Rabbit Rhythms September 2022
Issue 100! The Centennial!!!

News Flash!
What Your Rabbit Needs to Know about Pumpkin Spice

It's that time of year again, Pumpkin Spice everything!!! As the leaves fall, you think about snuggling in your favorite comfy sweater with your rabbit, enjoying lovely pumpkin spice. But before you share your favorite autumn indulgence, you need to know what is best for bunny. The 5 core ingredients to pumpkin spice are pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. Pumpkin is a good treat, in moderation. Cinnamon and Ginger in small amounts are also just fine. However, nutmeg and cloves are toxic to rabbits. Clove is the active ingredient in over the counter tooth pain medicine, so you know it's strong stuff. Keep bunny away from Pumpkin Spice treats with clove and nutmeg, even if he really wants them.

Pumpkin Spice Bunny Branola has been specially formulated for your rabbits' enjoyment and good health. It's made in small batches with natural ingredients. We have it in several sizes, and WITHOUT nutmeg or cloves. Find out more HERE.

Junior Livestock Show and Auction

Best in Show Winner!

(This article contains content about livestock animals that were sold to become food sources. While there is no graphic content here, if you wish to skip this article, click HERE.)

I, Suzy Scribbles, your Raising-Rabbits roving reporter, went out to cover a local Junior Livestock Auction. It’s a great opportunity to see young people reap the results of their hard work caring for their farm animals. These events are very educational because you get to learn about not just the animal itself, but also ways animals are cared for, and the process of buying livestock.

Bunny Dahlia, an adorable New Zealand, from What the Fluffle Rabbitry in North Carolina.

When going to any event, you want style that is also practical, with accessories. Since livestock shows and auctions are mostly outside in summer months, cool clothing, sunblock, and hats are highly recommended. But the one aspect of livestock show fashion wear that must be considered very carefully is shoes. Ewww, the poo! I saw animals of different species, and none of them (except rabbits) were litter trained or shy about doing business in front of an audience.

Young broken chinchilla Rex rabbit.

There were several types of livestock: cows, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and of course rabbits. At the rabbit tent, they had a chart displaying the feed costs and meat yields of lapin (rabbit meat) vs beef, and lapin is definitely much more economical from a farmer’s point of view. The cages have information about the individual animals and a poster with a picture and brief introduction to the child.

Holland Lops from Jubilee Farms Holland Lops, SC.

The children themselves range in age from about 7 to 15, and are usually members of 4H or FFA. The girl selling rabbits checked on them regularly to ensure they weren’t stressed in the August afternoon heat, and would switch out chilled ceramic tiles from an ice chest to help keep them cool. (To read more about keeping your buns cool, click HERE or HERE.)

Noticeable characteristics of farm children are that they have high degrees of resolve, confidence, and competence. They dressed like you would expect, plaid or western style shirts, jeans, cowboy hats, boots made for walking in poo, and really big, shiny belt buckles.

Commercial New Zealand White Rabbit.

The auction was split into categories, so all of the rabbits were auctioned, then all the chickens, onto turkeys, etc. Each child would come out and introduce themselves and talk a little bit about their animal, including the weight of the animal. Then the bidding began.

Holland Lops from Bear and Chicken Rabbitry in Idaho.

Luckily, the auctioneer wasn’t one of those crazy fast talkers like in the movies. The numbers being bid were price per pound of the animal. The kids would manage their animals either through rope leads or with long tapping sticks. The tapping was to cause the animal annoyance if it was trying to wander off. The animals are encouraged to walk around during the bidding so that buyers can see the animal is in good health and has been well cared for.

Child with market rabbits in a cage.

Once the bidding is finished, the winner turns a card, and other participants can also turn in pledge cards called “extras.” Extras are basically tips. People who wish to support the young ranchers can make donations to the child(ren) of their choice such as a specific kid, or perhaps a certain group, like all of the kids selling rabbits.

Mini Rex from Shepherd's Purse Rabbitry in Rhode Island.

Junior Livestock Auctions are definitely a good way to spend an afternoon! You gain insight into the young people who will become the farmers that will sustain the nation, and you learn a lot both about the youth who love animals, and about the animals themselves.

Go see the sights and smell the smells!

Random Rabbit Rantings

Off Topic News, Items of Interest, and Funnies We Want to Share

Keeping bunny cool during summer-like temperatures with an ice bottle.

As the heat of summer lingers in some areas, your furry friends will appreciate your continuing help in order to beat the heat. Besides the usual dangers of dehydration, heat stroke, and smelly armpits, buck rabbits can also suffer temporary sterility. ("Can" doesn't mean they will. Rabbits can still breed like rabbits if so inclined and they stay cool enough.)

Does are likely to feel disinclined to breed, and if the buck you introduce her to has become temporarily sterile, there will be no kits forthcoming.

Keep an eye on the weather report even into the autumn months. If it's going to hit 85F/29C, make arrangements to keep bunny cool. This means checking water at least twice a day as heavy drinking and evaporation can drain their supply. Other cooling options include fans, shade, coming inside, frozen water bottles to cuddle or chilled ceramic floor tiles, and maybe a little chilled fruit as a treat. (Fruit is bunny candy. Always serve in extreme moderation.)

We have more information in the paperback book, The Rabbit Raising Problem Solver, and our ebooks, Keep Your Rabbits Healthy and Rabbit Reproduction. 

Christmas Catalog Sneak Peek

The bunnies have been hard at work since Easter, getting things ready for Bunny Christmas. They have just announced a sneak peek to the Christmas Catalog. If you would like to get a glimpse, click HERE. 

(Adorable Holland Lop from Jubilee Farms in South Carolina. They were formerly The Farm at Fort Mill, but they have moved on to bigger and greener pastures.  Check out their Featured Rabbitry page HERE.)

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Your friends at Raising-Rabbits.com wish you a fabulous September 2022! 

Enjoy your rabbits!

Chew Stix by Raising-Rabbits
Just the sticks your bunnies need for chewing and gnawing!

Fruit-infused Raising Rabbits Chew Stix are nature's blessings from the beautiful Washington State forests and orchards.

Fresh alder branches are harvested from trees grown without chemicals, pesticides, or smog. Those branches are then hand cut down to bunny size portions, and infused with apple from Washington’s famous apple farms.

Alder is perfect for rabbit dental hygiene! The apple taste and smell will attract your bun, and they can chew to their heart's content, saving your phone cords and your sanity. 

Check out Raising Rabbits Chew Stix Here

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