Rabbits In the Garden
Terrorists?
Mention rabbits in the garden, and some people think only of rabbits as terrorists, and damage that might occur to their plants. Are they little beasties who are the gardener's enemy?
OR
Garden Partners...
Tame rabbits can be an integral part of life in the garden and the household in general.
As partners, rabbits...
- Consume vegetable waste from cooking and peelings of fruits and vegetables.
As a part of a recycling program, at least a small portion of garden and household organic wastes can be consumed by them. The rest can go to the compost pile.
Banana peels, apple peels and cores, outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage removed in food preparation, and dried bread (in small amounts) are a few of the things we give our rabbits.
Most fruits like apple, pear, papaya, and banana are enjoyed. Our rabbits do not care very much for citrus fruits peels, but will eat a small amount of orange if offered.
Many weeds pulled during routine maintenance, offered in modest amounts such as 3 or 4 dandelion plants, or a few grass plants are relished.
- Manure recycles into fertilizer for the garden.
Tame rabbit manure provides a reliable supply of organic fertilizer for the garden and is excellent to improve the tilth, organic content and nutrients of the soil.
Rabbit cages should be cleaned at least weekly, so there is a constantly renewable supply of rabbit manure. This keeps rabbits healthy so they do not have to step in their waste. Dirty cages can lead to sores developing on their feet and hocks. Continually smelling the amonia from a dirty cage can cause respiritory problems.
Bedding such as sawdust, wood shavings or commercially prepared moisture absorbing pellets put in a drop pan system where the rabbits are in wire cages and the droppings fall into pans of bedding make excellent compost additions. Solid wood surface cages should have straw bedding that is kept clean by continually being repalced. The straw allows the waste of fall into it and absorbs some moisture and makes it easy to clean the rabbit hutch.
Bedding can be added to the compost or used to improve the garden. During the winter each section of the vegetable garden can be top-dressed with the cleanings of the week. By spring it is somewhat decomposed and is easy to turn under into the soil before planting.
- Make nice quiet pets.
Rabbits are quiet and don't disturb the neighbors with loud vocalizations.
If treated lovingly when small, they are affectionate and enjoy human company.
They have clean habits and are easily litter box trained.
- An enjoyable hobby.
Pure breeds can be shown in rabbit shows, a hobby that many people enjoy. The competition results in the breeding of higher quality rabbits for showing. There is some disagreement among people who spin the rabbit hair into yarn about how good the show rabbit breeding is. Some people prefer some of the cross-breeds of angoras for spinning, but these rabbits are not acceptable for showing.
Caring for a quiet gentle species is just a nice interest for the less serious people who enjoy raising rabbits. They do take a little extra work because they must be groomed.
- Long haired Angora rabbits provide fiber for yarn and felting projects.
Angora rabbits have hair or wool that is combed out in the routine care and grooming of the animal. Many projects for the family can be made from rabbit wool. Rabbit wool is much softer and many times warmer than sheep wool.
The wool can be spun into yarn and/or used in felting projects providing a free source of materials for the creative person.
- Provide supplemental income
Angora rabbits totally shed their wool about 4 times a year and the wool can be sold. With the internet, it is possible to reach potential buyers for the wool much easier than in the past. Finished products like yarn made from angora wool go for even more.
Some people use rabbits for meat or sell the meat.
