Our rabbits have lived up to their reputation of fecundity, and despite being separated from the two males for the last six weeks, the mother rabbit, Ol Yeller, has given birth to two new litters, the first consisting of 3 young and the most recent, of 6. Here is proof then that a rabbit can carry two separate litters or pregnancies in her womb at once!
Her very first spring litter had 6 young. We gave 2 away to a Bellingham urban farm so our young rabbits now number 13 and our adults 3. We had separated the remaining four from the first litter born to our "urban farm" and fed them oregano, dandelion, clover, sage, grass, strawberries, greens as well as their locally produced alfalfa grain mixture. It seems that the time to butcher them draws near. Our lack of experience causes us to hesitate...I do believe I will be able to eat them, however, even though I have not eaten meat in over 8 years.
Fortunately, we never had to butcher our hens. We use no lights to cause them to lay all winter and so they lay all their long lives, though less frequently than their young flockmates.
We feel good about the living conditions for Ol Yeller and her 8 young ones. She still allows the older ones to nurse and all get along well. Rabbits are so affectionate with one another! If we ever brave up and do the nasty deed, we will have to do so in groups, so as to not pain them with the loss of their siblings.
I'll be happy to help you eat the rabbits or cook them for thatmatter. I have some great recipes from learning to cook rabbit at my Uncle Settimio's elbow in Rome.
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