Our First Rabbit Litters

    We've had our first succesful Bunny Litter. As you may know this is the beginning of our small backyard farm...We are raising Meat Rabbits for home consumption. We have spent the last year building cages and raising the three Does and Buck to a good breeding age and weight...We have planted Rabbit friendly gardens and pots for Xtra forage and treats. With the cooler temperatures here we decided it was time...to Breed!

WELCOME TO BUNNYVILLE....a work in progress

Bunnyville

Upcycled colorful Concrete walkway!

Buck's Hut!

Moving on to our first litters!

                                                             

      Oreo was our first pregnant doe. She kindled 6 small kits. They were so hidden within the nesting tunnel and hay, that I overlooked three that were still born. That first litter didn't go well at all. I had made long nesting tunnels coming off the backside of the Does Chalet in an attempt for a more natural birthing experience. They ended up being very hard to inspect, and retained moisture due to the solid plywood construction. Here in Florida the Fire Ants are brutal and they sniff death out in no time. They invaded the nest and we lost the entire litter....it was very sad.....

        Cinnamon was the next in line and she was due within days. It was a scramble to remake and redo nesting tunnels and boxes. I removed the nesting tunnels, and created new removable nesting boxes with wire bottoms for better air circulation. Then Buck had to be moved to a new smaller resort and Cinnamon settled into Buck's quarters, where she had been staying as of late because of some abuse she was taking from the other Does...I Got the new nesting Box in at about 9:00am on Friday March 1st, and by 11:00am she had kindled....shew that really cut it close. We have 7 little popples all checked and appear very healthy! The craziest thing happens when you uncover the kits from Mom's fur in the nest.

They pop! Yes they all start popping around like pop-corn....funniest thing ever! Mom doesn't sit on her kits like alot of animals, but only goes in once a day to feed them and that is usually in the dead of night. A nice rounded belly is a good sign they are infact being fed. Another funny tidbit in Rabbit breeding....When the buck and doe "hook-up" you know there is success, when the Buck faints (appears to) and falls off on his side! Is Our God funny or what!

ears and feet everywhere!

snuggled nice and warm in Mama's fur

One kit with dutch like markings

     My Husband, Dave and I built a great Romping Room for the bunnies! Upcycled the old Trampoline frame with chicken wire.....It gives the kids and us a place to get in with the bunnies while they are all hanging out together! They seem to like the exercise and nibbling on the grass! How much fun will that be with a bunch of baby bunnies hopping around!

      I got a bit sidetracked since last summer....I hope to get back on track blogging more now that things are booming around here....babies are popping up everywhere. 

     We have baby Cocaktiels in the nest and some fledging soon.

Sugar and six babies!

Two grays....their sibling already fedged

     


















We have our summer garden planted up too with baby veggies!




and of course the Rabbits are finally....well..... breeding like rabbits :) So more to come!

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

If we all did this....what a wonderful place the world would be......I feel closest to God when I sit amongst his creation in awe.....I love this world he has created for me to play in!

It's Spring soon....Spread some seed!

Behind the scenes......It's a Jungle out there

     It's summer in Florida! I have been watching the weather around the country...and I know we don't have it as hard as most....so I am thankful for the beautiful sunshine and plentiful rain...but as it pertains to gardening...well things just get a little out of hand around here when the heat and the tropical rains start. You can go away for a long weekend and find yourself literally in a jungle when you return home. Plants grow inches during the night, and vines like Passion Flower seem to grow feet and find themselves all over places they are not suppose to be! 

The Passion Vine scrambling over the Crape Myrtle

      We always take such pretty pictures of the nice areas of the garden...Today I wanted to share the behind the scenes looks...The things I see "EVERYTIME" I enter the garden. 

A pile of overgrown Vines that need to be cleaned up

 Look at the pile of Oak limbs that have been stacked in the fire pit!
What a mess!

And would you look at all these pavers.....will we ever get them out of there
so I can turn this area into a potting shed?
Not to mention the old truck back there:(

      These are all the flaws, that make the garden...just never close to done and ALWAYS in need of work. These areas just remind me to keep at it.  One small area at a time.....

     After all...with many small areas to maintain....one day a beautiful garden will present itself!

The main thing I want to share today is this......a garden is hard work ...and just because yours may not "appear" to look as great and inviting as some of those around the internet or the gardening magazines...rest assured...all things are not always as they appear......don't get discouraged.....every gardener sees her own garden, not through rose colored glasses but with a magnifying glass,.... it's true you can walk around the garden and take some beautiful photo shots of groupings that will encourage and inspire...but as the lazy gardener I am...at this time of the year...with the rains, the heat and humidity, along with the weeds, the children, and the desire to just play....things in the garden do get away from me, I admit it.....and my naturalistic garden becomes literally a jungle mid summer! 

This is the Pond filter area...still awaiting a deck over the barrels

      There are some areas of this garden at this very moment that even I get a bit nervous walking through....(that one included) I know we entice the wildlife in...and though I love how prolific this garden can be....sometimes the quick scurry of a snake will scare the dickens out of me!  

 This time of year is magical though....it seems everything is having babies! Enjoy a few pics of all the babies.... of late 

The Koi population has Doubled in the past two months.....

The Molly pond is at an over abundance!

My Two Grey Baby Cockatiels......another Mama is sitting on a clutch now!
These two have just recently fledged!

Even the hibiscus acetosella  is having babies

Unfortunately I missed the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers fledge...but I watched the tireless parents for a month as they kept up with the never ending feedings....Maybe I'll get a pic of one on a visit to the feeders...

So that is how summer goes in my garden...It's a mess and beautiful...all at the same time....It is frustrating and inspiring....but most of all it's mine...and I just love sitting out there with all that life going on!  So please...if it's not too hot...get out there and sow some seed!

Genesis 1:28

Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."