Way back on September 29th of this momentous year, I left for your reading pleasure a post called
"What does it Mean Mrs. Bunny?". You may recall my excitement over witnessing the Marital Act between Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, then my subsequent jubilation over the fur pulling that Mrs. Bunny was engaging in. Such hopeful signs! Such an abundance of Nothing Happening After That! Is this how men feel when they wait for their wife to find out if she is pregnant or not? If so, I do not envy them.
Tonight, just about dusk, I looked out the back windows that overlook My Domain and what do you think I saw?
Visual Observation Confirms the Existence of Two Baby Bunnies! There may be more, hiding in the burrow--that darned fascinating natural Bunny life burrow! From my studies, I believe the bunnies may be approximately 4 weeks old. They are still nursing, as evidenced by some quick snacks while Mrs. Bunny was enjoying some carrots. I'll have to start putting out some greens for the little ones to try.
Now we enter in the next unknown phase of our Meat Rabbit Project. I must not become emotionally attached to future dinners. They may not be given cutsie poo names. They may not be brought surreptitiously into the house in pockets and played with on the carpet. Their names must be purely utilitarian: Lunch. Dinner. Roast. Stew. We must focus on the goal: Being independent in our meat supply.
Focus.
Focus. Okay.
Congrats! I love that you're raising them in a wild and free burrow way. I've always wanted to learn more about that method since it seems like a lot less maintenance. But I do wonder about inbreeding issues unless you start isolating the males.
ReplyDeleteSince they are meat rabbits, they really don't have that long of a time in company with each other. Harvesting is common at just two months, although some people raise to full size, approx 5 months, and get "roaster rabbit". To my limited knowledge, the males aren't able to breed until then, so it should be relatively safe. The worst part about the burrow is not knowing what's going on in there! I worry so much every time she covers up the entrance: did she have kits and they died? When it rains, will the tunnels flood and any possible kits drown? But she did really well. Last count of rabbits playing in the yard: 2 adults, 5 kits.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you got your baby bunnies now! Yet, I'm not too fond of the fact that their names (Lunch/Dinner/Roast/Stew) will become reality. Either way congrats!
ReplyDelete-Patient "B" of the 3 Laugh Mates
Hey September 29th was my birthday. Strange.
ReplyDeleteYes, Allison, it's true. I told Mr. Bunny about your birthday, and he immediately sat down with Mrs. Bunny and said, "Don't you think it's time we had some children of our own?" She was unsure, but you know how persuasive Mr. Bunny is. Mrs. Bunny had best watch out when Craig's birthday comes around!
ReplyDeleteB, in a world overrun with unwanted rabbits, at least my rabbits have a warm burrow, constant food and water, attentive parents, and a hatchet hanging over their heads...Oh, sorry about that. It's a rough life, but someone's got to die to feed me! I'm not helping, am I?
ReplyDelete