California - Northern

[debs_flock]

Quote:
When my son was in 4H, his primary project were rabbits. He kept a herd of around 200 and we went to National Convention every year. In 1994 (I think that was the year), he won best in show in Tulsa, OK. Anyway, the poultry was a secondary project, he only kept around 50-100 birds. I've worked at rabbit shows for the last 20 years. This year when the State sent my contract they asked if I'd be willing (for a little extra $$$ of course) to complete all the leg & sanction reports for both poultry and rabbits.

Why not? I've been working at the State Fair for the last 20 years. We've always said that people that like to work at Fairs must have a little carny blood coursing through their veins, LOL. It's certainly not for the $$$ or glory. You have to just love the behind the scenes atmosphere.

 

[caychris]

Did somebody say rabbit? Chicken people should have rabbits right?????? LOL I have been toying with the idea again. It has been years. I fantasize about a big outdoor pen with a community of them that could burrow under ground at will & raise their babies naturally. Of course the cages I always raised them in is a lot more practical & easier too......LOL. The thing about being older & retired is that your mind comes up with all sorts of delightful things to fill your time...........LO

Having never eaten rabbit I've been interested in this too but would like to try it first. Not sure where I would put them. I do not think the hutch has the same requirements as a coop from the city ordinance perspective. I wonder where I could get rabbit to try.

We had rabbits as a kid and they are wonderful pets but if I recall the best pet breeds don't make good eating rabbits.

 

[sewandgrow]

When my son was in 4H, his primary project were rabbits. He kept a herd of around 200 and we went to National Convention every year. In 1994 (I think that was the year), he won best in show in Tulsa, OK. Anyway, the poultry was a secondary project, he only kept around 50-100 birds. I've worked at rabbit shows for the last 20 years. This year when the State sent my contract they asked if I'd be willing (for a little extra $$$ of course) to complete all the leg & sanction reports for both poultry and rabbits.

Why not? I've been working at the State Fair for the last 20 years. We've always said that people that like to work at Fairs must have a little carny blood coursing through their veins, LOL. It's certainly not for the $$$ or glory. You have to just love the behind the scenes atmosphere.

I so know what you mean. Through the years of 4H & showing at the fair a variety of animals that started with the rabbits for both of my kids we have many memories of the fun & work. Of course as 4Hers we were volunteers but there was plenty of work to go around. One of my friends had a big round pin that said. "Don't pick on me....I am a Volunteer". I feel like we all need one of those. My daughter is now a 4H leader & get dumped on & questioned about her methods all the time & she works her BB off for them for free. She is so stressed about running this BBQ chicken drive thru dinner for over a 1000 pleople tonight she couldn't sleep last night......poor thing ...sometimes its just hard being a Mom.

 

[debs_flock]

Yes, that's where it all started. I always figured if I had to sit there anyway while he was showing, etc. I might as well volunteer to do something. I volunteered at State Fair for so many years, they just started offering me a contract and paying me, LOL.

 

[sewandgrow]

Having never eaten rabbit I've been interested in this too but would like to try it first. Not sure where I would put them. I do not think the hutch has the same requirements as a coop from the city ordinance perspective. I wonder where I could get rabbit to try.

We had rabbits as a kid and they are wonderful pets but if I recall the best pet breeds don't make good eating rabbits.

Boy am I a thread hog this morning. Rabbits are easy to raise with few diseases & can be very tamable. They require minimal space & provide excellent fertilizer for your garden. It is not Hot like chicken manure & lack only one element to be a complete fertilizer & I can never remember if it is bone meal or blood meal but research would tell you.
Some grocery stores carry it or you might check Trader Joes or places like that. They are much easier to process than chickens too.
There are several good meat varieties. I chose New Zealand Whites & Californian because you could show them, eat them & sell the culls or excesses to the local Rabbity for top money for the white coats. White fur brought more money that colored & both of those dual purpose breeds dressed out pure white. A hutch with 2 cages 36" by 36" is adequate with a slanted roof for rain & a door large enough to fit a nest box through. Easily built or found on Craigslist.
Now you guys can tell me to shut up & go away.......LOL

 

[sewandgrow]

Yes, that's where it all started. I always figured if I had to sit there anyway while he was showing, etc. I might as well volunteer to do something. I volunteered at State Fair for so many years, they just started offering me a contract and paying me, LOL.

What a good deal........I am now just helping my daughter out with her 4H projects. My grand daughter show a pig & there are always fundraisers & things they need help with. It's still fun for me. I had over 200 meat rabbits at one time & was working full time with 3 kids. They are much easier in some ways than many other animals. I love my chickens but I don't think the rabbits were as labor intensive.

 

[debs_flock]

I always said if my finances tanked during retirement, my food plan was to have a garden, some free range chickens and four pens of rabbits, a buck and three does. You can glean a lot of their food and rabbits will produce a steady supply of meat for very little outlay of money.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Yes, that's where it all started.  I always figured if I had to sit there anyway while he was showing, etc. I might as well volunteer to do something.  I volunteered at State Fair for so many years, they just started offering me a contract and paying me, LOL.

Been there, doing that. Except my pay is pizza for dinner for 8 straight days.

I do want to say Thank You! I see so many people who want their kids to experience these activities but are not willing or able to donate the time and without you and your time it wouldn't happen. We get to see the kids blossom and shine!

 

[debs_flock]

I do want to say Thank You! I see so many people who want their kids to experience these activities but are not willing or able to donate the time and without you and your time it wouldn't happen. We get to see the kids blossom and shine!

The kids are a big part of it. I enjoy working with them (most of them anyways, LOL) and the majority of the parents are great people.

I always said a good leader is one that likes to see all the kids succeed, not just their own. I think sometimes the best leaders are the ones that stick with it after their own kids have "aged out". I've always wanted to see my son get back into the animals. Everyone thought he would end up a licensed rabbit judge.

 

[fowlman01]

When my son was in 4H, his primary project were rabbits. He kept a herd of around 200 and we went to National Convention every year. In 1994 (I think that was the year), he won best in show in Tulsa, OK. Anyway, the poultry was a secondary project, he only kept around 50-100 birds. I've worked at rabbit shows for the last 20 years. This year when the State sent my contract they asked if I'd be willing (for a little extra $$$ of course) to complete all the leg & sanction reports for both poultry and rabbits.

Why not? I've been working at the State Fair for the last 20 years. We've always said that people that like to work at Fairs must have a little carny blood coursing through their veins, LOL. It's certainly not for the $$$ or glory. You have to just love the behind the scenes atmosphere.

We'll see you there Deb.

Walt