
ππ October Rabbitry, Apiary & Homestead News
π₯ Rabbitry & Garden Update
Fall has arrived and it’s time for your October Rabbitry, Apiary & Homestead News.Β Things are slowing down here at the rabbitry. Itβs that time of year when we start stocking hay, finishing outdoor projects, and preparing for winter.
If you havenβt yet, get your hay stored before the mud and snow arrive, itβs always easier, cheaper and drier now than in mid-winter.
Weβll be adding our wind blocks to the hutches in December once the cold winds settle in for good. Until then, rabbits appreciate dry bedding, good airflow, and plenty of hay to munch on.
Itβs also a great time to plant cover crops in your raised beds and food plots to protect your soil through winter.
In northern regions: Overseed with winter wheat, which germinates around 40β45Β°F and grows until temperatures drop below freezing.
In southern areas: Oats are ideal; they germinate in 45β50Β°F soil and provide excellent winter cover and forage.
Here in the north, weβre filling the freezer with rabbit meat and easing into slower days. Meanwhile, our southern friends are ramping up again as temperatures cool and breeding picks back up.

π° Main Topic: Why a Sales Day Policy Matters
This month weβre highlighting something crucial for any rabbitry that values professionalism and animal welfare, a Sales Day Policy.
Our policy ensures appointments are serious and well-coordinated, which helps us keep things running smoothly and safely for everyone involved.
Hereβs how it works:
A $20 deposit is required to book your appointment.
Once your deposit is received, we add your appointment to the calendar and remove your rabbit from the availability list.
This simple step shows the buyerβs commitment and allows us to dedicate time and resources to that sale.
We use Square, which allows us to take credit or debit cards via text, email, or in person on Sales Day.
π₯ [Sell more using credit cards video]
π Handling Policy: Why Children Canβt Hold the Rabbits (Yet)
When purchasing a rabbit, please note our policy:
We complete the inspection in front of you, and adults may handle the rabbits, but children are not permitted to hold them.
This helps prevent escapes and injuries to both the rabbits and the children. In the past, weβve seen well-meaning kids accidentally drop rabbits, resulting in scratches, fright, or even potential injury. A startled rabbit can bolt fast, and that means a pause in the sale while we catch a loose rabbit!
Once youβre home and the rabbit has had time to adjust, thatβs the perfect time for children to start bonding. Rabbits are prey animals, theyβre naturally cautious and need a calm, quiet introduction to new surroundings. They also have very sensitive digestive systems, so any sudden change in diet or environment can cause illness.
For these reasons, we donβt offer refunds or guarantees once a rabbit leaves our care.
That said, our New Zealand rabbits are hardy, friendly, and quick learners, they can even be litter trained and learn their names. They thrive in low-stress environments, cooler temperatures, and on a balanced diet:
~16% protein pellets
~18% fiber
A daily handful of hay (buying directly from a farmer often saves money)
New Rabbitry Videos:
π 1οΈβ£ DIY 8ft Rabbit Run Build β Easy & Affordable
βπ° Build This 8ft Rabbit Run on a Budget!β
βDIY Rabbit Run: Easy, Sturdy & Affordableβ
βOutdoor Freedom for Your Rabbits β 8ft Run Build!β
π₯© 2οΈβ£ How to Quarter, Seal, & Store Rabbits Efficiently
βProcessing Rabbits Made Simple & Efficientβ
βSeal & Store Rabbits the Right Way π§β
βQuarter, Seal, Store β Step-by-Step Rabbit Processingβ
πΎ 3οΈβ£ Winter Prep with Comfrey, Tree Hay & Winter Wheat
βWinter Prep for Rabbits & Gardens βοΈβ
βGrow Your Own Winter Feed: Comfrey, Tree Hay & Wheatβ
βHomestead Winter Feed System πΏπβ
π 4οΈβ£ Tree Hay & Regular Hay: Donβt Let This Feed Go to Waste
βSave That Hay! π³πβ
βTree Hay vs Regular Hay β What You Need to Knowβ
βDonβt Let Rabbit Feed Go to Waste!β
𧬠5οΈβ£ Balancing Production with a Trio: Yearly Output & Linebreeding
Β
βMaximize Production with Just a Trio πβ
βLinebreeding & Yearly Output Explainedβ
βEfficient Trio Breeding System β Sustainable & Smartβ

π» More Rabbitry & Garden Notes
Add wind blocks in December once temps drop.
Stock up early on hay to avoid wet, muddyΒ weather later.
Plant cover crops now, winter wheat (north) or oats (south).
Finish outdoor projects before the freeze.
Make use of rabbit manure to enrich your fall garden beds before winter cover crops go in.
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π― Apiary Update
This fall, we’re treating [vaporizer] and focused on strengthening our colonies and fighting off unwanted guests, beetles!
We used beetle barns and traps to help reduce their numbers.
[Treating the Bees in the fall]
Our hives are being stored outdoors under cover, where sunlight can still reach them. This simple trick helps prevent wax moth infestations and eliminates the need to bag or wrap spare hive bodies and frames.
We also combined weaker hives to boost their winter survival odds. Itβs not easy, but sometimes you have to pinch the subpar queen so the colony can thrive with one strong leader going into the cold months.
Β [Hive Beetle Treatment & Prevention]

π¦ Deer Hunting Season Update
Hunting season is officially here! My son Brandon has started saddle hunting on public land with me this
year, and weβve already harvested one doe during the early antlerless season.
Weβve also uploaded over a half-dozen new hunting videos to Bobbyβs Bucks YouTube Channel, covering:
Michiganβs updated deer season changes
All the different hunting seasons
How to hunt with a bow
What to pack in your backpack for public land
Mature Deer / Tender Steak
A sensible approach to scent control
Early Antlerless Start to the season