13 replies to this topic

[New.Canadian.DB.Owner]

Wife asked me to build her some rabbit tractors. Don't ask me why they are called tractors.  They certainly aren't something that leaks oil (my definition of "tractor").  Anyway, she is happy and that is all that matters.  They are 4" x 8" x 2".  The one end contains a raised condo for them (4 x 4 x 1).  The condo also provides shade under it during the heat of the day.  The four roof sections open individually.  The frames are all cedar, cut down from 5/4" decking. They get moved around the yard & the bottoms are open so the rabbits can eat the grass.  Guess that makes them "lawn tractors".

 

[trowel]

i'll never understand it either but lawn tractors i do like, you did a great job, happy chickens lay lots of eggs.

[KennyP]

i'll never understand it either but lawn tractors i do like, you did a great job, happy chickens lay lots of eggs.

And happy rabbits make lots of babies!

[LilysDad]

Does your wife eat her rabbits?

[New.Canadian.DB.Owner]

Yes, it is the other white meat around here.  27 chicks & 19 bunnies so far this year.  

[superaben]

I love the definition of tractor.    That should go down in history. 

 

"Tractor: Something that leaks oil."

 

Ben W.

[robert_p43]

Although Bridgewater Angus is my preferred meat, I wouldn't mind some rabbit now and then.  My wife said she never had it and refuses to even give it a try.  Funny, what I like the least is chicken and she makes me eat that way to often. I gave up trying to get her to compromise but one of these days, I may just tell her, "You have chicken, I'll have some low fat ground beef." EVERY DAY!

When I was a child, we raised the chickens for the year and about 2 weeks later, that big old chest freezer passed away.  We ate some chicken now, breakfast, lunch, dinner, till it was thawed and not edible.  I couldn't even eat chicken till I was in my 20's and never did re-gain a love for it.   We do have a couple chickens but that's cause I like fresh eggs.

The tractors look great and those rabbits should do well in them.

[propane1]

Most of my tractors leak some thing. Nice job on the rabbit tractors. I saw one with wheels. When the grass was cut, you moved it to the next spot. Noel.

[petrj6]

   I love to raise and eat fresh meat, we do chickens here but not rabbits.  Honestly there are enough wild rabbits here I could just go shoot one when I felt like it.  I don't think I have ever eaten rabbit???????  Cant remember.  We raised them when I was but it was for 4h shows.

                                                                                                                                                                                   Pete

[New.Canadian.DB.Owner]

I can't stress enough how good and how versatile rabbit is.  There is a reason England encourage its citizens to grow rabbits during the war.  We have done it as pot roast, schnitzel, rabbit Parmesan, General Tso rabbit, pulled rabbit, rabbit salad sandwiches, rabbit ala king, rabbit pot pies, rabbit "wings", etc.  The only thing we haven't been able to do is shake & bake.  If you are looking for cheap meat, rabbit is the answer.  8 to 11 bunnies in a litter.  4 to 6 months to freezer.  3.5 to 4.5 pounds dressed weight (6 portions per rabbit).  Minimal maintenance. Tastes just like your favorite recipe.  

[MH81]

Wife asked me to build her some rabbit tractors. Don't ask me why they are called tractors. They certainly aren't something that leaks oil (my definition of "tractor"). Anyway, she is happy and that is all that matters. They are 4" x 8" x 2". The one end contains a raised condo for them (4 x 4 x 1). The condo also provides shade under it during the heat of the day. The four roof sections open individually. The frames are all cedar, cut down from 5/4" decking. They get moved around the yard & the bottoms are open so the rabbits can eat the grass. Guess that makes them "lawn tractors".

Leaking tractor? Marking its territory?
Here you go.

[TAHOE]

I never figured out the tractor thing either, other than you move it arund the yard and it's contents cuts down, err, kills the grass

 

I like rabbit, haven't had it in a long time. Dad used to raise Red NZ to butcher. We are picking up a breeding pair of NZ this weekwnd, my son wants to breed and butcher them.

We have 15 meat chickens and 10 turkeys right now, freezer will be full after fair time.

[toomanytoys84]

My grandfather bred rabbits in a pen behind his house when I was a kid.  Not sure what they were,  I assume he trapped wild rabbits, threw them in a pen and let them breed.  We always had a pile of rabbit meat around.  Good eating.

 

He always cooked it in gravy with potatoes, carrots, onions and whatever else he could toss in there, then served it over mashed potatoes.

[GTTinkerer]

   I love to raise and eat fresh meat, we do chickens here but not rabbits.  Honestly there are enough wild rabbits here I could just go shoot one when I felt like it.  I don't think I have ever eaten rabbit???????  Cant remember.  We raised them when I was but it was for 4h shows.

                                                                                                                                                                                   Pete

There is a bunch of difference between the taste of wild and raised for meat rabbits.  Raised them as a kid and sold the meat to a local butcher shop and the feet and raw skins were mailed to a company in Chicago.  Had about 120 of them year around, three to four litters a year.