Washingtonians

[pettec63]

Quote:
Um, most of the people on this particular thread are from the west side, and I can assure you they do NOT all have farms or lots of land. They are in the same position as you are. regarding your neighbors, maybe you could tout the benefits of the manure and offer to let them have some??? just a thought. I think that you are going about it right and I think teaching your children to respect these things is good! I for one, am a "stick to the man" kinda person, and although we are not to get political here, my philosophy is enough is enough! Keep the MAN out of your business, we have plenty of laws already, we don't need to be lawed to death!! And sorry, but my property came with a burn barrel!
There are quite a few people here, that know a lot about poultry, if you stick around you will learn a lot!! trust me!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
We raise rabbits for food. We have more than one breed. Unfortunately our Florida White buck died, so we replaced him with a Black Otter Rex (we couldn't find another Florida White locally). We used our FW buck on a Champagne D'Argent doe because the cross produces one of the fastest growing, meatiest baby for a food rabbit, even better than the NZ X Californians. As soon as we can get a replacement we will. They dress out very well with a really good meat to bone ratio. So far, the Rex cross isn't bad, but they don't have such compact bodies.

If I could only have one type of meat to grow, it would be rabbits. Because they are contained, they are easy to take care of, although I must say the food bill isn't cheap. They are also very quiet. We have a continuous water system, and feeders, so we can go away for a few days without worry (unless we have does ready to kindle). The droppings DON'T need to be composted either! And the meat; bunny meat can be done in almost as many ways as chicken, but they don't have the nice crispy skin of a chicken - a trade off for leaner meat!

So far, we are getting 7-8 babies per litter, and with 4 does (1 isn't producing well, so she's ready for the freon cave), we are getting over a100 babies per year. One rabbit makes us two meals, so that's a lot of good eating, and we trade some. The babies are ready in 12 weeks; that's not as good as a CornishX (butcher at 5 weeks) but the smell of the chickens! UGH!

And for dinner tonight - it's Bunny Cacciatore!

Yes another great form of fertilizer, I have read it is considered COLD which means you can add it straight to you garden without composting cause it won't burn your plants! Ok well I'm sure there are tons of gardeners on here that already knew that! Just sayn! LOL!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
What you say is true in so far as other people move in from other states. BUT, I have lived here since I was 12, (now 48) I joined the Navy and moved down there, ( I went kicking and screaming)!! I didn't want to go either! This was in 84, and do you know what I saw within 12 hours of being in San Diego?? A car with a sticker that said, "welcome to San Diego, now leave"!!!! How do you think I felt??? I was stationed at Subase Bangor back in 82, I can tell you that it was a wonderful place to live, not many traffic jams, we used to ride the ferry to Seattle and have a nice time! I moved up to Lynnwood to take a job in 00 , sorry, you couldn't PAY me enough to live up there!! And I would bet, if you took a poll to see where the majority of people are originally from, I would venture to say CA. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure lots of people move up there because of the military ect, and decide to make it home. But, I am with CR on this one, don't come to another state expecting it to be like where you are from and then because it's not, try to change it! A good example of that is WY, those people don't like change and they don't want it. I loved it there, just couldn't hack the cold winters! I lived there for 4.5 yrs. I didn't go there expecting it to be like WA, nor did I want or try to change it. And as for the King County issues, you need to ask people that have lived there a long time! They have seen serious changes, and I would say that you had better check before you move there, I don't think there is any (good) part of King county, I would imagine, the laws for that county are for ALL OF IT not just some of it! Anyway, I have met very good people from CA, love them dearly, but, there are those who would try to make WA like them. This state has changed tremendously, to the point that I don't even recognize it any more. Believe me, since we have moved back, there have been times when I have wished we hadn't. That is sorry to say, but for me, very true. Oh, and one more thing, I live and have lived on the East side for most of my life, except the times while in the Military and married to Military. We eastsiders have been wanting to separate from the westside for a LONG time! It is literally like two different worlds, most of us here, do not think at all like the west side, just sayn!

 

[Chickielady]

Well, you probably won't like my answer, but we are looking for meat rabbits, my husband was raised on them, I myself, not so much. I was a vet tech so the only rabbits I handled were pets. Anyway, for us it's all part of the self sufficiency we have been working on. I myself would like to have registered stock, so I can have something to sell to kids who may want to show ect. We are getting things a bit at a time, and we aren't in a hurry, we have goat kids coming and I will have my hands full for a while, I just want to get the information, so that when we are ready we have it all lined out. I'm sure I will have a favorite or two, it's just my nature! Like my chickens and ducks and turkeys, I love them to a degree, but, they do serve a purpose.

I just sold my breeders, but I know the guy who has them if you are interested in buns to start with !

 

[Chickielady]

Yes another great form of fertilizer, I have read it is considered COLD which means you can add it straight to you garden without composting cause it won't burn your plants! Ok well I'm sure there are tons of gardeners on here that already knew that! Just sayn! LOL!

Rabbit manure has the highest concentrations of Nitrogen there is, and is highly coveted in CA for the herb growers.
I made more $ off the smart pills than I did off the buns !

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
That is cool! Good for you! I am so sorry you are allergic! That sucks!! But, kids and animals! it's a wonderful thing!

 

[Chickielady]

Ya will find it in da last place ya look ! ! ! !

Very true !!!!!!!!! If only you could look in the last place first !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Oh!! ok, I know I hate to say this but, how cute!!

 

[Eburger]

Just wanted to share a story of my life in AZ and critters. We lived in a subdivision of about 3,000 homes 10 miles north of Phx in Cave Creek. Had a lovely home with fairly big yard and pool. Had rabbits and small barn concealed on the back covered patio. Homeowners assn kept sending letters about the most nit picky stuff. So bought a manufactured home on an acre about 3 miles further north and closer to Town of Cave Creek. Realtor said we could have animals!! Horses lived across the road. Got my first chickens. Built bunny barn with a/c for about 5k. Got pheasants, ducks, quail. Everyone around us also had an acre or more. Well, come to find out we were not allowed to have ANY animals. This was after we moved in and got animals and had already spent quite a bit on them. Town Marshall came for a visit after a complaint about my rooster, luckily we weren't home so he never saw what all we really had. Got the rooster decrowed. Went to Town Hall and shed tears. Finally got permission to have 4 hens. Lady complained about ducks being too loud. Had to give away big black crested duck. Kept call ducks. Got friendly via email with Town Marshall Adam Stein. Sent him one of my favorite bumper stickers, "When Chickens are outlawed, only outlaws will have Chickens"

Adam was from NYC and moved after 9/11 and didn't know much about animals. One of my red golden male pheasants was in a big cage by the front door outside when he stopped by and he later asked me what it was and if it had only one leg. Hee hee.

I guess all this doesn't really have a point......................

Kathy B.

 

[Chickielady]

Right on Greg.
In my world if you move in next to me prepare to accept how I live and the things I do or be miserable. I will gladly assist you in the latter part!

X3 !!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a huge pile of started manure compost & it is way down the hill.....where it needs to be.