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Rabbits are cute and fuzzy critters that make cute pets around Easter time. Unfortunately for them, they are also mighty tasty, a good source of protein, and make a great stew at pretty much every time of year.
As livestock goes, they are fairly economical to get into, are easy to maintain, and are small enough that even suburbanites can raise enough rabbits to significantly supplement their protein needs in both good times and bad.
Rabbits can be raised indoors or out. If you have the means, an air-conditioned space is wonderful for summertime, a corner of the garage, an old shed, or a dedicated rabbit barn can all serve this purpose. If this is not an option for you, a shady spot exposed to cooling breezes can work just fine. The issue with overheating in summer is that if bucks are too hot for too long they can temporarily lose their ability to perform their buckly duty with the desired effect. Some farmer’s market friends of mine have addressed this issue in a very creative way. They raise their rabbits outdoors, on a shady side of the barn. They save old water bottles and keep a good supply of them in their freezer. Every morning in the hotter months they place a frozen bottle of water in each cage, and replace them as needed through the day, rotating thawed bottles back into the freezer. As I said, the heat-induced sterility in bucks is temporary, so a worst case scenario is a loss of some breeding time.
In the winter, the primary problem in outdoor rabbits is keeping their water supply liquid. We have addressed this issue in the past by bringing water bottles in once or twice a day during cold snaps, thawing them and refilling with warm water. In winter you will also want to protect your outdoor rabbits from the wind. What is a healthy cooling breeze in summer is a blast freezer in an arctic storm front, and you don’t want your bunnies to become IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) entrées ahead of schedule!
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Resources :
Blackout USA (EMP survival and preparedness)
Conquering the coming collapse (Financial advice and preparedness )
Liberty Generator (Build and make your own energy source)
Backyard Liberty (Easy and cheap DIY Aquaponic system to grow your organic and living food bank)
Written by: Pat B, offthegridnews.com
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