Rabbit Compost for Worm Castings

[Maravillosa]

Greetings All, A friend was discussing a business idea with me about raising a large number of rabbits for their meat. I dd some research and found a chart that had rabbits manure at the top of the list. Seems it's nearly twice as potent as any other farm animal's casting, it can be used directly on a garden plus it has the added benefits of macro & micro nutrients and many of the minerals and trace minerals some most soils are missing.

Has anyone given this much thought? The pelts don't sell like they once did in the past, but they can be used to stay warm. But I hear the meat is tender and very delicious and similar to chicken. Considering the state of world affairs, it would be wise if families begin building a long term food storage and begin preparing for the days of scarcity that will be coming in the future. It never hurts to be prepared in all things. Food, water and plenty of medicinal herbs will help get most people thru.

Anyhow, I plan on venturing into the rabbit biz. Their castings are like gold, some of the best organic nutes in the world. Any ideas? Welcome to discuss the ideas.

 

[kindone]

I have been breeding rabbits for meat for the last year, it is a great replacement for chicken in your diet. The meat is much better tasting and you know where it comes from. The shit they produce is a big part of my compost and directly in my soil mix. I still use worm castings and plan on starting a worm bin in the spring.The little fuckers are cute as hell and fun to breed and raise as well, its a win win bro.

 

[Maravillosa]

Awesome man, it's good to see other folks becoming self sufficient like our progenitors. I found a chart that showed the nutrient content of several animals and rabbit manure beat them all. I was happy to see that there's so much NPK, macro and micro nutrients, and lots of minerals too. I've been reading about certain rabbit breeds that have the best meat. It's a shame that most people have turned to faux fur instead of the real thing, or that could be a money maker too.. A buddy and I plan on getting into rabbits and hopefully starting a business. We live near a very large population of people that should love the meat. I hope to make composted tea concentrates to sell at the local hydro store. I believe a massive food shortage is immanent, and rabbits will play a role in keeping my family fed and safe from the cold too.

 

[POH Organics]

Awesome man, it's good to see other folks becoming self sufficient like our progenitors. I found a chart that showed the nutrient content of several animals and rabbit manure beat them all. I was happy to see that there's so much NPK, macro and micro nutrients, and lots of minerals too. I've been reading about certain rabbit breeds that have the best meat. It's a shame that most people have turned to faux fur instead of the real thing, or that could be a money maker too.. A buddy and I plan on getting into rabbits and hopefully starting a business. We live near a very large population of people that should love the meat. I hope to make composted tea concentrates to sell at the local hydro store. I believe a massive food shortage is immanent, and rabbits will play a role in keeping my family fed and safe from the cold too.

I've heard they're particularly high in nitrogen, though what you put in is what you get out. Be sure to feed em toooonnnnsssss of alfalfa (and I don't see where kelp hurt either? lol..) and be sure to give em some beneficial microorganisms, it'll greatly increase what they're able to absorb (and then poop out!). Good luck

 

[Wetdog]

I have been breeding rabbits for meat for the last year, it is a great replacement for chicken in your diet. The meat is much better tasting and you know where it comes from. The shit they produce is a big part of my compost and directly in my soil mix. I still use worm castings and plan on starting a worm bin in the spring.The little fuckers are cute as hell and fun to breed and raise as well, its a win win bro.

Put some 1x6 or 1x8 around the legs of the hutches, let the shit build up a bit, toss in some worms and ........ instant worm bed.

Surprised you aren't doing that already, it's a old rabbit farmers trick.

Wet

 

[Maravillosa]

It appears when rabbits are fed a diet of highly nutritious food, a lot the macro/micro nutrients and minerals are passed on to the manure. Rabbit shit has higher NPK values than most other manures. Are you guys making tea from the rabbit manure or the worm castings?

Here's a great website with a lot of excellent info. http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/03/31/the-benefits-and-uses-of-rabbit-manure/

 

[MokiHort]

Oh man, I was seriously thinking of raising rabbits until we found out my girlfriend is severely allergic. I really liked the idea seeing as how I could grow a lot of Timothy Hay or other fodders for their food and use all the poo for composting. A sustainable cycle of nutrients. Guess it'll just be chickens for me. I guess they will be easier to free range in the garden though. Actually if anyone has advice on chickens, I'm open to it.

 

[kindone]

Put some 1x6 or 1x8 around the legs of the hutches, let the shit build up a bit, toss in some worms and ........ instant worm bed.

Surprised you aren't doing that already, it's a old rabbit farmers trick.

Wet

Well shit Wedog I'm a new rabbit farmer not an old one, sounds like a great idea though. I actually have it all set up just like ya said with fencing around the legs to keep the chickens outa there, all I'm missing is the worms.

 

[Maravillosa]

Oh man, I was seriously thinking of raising rabbits until we found out my girlfriend is severely allergic. I really liked the idea seeing as how I could grow a lot of Timothy Hay or other fodders for their food and use all the poo for composting. A sustainable cycle of nutrients. Guess it'll just be chickens for me. I guess they will be easier to free range in the garden though. Actually if anyone has advice on chickens, I'm open to it.

You can have free range birds by building a large bottomless cage to place in a pasture. Your birds will feast on insects, grass and the grain you give them. After a couple of days you pull it slightly forward to expose fresh grass. You can do this indefinitely, it's like free range but the birds are under controlled conditions. I had a friend, an old WWII survivor that kept chickens. He always gave us fresh eggs when we visited. Chicken shit is stout, got to compost it. I would mix it with horse shit, it's plentiful. I have two barns where I can get tons of it. I'm sure worms would make quick work of it too.

 

[Redbird1223]

awesome, i plan on building a hutch to breed rabbits this spring, i've been researching for a while now. theres a guy on youtube i follow named jrskick1, i have learned quite a bit from his vids.

Table 1. Nutritional Value of Rabbit and Other Common Skinless Meats.
----------Protein Fat Calories Cholesterol
Meat ------(%) (%) (per oz.) (mg per oz.)
Rabbit --- 22.8 --6.3 ---44 ------- 55
Beef ------29.9 -10.1--- 61-------- 73
Catfish ---22.3-- 5.9--- 40 ------- 20
Chicken --28.9-- 7.4 ---54 ------- 80
Lamb ---- 28.1 --9.5--- 58 --------78
Pork ----- 27.7 -14.8 -- 60 --------72
Turkey--- 28.9 --4.9 -- 48 -------- 65
Source: USDA.
1Wisconsin Meat Facts and Analysis, Fact Sheet ME 87-3, USDA Handbook
8-17, 1989. (whole carcass)
2USDA Handbook 8-13 Reo., 1989. (composite sample)
3NutriFacts Seafood. (whole)
4USDA Handbook 8-5, 1979. (composite sample)
5USDA Handbook 8-10, 1991. (composite sample)
6USDA Handbook 8-17, 1989. (composite sample)

Composition (%) of Manure from Livestock.
Animal N P K
Rabbit 3.71 ---1.33--- 3.47
Cattle 2.90--- 0.72 --- 2.14
Poultry 4.70--- 1.58-- 1.03
Swine 3.52 ---1.60 ---1.00

 

[Maravillosa]

I've never tasted rabbit, but it can't be as bad as cleaning chickens. I would like to learn the art of making moccasins and use the rabbit fur to make the lining with. I hope the food safety act of 2009 doesn't make growing rabbits illegal. At the present time they're not enforcing a lot of it. Back yard gardens are on the list too. Last year the feds did make a fellow in Michigan or Minnesota shoot all his hogs because they were the same color as feral/wild hogs.

 

[Redbird1223]

everyone says everything tastes like chicken, but someone told me rabbit has a delicate gaminess and would be more like veal than chicken. but I don't eat veal so ? lol

 

[kindone]

I have chickens too but they are such a pain in the ass to clean I don't bother. Rabbits are easy to clean and taste great. You have to butcher them at about 12 to 15 weeeks for maximum tenderness. The texture is similiar to chicken and so is the flavor but it has its own taste, my two sons ages 4 and 6 devour the rabbit and ask for second helpings every time, but when we eat chicken they barely touch it. Meat bred rabbits taste far different than wild cottontails as well, the cottontails have a very strong gamey flavor no matter what age IMO.

 

[Maravillosa]

I have chickens too but they are such a pain in the ass to clean I don't bother. Rabbits are easy to clean and taste great. You have to butcher them at about 12 to 15 weeeks for maximum tenderness. The texture is similiar to chicken and so is the flavor but it has its own taste, my two sons ages 4 and 6 devour the rabbit and ask for second helpings every time, but when we eat chicken they barely touch it. Meat bred rabbits taste far different than wild cottontails as well, the cottontails have a very strong gamey flavor no matter what age IMO.[/QUOT

I guess you have no shortage of composted manure for the garden. I'm gonna build a hutch when it warms up. Everyone here has shared positive experiences. I wanted chickens too, but I don't dig that funky smell when cleaning them. Seems like the rabbit shit is also at the top when counting nutes.