Jacob Springs rabbit program (discontinued)

Jacob Springs Farm discontinued their meat rabbit program in 2014 due to the higher than average labor-to-return of the program, limited success in breeding rabbit that would thrive on grass and hay alone and an incident in which one of the farm children has his finger bitten off by a buck. (The finger was successfully re-attached). The program was given over to another farmer who continues to produce rabbits.

Rabbits were housed in movable shelters that allowed them to graze without allowing them to escape by digging.

shelters

Movable grazing shelters were built in a number of different versions, each improving upon the last. One key feature was the slatted bottom allowing grazing but not escape. The ideal slat spacing was found to be 2" or less. Slats should be oriented in the same direction the shelter is intended to be moved. Unique runners and pulling handles were added to making moving the shelters easier.

Colony breeding and wintering

Successes - breeding, wintering, preventing burrow out while allowing den creation, low labor requirements, hay consumption

Challenges - rats eating babies.

Experiments in removing commercial feeds

Failures