November in Michigan is that magical time when the weather says:
“Here’s snow. Not for long. Here’s sunshine. Actually, never mind, here’s more snow.”
It’s past bonfire season,
unless you enjoy sitting so close to the fire that your eyelashes are optional. The oaks and maples are still dropping leaves like a printer stuck on “infinite copies,” so cleanup feels like a three-round boxing match.
During our Round 1 cleanup, we:
Pulled the fans from the rabbitry
Bundled and stored the wiring
Packed up the solar panels before the snow tried to destroy them
Topped the raised beds with wood ash and rabbit manurePlanted winter wheat to give the rabbits some winter salad bar action
Removed Greenhouse cover
We also finalized our breeder lineup and said goodbye to the rabbits who weren’t keeping up. Think of it like homestead “American Idol,” but nobody sings and everyone poops gold.
With rabbits growing winter coats, bucks running wild in the woods, and the bees settling down for the season, here’s what you need to stay ahead this month.
🐇 Rabbitry Tips for November
1. Don’t Overfeed as Temps Drop
Rabbits naturally want to eat more when it gets cold, and honestly, same, but overfeeding is a trap.
Caged rabbits don’t burn many calories, so too much feed leads to:
Sloppy poop
Wasted pellets
Overweight breeders who absolutely won’t be in the mood come spring
Remember: rabbits LOVE cold weather. This is their favorite season. If rabbits wrote Yelp reviews, they’d give winter 5 stars.
2. Wind Blocks: Not Quite Yet
A new rabbit raiser once sent me a picture of their rabbitry wrapped in plastic like a leftover burrito, with only the door left uncovered.
Caption: “All set!”
It was… not all set.
Putting wind blocks up too early traps heat and moisture, causing:
Respiratory issues
Damp hutches
The kind of ammonia smell that could knock out a moose
Wait until highs stay below freezing or the wind starts blowing sideways. Maintain airflow all winter but block the upwind side.
3. Clean Water Systems Before the Deep Freeze
If you use water bottles and it freezes where you live, it’s time to switch to heated bottles. This prevents your rabbits from going without water in cold weather. At our rabbitry, we use bowls instead, which requires two buckets:
Warm bucket = pop out ice fast
Cold bucket = for refilling from a faucet that isn’t frozen solid
Click for a frozen-bowl trick (and prepare to feel like a wizard).
Your November water checklist:
Scrub all bottles and bowls
Check for bowl cracks
Store backups indoors
🦌 November Deer Hunting Notes
The rut is in full swing, bucks are running around like teenagers on red bull, daylight movement is up, and the woods are loud.
I had a blast on my two-week vacation. I would’ve gotten this newsletter out sooner, but I was too busy NOT tagging a big buck… until I eventually did.
Hear the whole rollercoaster story in
🎙 The Rabbitry Center Podcast – Episode #37
Available on all platforms, wherever you listen to your podcasts!
Watch the accompanying videos:
“Why You’re Not Seeing Bucks” — Includes my first encounter on video
“Why I Got Down and Ended Up Tagging a Buck” — A lesson learned mid-hunt
Learn how to quarter and process a deer at home and save hundreds during hunting season
Gambrel for hanging deer
Prime Time Setups
Focus on:
Pinch points
Downwind sides of bedding
Fresh scrapes (bonus points if all the leaves are kicked out)
Trails connecting doe groups
If you’re mentoring youth hunters, remind them:
Trail-cam subscriptions
are fun and who doesn’t love big buck pics.
& Yes, apps & gadgets make you feel like Batman.
Holding out for a big buck is a seasoned hunter’s game. Let the newbie shoot any legal buck they want and celebrate it, that’s how you make a hunter for life.
Woodsmanship → fills tags.
Cameras → entertain you while you wait
🐝 Beekeeping Chores for Late Fall
1. Oxalic Acid Treatments
November is prime time for OA because the bees are:
Brood-light
Mites are exposed [vaporizer]
Clusters are loose
Translation: best bang for your buck.
Wear PPE and treat between 40–55°F. [Tap to watch us treat bees]
2. Final Hive Wrap-Up
Before winter hits:
Add an upper vent
Tilt the hive forward
Check food stores
Wrapping the hive correctly is like tucking in a toddler:
Too tight = screaming
Too loose = still screaming
Just right = everyone survives winter
📌 Additional November Homestead To-Dos
Stock up on hay before prices climb
Deep-clean the barn before rodents apply for winter residency
Check generators, propane, firewood and backup heat
Prep the compost pile
Inventory your “I swear this year I won’t freeze” winter gear
