shared post from FB

Part 1 of 4

I was asked to do another post on Rabbits in terms of sustainable farming/homesteading and alternative sustainable feeds for them. This is a VERY LONG bit of information, so I will break it up into several posts.

Naturally, not all the things quail eat (mentioned in my post a few days ago) are the same things rabbits eat.

In terms of rabbits fitting in the web of sustainability on a homestead/farm or backyard, they are a natural fit.

The manure that rabbits create is perfect to present directly to composting worms. In fact many people operate a rabbitry where they raise composting worms (also called redworms) right under the rabbit cages in the fallen rabbit wastes. This is a personal choice. My personal choice is to clear out the waste and take it to the worm compost pile. This is because the worm castings created by the worms need to be readily accessible (they are very useful on a sustainable homestead/farm), and I am also composting more than just rabbit poo. Bending under a cage to access worm castings and worms is not practical. A plus, keeping the manures from piling up under cages is that it keeps the rabbitry freer from insects and other pests. But rabbit manure is primo stuff for the homestead/farm/backyard!

By feeding your rabbit manure to composting worms either in a worm composting bin or worm compost pile, you end up with a product (worm castings) that is higher in plant available nutrients than any other fertilizer, compost or manure. And as you read on, you will see how this directly will benefit your rabbits! We run a commercial scale redworm farm, and use the worm commonly called a Red Wiggler (Eisenia fetida). The reason we use this worm is that it is the one composting worm that has the highest reproduction rate, and consumes ½ their weight in food matter a day, they also have the highest tolerance to temperature changes/ranges and pH, and feed stock changes, and moisture content ranges. There are other worms used for composting, and many who raise them have their reasons for their choices, but because the Red wiggler is so adaptable and efficient, we use this species. Another HUGE seller for using Red wigglers is that it does not have a wandering habit. Other species of composting worms have a narrow range of tolerances (for temperature, pH, moisture content and feed stock), and will attempt to leave en masse if those tolerances are not met. Because red wigglers do not have a wandering habit, they stay put where there feed is. This is good news for people wanting to keep them in a worm composting bin, use them in an aquaponics system or in a composting pile outdoors. Those worm castings created by feeding the rabbit manure to the worms is a great help in producing food for the rest of the farm/homestead AND for your rabbits, too.

What alternative sustainable feeds can be easily grown for rabbits that are highly nutritious? I will name some of the list, and go into a little detail on a few of them. It would take much more room than would be practical here, to explain all the detail. Spent brewers grains (maybe some will argue the sustainable question here…but I am going to include this anyway). Sweet potato leaves, mulberry leaves, moringa oleifera, azolla/duckweed, purslane, comfrey, fodder, Kangkong (Chinese water spinach, ‘Ipomoea aquatica’), local forage, trimmings from the kitchen, garden and aquaponics system. All these constitute good things for your rabbit diet, and can be used instead of, or in addition to commercial rabbit feed. Either approach can increase production and profitability

More info to follow in parts 2-4.

-Deanne, De Converse

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Backyard.Meat.Rabbits/permalink/1364677886989474/