Rabbits, Honeybees, & Whitetails
As fall sets in, life at the Rabbitry Center slows down. Our focus shifts from rabbit and honey sales to preparing for winter and filling the freezer with venison. Here’s how we manage our rabbits, bees, and homestead as the seasons change.
By September, we stop breeding our rabbits to avoid the challenges of dealing with litters during the colder months. This decision simplifies our
workload and allows more time to focus on other priorities.
Preparing for winter involves stocking up on hay—typically 12 bales to sustain our 12 rabbits for five to six months. By mid-October, we ensure our supply is ready to
avoid navigating muddy or snowy trails later in the season.
With the rabbitry quiet, maintenance becomes a priority. We top-dress our raised beds and food plots with rabbit manure, which rejuvenates the soil. After incorporating the manure into the soil, we overseed withÂ
winter wheat. This not only enhances the soil for spring planting but also protects it from winter sun radiation and provides nutritious wheatgrass treats for the rabbits during the snow-free months.
Holiday Planning for Rabbit Care
If you’re planning to be away during the holidays, enlist help from friends or family—kids, in particular, often enjoy feeding and watering rabbits. As a thank-you, consider leaving a gift card to their favorite place.
A thoughtful gesture like this can make them eager to volunteer again in the future.
For added peace of mind, install backup water bottles or explore gravity-fed watering systems, which can keep rabbits hydrated 
unless temperatures drop below freezing. In colder weather, other precautions may be needed to ensure water remains accessible. These small steps ensure your rabbits are cared for while you’re away.
WInd Block Preparations
The Rabbit Hutch Wind Blocks don’t get installed until the temperature consistently stays below freezing. We remove and repurpous our 6 mil greenhouse plastic to our rabbit hutch for the winter wind block. In the
spring This is usually around Christmas but can be sooner if the cold temps set in a little sooner in the winter season. It verys from year to year and you’ll just have to adjust when needed. Some of our Apiary get wind blocks and others don’t call for it. Some have natural wind blocks like hives positioned next to a building or fence. If your hives get a lot of 
wind you can bury 4′ timbers and wrap some wind break material around the prevailing wind side. Back and sides get covered leaving the front open. You can plant permanent wind blocks too. Dogwood, lilac, autumn olive or arborvitae’s work well. With these you get the block without the shade. Warm hives help fight SHB(small hive beetles).
In Michigan, successful overwintering begins with well-prepared hives. Each colony should have two deep boxes with drawn-out wax. The top box should contain at least 
6-7 frames of honey, while the bottom box often has honey on the outer frames. A total of 60-80 pounds of honey is sufficient to sustain a hive through winter.
After harvesting honey, I start feeding my bees and continue until the temperature
consistently stays below 55°F. This ensures the bees have ample stores to survive the colder months. Managing mite populations is crucial. If mites are present, treat the hive promptly. Now that colder temperatures have arrived, it’s time to address any hives with high mite counts. I use a vaporizer with oxalic acid for effective results. For smaller hives, combining colonies and pinching the less productive queen can help ensure survival.Â
In September, I remove the queen excluders and add a vent box to improve ventilation and help control humidity in the hive. Protecting your hives from mice is also essential. Cover entrances with hardware cloth to keep rodents out while still allowing bees to take cleansing flights.
With these preparations, you can set your colonies up for a strong winter survival and a thriving spring start.
Heating with propane once cost us $3,000 annually, which didn’t even include summer cooling expenses. Switching to wood heat transformed our energy strategy, cutting costs and adding a sense of independence.
By October, we make sure all our firewood is gathered and ready for the season. Initially, I split wood by hand using a maul, but after a few tough seasons, I invested in a 22-ton County Line wood splitter from TSC. This tool made the process far more efficient, especially when paired with an 18″ chainsaw (first a Poulan, later an Echo). Over the years, we’ve sourced most of our wood for free, collecting logs from roadside piles left by power line projects or
homeowners clearing their properties. A dump trailer has been a game-changer, allowing us to haul four times as much wood and unload it effortlessly.
On average, we use 10 face cords of wood each winter, supplemented by infrared heaters for colder corners of the house. These compact, efficient units plug into standard outlets, quickly warming rooms without the 
high energy costs of traditional space heaters. I highly recommend them—they’re nothing like the energy hogs of decades past.
How I Avoid Burnout
Years ago, I tried juggling all my passions simultaneously—rabbitry, beekeeping, hunting—and it left me stressed and overworked. Now, I focus on scheduling my activities seasonally, giving each the attention it deserves. Tools like a large wall calendar
and the digital Kindling Calendar ($5 one-time fee) have been invaluable. The Kindling Calendar generates instant dates for rabbit breeding milestones, while the wallÂ
calendar keeps all my appointments visible at a glance. These tools streamline my tasks and help me stay efficient year-round.
Hunting & Harvesting Venison is a Seasonal Priority
Fall hunting is a highlight for my family, providing both exercise and a sustainable food source. Living near Rose Lake Research Center—over 4,000 acres of 
public land with diverse terrain—offers unparalleled opportunities. This year was especially rewarding. On November 3rd
I harvested a 3-year-old 8-point buck with my bow at 20 yards just after sunrise. Then, on November 15th, during an afternoon hunt, I took another 8-point buck at 60 yards with my rifle as he followed a doe. For the price of two tags and a base
license—just $50—we put over 100 pounds of steaks, roasts, and burger into the freezer. Success like this, fuels my passion and leaves me eager for next season.
Hunting has also profoundly impacted my focus and problem-solving. Spending peaceful hours in the woods, unplugged from daily demands, provides invaluable time for reflection.
Many of my best ideas for the rabbitry and apiary have come to me during these quiet moments. I often use the app “notes” to jot down thoughts, ensuring that these ideas are captured while they’re fresh.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for winter is a time of transition on our property. By planning ahead and prioritizing tasks, we ensure our rabbits, bees, and family are well cared for during the colder months. Whether it’s stocking up on hay, protecting hives, or savoring a successful hunt, each effort contributes to a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle.
