and who dont. As you only want to breed the strongest of them. Great video

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I just love this video.... same way I raised my rabbits in a colony, and yes rabbits like to be next to each other. And every time the female makes babies everyone knows.... and get a custom to the smell and each other. My mama made 9 they grew up now at 8 months then I bred her after her first litter was at 8 months now she has 13 new babies and they all cuddle together no issues. If there's any issue mam puts them I check lol I seen it before I spent a lot of time with them. Bucks don't kill that's an old say I've been raising rabbits most of my life.... great video man!!

@kummerhomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

GREAT VIDEOS and INFORMATION Just Subbed

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

Thank you. All of it

I had a large colony in MI. I loved t. I would lie on the floor and the let them climb all over me. I called it rabbit therapy.

@kummerhomestead

3 ай бұрын

Right on! That's what our kids do too!

Awesome 👍

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

Thanks 🤗

Deep litter is the obvious solution people are looking past. We put wood char in with wood chips for extra smell and soak ability for chickens. Have you considered an ash dust bath for rabbits ? Like the chickens have . That takes care of any mite lice. I've never seen a case of mite or lice. The chickens love wood char when you break it up for them they eat it. I do it cause I know there is calcium

@fredflintystoneea

2 ай бұрын

I didn't know charcoal has calcium in it. That's actually incredibly handy to know for raising hens and pullets. Thanks for sharing, fren: I'll have to research this.

@mattg6472

2 ай бұрын

@@fredflintystoneea yeah the research i did was saying hardwoods can have up to 20 percent calcium in the ash or char cause it doesn't off gas in the burning process . I started using char as my calcium source for chickens instead of ash cause you would have to wash off the lye with the ash imo. Besides the chickens readily eat the bits of black wood char. I crush it to chicken grit size and wonder if it doubles as grit. I couldn't find a more natural calcium supplement i wouldn't have to pay for

@mattg6472

2 ай бұрын

@@fredflintystoneea actually i can say I'm getting great hard eggs right now still in winter conditions without store feed that has calcium in it . I just use farmer grains and the wood char is the calcium . However Im going to break up these wonderful shells though and vinegar them and feed them back to the chickens to see if they want more calcium.

Most of what you're saying is true my only concern is fleas and ticks and sickness from other wild life if they are on the ground

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

We've never had any flea or tick issues so far...

True words, I really appreciate. Sad to see so many american videos of rabbits alone in boxes with grid grounds. Are you originally from Austria?

@kummerhomestead

3 күн бұрын

Yep, I was born and raised in Austria.

@wonka6848

3 күн бұрын

@@kummerhomestead You sound a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger. ;) Best regards from Germany!

@kummerhomestead

2 күн бұрын

@@wonka6848 He's a brother from another mother :)

@wonka6848

2 күн бұрын

@@kummerhomestead 🤣🤣🤣

I appreciate all your great info! I just wanted to confirm.... are there multiple bucks in the colony together? I like that your rabbits get along so well.

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

One buck per colony (ignoring the kits).

👍🏻

Could one raise rabbits and chickens in one run?

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

One could but it's a risk due to fecal cross-contamination.

Can Dutch rabbits be in colonies?

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

While they're also a domestic breed (like the New Zealands), their ancestors lived in colonies. So I see no reason why they wouldn't thrive in a colony setup.

As a kid our rabbits were always kept in a colony. We didn't get any of the problems that most rabbit breeders tell you. They live in colonies in the wild, and it is just cruel to keep them in tiny cages.

@kummerhomestead

Ай бұрын

Right on!

What kind of rabbits are these?

@kummerhomestead

3 ай бұрын

New Zealands!

Without a doubt, the colony is the healthiest and most natural... But, how do you avoid inbreeding and subsequent genetic deterioration?

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

We remove the kits after they are weaned into mobile rabbit tractors (stay tuned for a video on our process from start to finish).

Sind sie Deutsch?

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

Fast...ich bin Österreicher :)

New Zealand never was wild

Oh I been raising rabbits for 65 years

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

You know, you could have just left one comment with all your thoughts :)

@buckreynolds7475

2 ай бұрын

You know you won't have to worry about it because you don't know the first thing about rabbits and you won't have them very long anyway

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

@@buckreynolds7475 Noted.

@Macey345

Ай бұрын

@@buckreynolds7475you’re to old to be insulting people on the internet. Theres pros and cons to colony AND cage raising. Get over yourself.

@buckreynolds7475

Ай бұрын

@@Macey345 I'm not putting 40 does on the ground so I can doctor them

All you are doing is let teem get parasite

@thedeadgypsy

Ай бұрын

That's where good husbandry comes into it.

New Zealand rabbits was developed in the usa in the 30s I believe they was developed out of tame rabbits you don't what you are talking about sir

@kummerhomestead

2 ай бұрын

New Zealand were bred from European rabbits that naturally live in colonies. And even feral New Zealands exhibit the same social behavior as their ancestors. I’m surprised you didn’t learn that during your 65 years of breeding rabbits.

People do not listen to this man

@thedeadgypsy

Ай бұрын

Rubbish, he is telling the truth. Rabbits should never be kept in tiny cruel cages. They always live in colonies in the wild.

@Macey345

Ай бұрын

@@thedeadgypsyBuck is old and won’t listen to anyone he rather comment several times and harass this poor guy giving good advice lol