How to Raise Backyard Rabbits

Subia 5/18/2009 5:49:25 PM

Subia, Subia, Subia . . . .

Stan Dvoskin! I was enjoying reading the comments/discussion on what's turned into a meat or no meat topic until I came across your comment: "Radicals (be it vegans, Muslims, anti-abortionists, anti-gun groups, and many others” Correction: Muslims are not radicals. If you mean extremists of any religion then say extremist NOT Muslim

And now the COMPLETE quote "Radicals (be it vegans, Muslims, anti-abortionists, anti-gun groups, and many others (and again, I'm only talking about the radicals in these groups) . . .

AGAIN the part you MISSED???? "(and again, I'm only talking about the radicals in these groups)" -----you know what was meant.

Nothing wrong with calling a radical Muslim a radical Muslim. Grow some thicker skin and read the whole comment for the spirit in which it was written. I can't stand when folks scream blue hell if someone posts their thoughts only to have someone else pull a couple of words out of context or point out grammar or punctuation errors, using that to call the author uneducated or racist or whatever else. . . For your clarification, you (or I) would be hard pressed to take ANY type of organization in the world and not find a radical in it somewhere. THAT is the point that was being made.

Stan Dvoskin! I was enjoying reading the comments/discussion on what's turned into a meat or no meat topic until I came across your comment: "Radicals (be it vegans, Muslims, anti-abortionists, anti-gun groups, and many others” Correction: Muslims are not radicals. If you mean extremists of any religion then say extremist NOT Muslim.

You seemed to be impressed by Dean Chapman’s comment but he also said: “Intolerance, ignorance, and lack of respect for all things is why we live in the chaos of the world today. Think before you say anything.” Good advice for you Stan Dvoskin…don’t you think?

cont.
Many also use the heat from the compost to heat water and homes/greenhouses making them very eco friendly, and yes some of us even capture and use the methane to keep it from causing damage.
We all have the right to eat and think what we want, but do not believe that just because you eat only vegetables that you are not killing animals and humans to do so.Support your local organic farmers, they are the only way to repair this dying planet.

ok first let me say I am a tree hugger, I suppose as I believe in doing all we can to save the earth. I am also a farmer that raises livestock for food,a responsible fisherman and have hunted and will again if I need the meat.
I think some of you that talk of all the cruelty of raising and killing animals should think a little more before you make such comments. The vegetables you eat, unless organic and grown on your land or very near it are killing animals ,people and the earth. Most vegetables are still raised with chemicals that are destroying this planet, polluting the water and killing wildlife. The land much of them is grown on in large commercial farms has been stripped of all trees and the wildlife have lost their homes.They have been transported thousands of miles in trucks that spew pollution into the air.They are raised with poisons that are causing malformation and disease in humans and animals.They are being raised with no concern for the amount of water they use and very little of the waste are recycled in any way.Not to mention all the wildlife and humans that are killed while it travels to your local store.Even if you buy organic vegetables at the supermarket chances are it has been shipped thousands of miles,was a variety that has no taste or nutrition and may not have been grown safely, remember that human and omnivorous animal waste is organic and is used in many countries for food crops without going through a proper composting.
Raising rabbits/birds and fish for family consumption,if done the right way is very earth friendly and on an organic farm there is practically no waste, everything is recycled every bone all the blood and organs,feathers, fur,
everything can be used on the farm either in compost or as feed for other animals. most small organic operations sell locally, use very little gas or diesel to grow or deliver the products,respect and rebuild the land they work naturally,use much less water per pound of food produced.Many al

And, in MY opinion, using rabbits as meat isn't a ridiculous idea. If they weren’t suppose to be meat, then they’d be a plant. And we could still eat them.
My dream is to get land, and make food for my family, and more. The "more" part I plan on giving to the hungry and poor, for free. I mean I obviously can't feed the whole world, but it's the little acts of kindness that matter. So maybe if your against the idea of breeding animals for meat, make some gardens. Of course keep what you like/need. But you could also give, maybe to some families in need that are in your community. Something like that. Instead of beating eachother up about our opinions, let's help those who are unfortunate enough to not have a choice. Let's give them a choice.

Maybe some in this topic should consider arguing against what you really believe is wrong. Animal Cruelty. Donate to animal cruelty shelters, boycott buying pets from petsmart (who supposedly get all their animals from careless money hungry “breeders”), challenge big meat markets and push them to have better, cleaner facilities and animal treatment. Don’t beat down on the small farmer/backyard people. Just because someone breeds animals to make meat, doesn’t mean their cruel.

Animals have survived all this time among eachother by setting boundaries. It was like the Special Law that was never broken. All species that come to my mind set up boundaries between others of the same species, whether they live in groups, or alone. The subject and controversy between vegans/vegetarian humans and omnivour-humans makes me think (as do other many debated, highly effective/important topics) that a political/economical/social/mental, even physical “war” will be apon us if we can’t set our differences aside. Let’s actually learn from the animals that we talk about. If we can set boundaries, where opinions and values aren’t violated and inconveniently opposed of, maybe we can stop this oncoming “war.” Those who don’t grasp the “war” concept, think about it. All of the legal crap that could be done to either side, will just create turmoil and upset. Who wants our children, their children, and so on to live in that kind of world and environment. Everyone has opinions about what’s better and what’s not, what’s right and what’s wrong.

It amazes me how many people have forgotten that we are hunters. While some may choose to live off of salads, that is their choice. Rabbits are a good source of protein and if tanned correctly provide a wonderful amount of warmth in gloves, hats and linings. Just like a cow is steak and leather and pigs are ham and the cute little lambs can be wool or lamb chops animals serve a purpose. Trust me an alligator never things twice about eating us if he's hungery nor a shark, nor a mountain lion.

I love bunnies as pets. I raised a science room bunny for a retired teacher in my backyard free range for several years until he moved on. For a few seasons, he had a little pal who didn't make it through winter. I recently moved to a more rural area with 10 acres and I can't wait to raise a whole big bunny family. I'm liking the idea of using the "bunny barn" method. I think it would be closer to a normal family dynamic. The difference in my big bunny's personality once we got him a friend to play with was enormous. I wonder how I could incorporate the 'free range' concept into the bunny barn practice. Would they return to nest like free range chickens? I will just have to try it. I could stand to lose a few rabbits to the field should it not work as planned. Anybody heard of this idea before?

Obviously, some people have never had their children get hungry and couldn't afford to run to the store to feed them. I have been in that postion before... it's not a pretty picture. We have tought our children to look at animals that were raised for meat as food to survive. So when porkchops, rabbit stew, or what ever the meat was on the table, was something they enjoyed and appreciated. By the way, the animals still were givin names by the kids. These children are grown and have children of their own now. They have taught their children the same way. When pork chops were set on our table, the grandchildren knew that we raised them and always commented as such...."Granny, Arnold sure is good!"

I don't understand why everyone is writing to complain about
this article, I would not write to your local vegetarian magizine
and complain that there are not enough meat articles. This magazine
was started years ago for people who wanted to live off the earth.
If you are a tree huggin, non animal eating type, why would you
even read this magazine. There are plenty out there for you. Leave
us our magazine and stop trying to make our lifestyle something
ugly.

If we're not supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out
of meat?

I think we all need to realize that each person will have pets
as hobbies or be true farmers and raise food. It all depends on
your economic need. Groceries stores overflow with food, but most
have been raised or farmed on the petro-chemicals. Not everyone has
space to raise their own beef or pork that is more acceptable as a
farm animal. This article provides options. Don't get all bent out
of shape that this is not your thing. I have adorible bunnies, but
if I had to feed my family because of economics, they would
suddenly become rabbits and be apart of our daily menu. What about
primates that are disappearing off this planet! Maybe if we
introduce quick breeding rabbits, the other species may make a
comeback because they are all becoming endangered species as they
feed the starving world.

We raised rabbits for years. When the kids were little they had
their pet 'bunnies' and their pet 'bunnies' had baby 'rabbits'. We
ate 'rabbit' meat, not 'bunny' meat. Some of you don't see the
difference between the two. Well, in all reality, there is no
difference. Other than the 'bunnies' had names and the 'rabbits'
were food. Just like the unnamed chickens, geese, turkeys, pigs and
cows. Oh and by the way we didn't name our vegies either.

For historical examples of gentle vegans visit this page and
click the many links.http://www.vegetariansareevil.com/manson.html
Sorry, the URL name is inflammatory, but the articles on Charles
Manson and Pol Pot are very interesting.

This article is appalling and horrific. In no way shape OR form
is breeding OR slaughtering rabbits good for the earth. Get a grip.
This is not an eco-saavy or eco-friendly magazine. The author of
this article & their chief editor must have not taken notice of
the environmental devastation that overpopulation of animals does
to the earth. What about the left behind by products of rabbit
slaughter? What about killing an innocent, loving, intelligent
animal? Have you ever owned a rabbit??More importantly, have you
ever interacted with one? They have the intelligence of a three
year old. Would you slaughter your 3 year old? In my opinion you
should take up a topic that youre familiar with. PLEASE. DO US A
FAVOR!Do you pick up a National Geographic and read about how
deforestation is good for the Earth? No!

To EVey. Abusing dogs, beating them, starving them, forcing them
to fight and suffer their wounds, shocking them with electric
probes and pumping them full of steroids is a FAR cry from caring
for, loving, feeding and eventually killing, in a quick suffer-free
method, rabbits. The only reason you people are getting so worked
up is because when you think of "rabbit" you think of cute tiny
little Thumper the bunny. I have a pet bunny rabbit, a Dutch named
Clover. I also have two pet chickens, a rooster and a hen. My
family raised goats for a time, we never milked them or used them
for meat. I do however eat chicken, and I eat rabbit when my dad
hunts for them. My family raised 3 pigs to eat too. There is a
difference between abusing an animal and eating one. And I applaud
those of you who choose a vegitarian lifestyle, but you should not
think y9ourself better than everyone else for it, it does not make
you the pinnice for holy morality, I know plenty of vegitarians and
one vegan. They are no better than anyone else I know, they still
cheated on tests in highschool, one still drank and drove, one
stole a 500 dollar ring from her mom once. Just because you eat or
don't eat something doesn't make you an Insta-saint.

Rabbits meat is lean and nutritious. Moreover, it takes much
less feed to produce a pound of rabbit meat than it does a pound of
beef. That's worth considering in a world that doesn't succeed in
feeding its hungry.I'm all for raising animals humanely (on
pasture). As for whether we eat them or not, both choices have
implications. For us to eat meat, an animal must die. But should we
eschew meat, a meat animal no longer has a reason for being born or
hatched in the first place. So is a short life better than none?
Maybe not on a factory farm, but perhaps on an intelligently,
humanely managed one.If we all become vegans, what happens to the
panoply of domesticated animal breeds raised for meat? Are they
important as polar bears are important, or black-footed ferrets?I'm
not judging anybody's choices; I just don't see the answers as
simple ones.

Oh Boy... The PETA(People Eating Tasy Animals) members are out,
aren't they?! Backyard rabit raising has been an intragal part of
homesteading for many years & I'm glad to see you publishing
such an article. This is the type of article that helped your
magazine thrive from it's 1st issue.Keep up the good
work!

I am amazed at the comments of some on this subject,you cannot
force others to think as you do Thank Goodness !! We have rights
and free will I raise rabbits and chickens for meat also lots of
vegetables.Humans are omnivores but if you wish to eat only
vegetables then that is your decision and I would not
interfere.

to joyce in florida;you could also place used coffee grounds
(free from starbucks) in your bin of rabbit droppings. i use coffee
grounds directly on/in ant piles to discourage them. it is also
good to mix w/compost. just don't use directly on plants, must be
mixed.

From the responses I have seen to the article about raising
rabbits, I must conclude that all of the people responding
negatively, must be vegatqrians. Because, if they are not
vegatarians then they have no right to talk about the wrongs of
killing animals for food. So, if you eat meat in any form please
refrain from making negative remarks about how some of us get our
meat. I myself raise several kinds of animals for meat and what I
don't raise I buy from a friend. The point of all this is if you
eat meat someone somewhere killed it.

you know i think its funny about how we think food just apears
on the self at the grocery store. Dont you think some one has to
raise it or grow it ??? ...Come on people wake up and smell the
bloody coffee with out the farmer i would say about a 1/3 of the
people would starve because they dont have the basic knowladge of
how to grow foods and to butcher animals. nevermind bites tounge
before i piss off the tree huggers who go to the store and buy the
socalled free food

O.K......one last post. I own a farm which were refer to as a
'barter farm'. There are several small farms (<10 acres) in our
area (Upper Peninsula of Michigan). A barter farm is a concept of
several small farms working together to specialize in one or two
particular crops and/or animals to 'barter' with the others. Some
are good at gardening, others good at raising beef, and others
raise hay and grains. I raise (for the group) rabbits, chickens and
turkeys. We keep milking goats for ourselves, but contribute the
others to the group. We (collectively) live a very good, healthy
life. We have no other common ties (religion etc) other than being
a small farm and sharing the fruits of our labor. I can choose
between a multitude of garden, fruit and meat varieties raised
locally by friends. If I choose to not eat rabbit, its my choice as
is if I choose not to eat green beans.If you dont like it, dont eat
it!!!! If you want more info on establishing a 'barter farm'
community, or info on small scale rabbit raising there are a bunch
of resources. Or, drop me a line, and I will be HAPPY to assist you
in anyway I can. askelfarm@yahoo.comBTW I raise about 100 rabbits
each year. Also 200-250 chickens (plus about 100 laying hens for
eggs and stock replenishment), 25 or so turkeys, and a variety of
water fowl. I get beef and pork plus a wide variety of produce in
trade.WE HAVE NEVER ISSUED A RECALL OF OUR FOOD!!! Eat healthy, eat
happy, and eat locally produced food. Dean
Chapmanaskelfarm@yahoo.com

Good Lord, look at the chaos this article stirred up ! I enjoy
reading Mother because i'm steering my life towards responsible
self sufficiency. I dont eat any commercially raised meat, but i do
eat wild game and chickens i raise myself and have thought several
times about rabbits. If you want quality meat, you either have to
hunt it or raise it. If you dont want meat, SKIP THE ARTICLE. It's
amazing to me how some folks freak out over the thought of eating
Organic Free Range Venison, but chomp right into a fatty grease
burger from Xdonalds. Sure... little bunnies are cute, but so are
guinnea pigs, and millions of guinnea pigs are eaten in
Peru.

Dear Readers and Comment(ers) -QUIT BEING IGNORANT!! There -
I've typed that out in plain view!!! Now, this is my last post to
this article because I'm just too hurt by the oppressive and
disheartening statements left by so many. So many of you are earth
friendly and creature friendly - okay - got that, but whatever
happened to people friendly? I'm not going to rehash everything
I've posted. But....*THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT ADVOCATE THE
"SLAUGHTERING" OF P E T ANIMALS!!! *THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL
ARTICLE!!! *THIS ARTICLE ENCOMPASSES DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW ON
RABBITS!!*READ WHAT IS WRITTEN NOT WHAT'S BETWEEN THE LINES AND
WHAT YOU THINK UP IN YOUR NARROW MINDS! Educate yourselves! The
universe does not exclusively revolve around you and your point of
view. This article is meant for diversity. Or have you "ETHICAL"
people forgot that??? I'm tired of being called "cruel" and
"inhumane". I ADORE my animals!! I always have but I have made the
DISTINCTION between what I find as a pet and what I find as
livestock. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?? ARE YOU AWARE AND EDUCATED
TO THOSE DIFFERENCES?? I'm tired of those of you thinking that your
"pure" way of life is the ONLY way of life. Well, honeykins - Your
life isn't the only life out there.ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITIES THAT
MAKE UP OUR WORLD - And quit being so oppressive. Ethical and kind,
my tail!Oh, and Mother Earth - I wouldn't trade your publication
for any other in the world. Thank you!~r

I was a vegan for 8 months. I lost my hair, it broke off in
chunks. It used to be down past my bottom, but broke off till it
was neck length. My skin got dry. I was not in the best health. Dr.
Weston Price studied the healthiest people all over the world and
he found no vegans in superb health. He found all heavy meat AND
FAT eaters in superb health. High cholesterol eaters. No heart
disease. See Know Your Fats by Mary Enig PhD. Grains are very hard
for humans to digest. They have a lot of antinutrients in them that
protect the seed from germinating at the wrong time. We have to
soak them and cook them to death to be able to get any good out of
them. our digestive tract is too short and lacks the organs to do
us much good. Veggies and fruts are great, but we can't digest the
cellulose. Vitamix is the way to go to get the goody out of
those.

Working for sustainability is like a journey toward peace and
harmony. I don't see how a person can live in peace and harmony
with Earth when they are killing another sentient being for
pleasure. Most Westerners do not *need* to eat other animals for
health and well-being. They really kill for taste pleasure and
greed, disguised in some moral argument about "the way it's
supposed to be," convinced that because Mom and Dad ate animals it
must be required.I think the reader who commented that raising
rabbits for meat kept him going when he did not have other work
summed it up well: he didn't even have to give up cable! I'm sure
the hundreds of rabbits he killed would have appreciated the noble
sacrifice they made. I challenge others to really evaluate how
"noble" your own reasons for killing animals are.BTW, rabbit
rescues frequently intervene with rabbits neglected and abandoned
by small backyard breeders, and many of the rabbits surrendered to
shelters by individuals also bear breeder tattoos.

For an excellent site on the health benefits of meat and milk,
organicallt raised www.westonaprice.org and
www.price-pottenger.org. For the Ploy of Soy same sites. Let these
vegans live on soy and destroy their fertility and create
osteoporosis. This will create a shorter life for them and prevent
them from having healthy children and being able to nurse them.
Their myopia will kill them off in a few generations and we won't
have to fuss with this anymore.

J Hare- I did not read anyone berating those who choose to keep
rabbits in humane and happy situations and refuse to eat them.The
only ones being attacked are those who choose to eat some meat with
their potatoes. M Manahan- Makes the Key statement - These are prey
animals to be eaten by fox , hawk ,(& human).How many hungry
children could be fed with the $100,000.00 you have spent on 200
prey animals.How many of you who hate the raising of pray animals
to kill them , support the right to kill human babies?MEN -I am
looking forward to reading your for food fishpond article
.

DChapman...Bless you... the voice of reason was disparately
needed.The lack of tolerance some people have for those who look at
things differently than they do is what's lead to the hate and wars
(some verbal like this thread, others more real and violent)...
Radicals (be it vegans, Muslims, anti-abortionists, anti-gun
groups, and many others (and again, I'm only talking about the
radicals in these groups) who believe that they are absolutely
right and anyone who doesn't agree with them are absolutely wrong
don't help the world... they just make it more divisive, and that
divisiveness is what escalates into hate and wars and eventually
deaths.I know that sounds overly dramatic, but it's not a far
stretch, given some of the rhetoric I've heard in this
thread.Stoney

Regarding your article "How to Raise Backyard Rabbits" The
article suggests an irresponsible way to contribute to preying upon
another species. These poor innocent domestic creatures make
wonderful companion pets and are not meant to be eaten, used for
fur and used for their by-product, manure. Rabbits take much more
care then you point out. Pet rabbits need to be protected from
pretators, since they are prey animals. They should not be left in
the back yard to be eaten by a fox, hawks, get fur mights, ear
mights, fly strike, flees,etc. They are the third most abandoned
animal in the U.S. That means they end up in Humane Societies and
rescue organizations, hopefully to be adopted but many get
euthanized. Your article suggestions are contributing to social
problems. You can't possibly think this is good for the
environment, Mother Earth. Plese do your homework before writing
articles such as this. Go to www.rabbit.org to better inform you
and your readers. I am a House Rabbit Society Member, foster Mom
and protector of these loving, beautiful creatures, who are not
meant to be abused by humans. They are already at the bottom of the
animal food chain. Four years ago our HRS Chapter filed its first
tax return as a 501c organization because we raised $25,000 to keep
our 75 bunnies in foster homes, this past year we raised $100,000
to keep our 200 bunnies in foster homes.Tell me your suggestions
are not contributing to social animal wellfare issues!

I am vegetarian, and becoming vegan. I also keep rabbits, all
mine are rescues. Keeping rabbits in a all-wire mesh hutch is
absolute cruelty. If they are left lying on wire mesh they rapidly
develop sore hocks, I have two wooden hutches which are cleaned
regularly and do not smell or become unhygenic. All my rabbits get
running about time while I am there at home, (which is the majority
of each day). They are litter-box trained and happy. They all have
very different personalities and have enriched my life beyond
words. If you are prepared to eat these animals, why do you stop
there, why not eat cats and dogs ? And if you won't even consider
this, why berate those who choose to keep rabbits in humane and
happy situations and refuse to eat them too ?

Dear Readers - *Sigh* I am very disappointed in some of the
responses to an educational article.If you want to be vegan, be
vegan. If you eat meat, eat meat. If you use rabbits as livestock,
raise them. If you use rabbits as a pet, pet them. BUT! Each and
every one reader needs to be aware of others and to not degrade
people or opinions. That's oppression and not people friendly. The
distinction needs to be made that rabbits can be used for both pet
and stock. Don't call someone cruel because of how they live their
life. I have been an avid rabbit breeder since 1987. I breed,
raise, show, and unfortunately at times, must kill a rabbit. I
don't like it but I know some of the other breeders view rabbits
like any other livestock. I do, but - I adore each and every one of
my rabbits. I get sad when one is sold. I get upset when one has to
be euthanized. I get jubilant when my does have litters. I love how
their little noses snuggle underneath my chin when they want
comfort. But they are not my pets and I have made that distinction.
Readers - have you made the distinction that's addressed in the
article?? House Rabbit Societies do serve a great purpose - to
rescue abandoned PET rabbits. Ah yes, the joy of Easter six months
later when kids realize that their rabbit isn't so cute and the
parents release them into the forest believing that the
domesticated rabbit will live in the wild. THAT'S CRUELTY and why I
don't sell my rabbits as pets. Abandonment to any living creature
is cruel. However, those of you in House Bunny Business - PLEASE,
PLEASE do not call someone cruel if they are trying to survive and
provide for their families. Same goes to the hierarchy of
vegetarianism. Please, please - do not call someone cruel because
they choose to eat meat and act upon it. TO TELL SOMEONE HOW TO
LIVE IS OPPRESSION!!So I plead to all who read this comment and
others - BE AWARE, BE CONSTRUCTIVE, BE KIND - otherwise, who is
r

This is the last straw. I thought I had subscribed to a truly
ethical green living publication. Now I find it advocates
slaughtering animals for food, apparently portraying the practice
as compassionate and even spiritual. (And to make itself look
thoroughly ridiculous, this self-described "original guide to
living wisely" carries advertising for cigarettes; how is smoking
wise?) I have cancelled my subscription and asked for my money
back. What a disappointment!

P.S. As an ethical vegan, I am opposed to all consumption of
animal products--not rabbits only. And please don't assume ethical
vegans (meaning those who are vegans for ethical reasons) consider
ourselves morally superior. We try to do what we consider the right
thing--like most other humans. Part of that is speaking up when we
think someone could be persuaded not to kill or abuse
animals.

This will be my last post on this subject as is always the
omnivores and the herbivores cant find a mutual ground here or
anywhere. Rabbits are great pets. The are also great meat stock. We
raise both on our farm. We also raise chickens, some are pets (show
quality), some are egg layers, and some are meat. I personally have
a great respect for all our animals. But, being a meat eater, a
distinction has to be made between pets and livestock. You strive
to do your best for all. There are humane ways of dealing with both
sides of this issue. I respect our animals and I also enjoy the
company they provide.Oh, as a side note, dogs and cats are
routinely used as food stck in many parts of the world. What are we
trying to do here? Is it save the rabbits, or discuss alternatives
to feed our family? This is a topic that will never be agreed on.
MEN provides a great forum (here and in print) for those of us just
trying to make a living feeding ourselves and families. The
information is written for a broad section of society. Please
continue to read the magazine. Choose what topics appeal to your
life style. Stop being so critical of those who dont support your
way of life (either way). Realistically we do need a sensible
balance for all things living. Tolerance is the key. Intolerance,
ignorance, and lack of respect for all things is why we live in the
chaos of the world today. Think before you say anything. Try and
understand the other persons point of view.

Why more killing? Why raise more animals -- and we all know that
not all of them will be raised OR killed humanely -- when the earth
itself is becoming less available for suporting livestock
operations, even "small " ones like this -- Lets raise vegetables,
organically -- raise beans, organically, including soy.

This article seems to be directed toward backyard rabbit
keepers, not "factory farmers". While eating rabbit may be
distasteful to you, there's a big difference between backyard
rabbit raising and factory farming. I don't think arguments about
the squalid conditions in commercial animal facilities apply in
this case. :-)Peace, Plaster

Well stated RClifford!

I am extremely disappointed by your recent article promoting the
exploitation of an animal as part of a "homestead" in harmony with
the Earth ecosystem. Thanks for hopping on the haute cuisine train
and trying to popularize rabbits as a food source in this country
instead of what they REALLY are - wonderful, intelligent companion
animals for millions of Americans.I will be telling all of my
friends and colleagues in the environmental community that your
magazine is, once and for all, a total sham and not worth the
recycled content paper it's printed on.Way to go.~Jenn
Stofferahn

Dear Readers - You undereducated, unresearched, narrowminded,
and ridiculous individuals!! I have officially had enough of the
"its soooo cruel to eat rabbit" line. So, again - I will perch on
my soap box.The United States is one of the most culturally
advanced nations in this world; with an abundance of lifestyle
alternatives. One of these alternatives is eating an animal, a
rabbit. Some individuals in this bracket D E P E N D on a rabbit
for income and family stability. Not because they chose that
lifestyle but because it is a part of who they are as Americans
that depend on agriculture.This article is meant to encompass those
individuals who can see the promise of raising rabbits; or those
interested in it. This article does not advocate eating a dog or a
cat - Americans wouldn't tolerate that. Americans have not used
dogs or cats as a part of a diet. Other countries in this world do.
A fact of their lives. Wake up! Open your eyes and ears to the
communities that surround you.This article is meant to show how
raising an animal brought to America for FOOD purposes, can be used
for a multitude of ways: food, fur, companionship, professional
showing, and using it's waste to make your gardens bloom and
flourish. This article does not say "Go out to your nearest Animal
Shelter or Pet Shop, purchase a rabbit and kill it so it may be
served next to your hummus." This article illustrates how using a
natural alternative, a healthier and cheaper meat alternative, is
better than going to a market and buying beef, chicken, pork, or
turkey that has been marinated in growth inhibitors and zapped with
radiation that is expensive. This is an educational article.Get
over yourselves! KNOW ALL LIFE'S COMMUNITIES AROUND YOU BEFORE YOU
GO OFF SAYING SOME ARE CRUEL! BE AWARE!There, I have so much more
to say - but maybe, just maybe - some readers will go "Gee, I have
a lot to learn about the world I am a part of."A

Yeh...........eat all the plants and the poor fuzzy rabbits will
starve. The big evil human ate the bunnies dinner. When all the
rabbits die from starvation where will be be then? Get over it
people, rabbits have a place in the food chain and I thank god I am
a few steps higher. I love and respect each and every animal on our
farm (see previous posts) but I also realize where our food comes
from. It doesnt just magically appear in neat shrink wrapped
packages out of no where. Give me a break. If you want to cry about
food, look at what the Chinese have done to our food system in a
few short months. Oh, and please stop tricking those lovable little
fish by dangling a victimless, mutilated, and tortured worm in
front of them crucified on a sharpened piece of steel (ie: hook).If
you dont eat animals dont.....but dont take food out of my mouth.
Eat your plants. I prefer to share mine with the animals.

How to Raise Backyard RabbitsOne can only say "how could you
print an article such as this?" Rabbits are wonderful caring
animals and to think yuo would use a backyard to raise and then
slaughter them is beyond my understanding. One does not have to go
to these extremes in this day and age, we are not a third world
country that depends upon anything to survive. We are in the US and
should be setting an example to our children on how to treat
animals, God knows we have enough bad examples already. Let your
child know th epleaseure of a rabbit that lives indoors with them,
collect their waste for manure from their litter box but let them
have a decent life in your home and learn from them how to enjoy
life.

How to Raise Backyard RabbitsOne can only say "how could you
print an article such as this?" Rabbits are wonderful caring
animals and to think yuo would use a backyard to raise and then
slaughter them is beyond my understanding. One does not have to go
to these extremes in this day and age, we are not a third world
country that depends upon anything to survive. We are in the US and
should be setting an example to our children on how to treat
animals, God knows we have enough bad examples already. Let your
child know th epleaseure of a rabbit that lives indoors with them,
collect their waste for manure from their litter box but let them
have a decent life in your home and learn from them how to enjoy
life.

I don't know where to begin. Your article on rabbits is filled
with inaccuracies, and gross misconceptions about rabbits. It is so
poorly researched, and addressed as to the needs of rabbits that
you not only do a great disservice to rabbits, but also to the
readers. You have entered the realm of animal cruelty. Please
retract the article.

To practice a true, consistent, environmental lifestyle, you
should all refrain from eating meat, and using animal products.
Eating animals is a less efficient use of our resources than eating
a plant-based diet. It is also ethically sound. While I agree with
some of the comments that it is unacceptable to ignore the origin
of your food that comes pre-killed, the solution is NOT to kill
animals yourself. The ethical solution is to have a vegan
lifestyle. visit www.goveg.com or www.veganstarterkit.com for more
information. Rabbits are sweet, affectionate animals. I am sad to
see promotion of their use as food and clothing.

I have been a rabbit rescuer for 12 years. While they may be a
source of wonderful protein, so are soy beans, chick peas, lentils,
and a lot of other legumes. I am sickened by the idea of raising
any animal is less-than-humane circumstances, and can only imagine
how these backyard rabbitries are kept. My bunnies are part of my
family and live in the house, with the guinea pigs, dog, and birds.
I really don't care how wonderful many of you think this is for 3rd
world countries.. you can feed people for a lot less with whole
grains and legumes, and no living being suffers for it,
either.

This article made me feel sick. Rabbits are beautiful and caring
little animals and the thought of breeding them with care only to
slaughter them for their meat and fur leaves me cold. I am so sick
of shutting up where the welfare of rabbits is concerned. I concede
if it is okay to kill and eat the third most popular companian
animal, then it is okay to eat Fido and Kitty! If this happened the
waves of outrage would be felt far and wide. Think about it, it is
really the same thing......

When will our morals evolve past dominating and killing other
beings for pleasure?To undo our estrangement from the earth, we
must strive to show respect and feel sympathy for the individuals
from other species who share it with us. We cannot create a more
peaceful and just world if we continue to practice "might makes
right."

I am amazed, totally amazed at the ignorance dispalyed in this
thread. You should teach your childern that their food was once a
warm furry living animal and that animal gave its life so that
others oold live - teach respect for all living things along with
the pleasures of a pet. Even plants have feelings and shy away from
threatening hands. There is a thing called a "food chain" - be
thankful humans are just bout the highest on that chain ( when we
are careful ). I would venture that 99% of small farmers treat
their livestock with respect and careing, it is to their advantage,
and when we do get around to processing we do it with the least
amount of sufering possible - after all meat is tendered if the
processing is kind.50 Years ago everybody knew where their food
came from - now kids think it is divinely delivered in plastic in
the supermarket. Deliver us from the day the System collapses - all
of you bleeding hearts will starve to death, while those who know
the truth of where our food comes from will survive.Have you ever
thought of where dog food comes from ?????????????

This discussion is hilarious. Hey, those of you that don't want
to kill animals, please don't. However, this is still America, and
we have the freedom to live as we choose. MEN is an educational
forum, and this article is just that. Those of you who think
breeding them for food is cruel, I hope you don't eat veal. If you
do, find out how it is done (severe animal cruelty). I hunt, fish
and garden. A friend of mine once told me that when the world goes
to crap, that he was coming to live with me, because he knows there
will always be food on my table. I grew up with country parents,
and I know how to live off the land IF I HAVE TO. MEN is giving you
information to use if you have to or ever want to. Don't stop
MEN.

Take your chances.....spin the wheel.....what you eat today may
be recalled tomorrow!!!! I would rather know what Im
eating......raised by me, processed by me, cooked by me, and
enjoyed by me!!!That includes meat, fruit, and vegetables. 100%
natural, 100% chemical free, 100% organic, 100% disease free, and
100% raised by me. Food source that is born, raised and consumed
without ever leave my farm.............my food is safe for me and
my family........is yours??????????? Who do you trust? Yourself, or
USDA inspectors (or lack of inspection)???? I have never issued a
recall on food I raised on my farm for myself and my
family!!!!!

All of you who are deciding what others should or should not
eat, whether they should or shouldn't eat animals, and worse, those
of you who are deciding WHICH animals are acceptable to eat and
which aren't. Your inability to see the hypocrisy and arrogance of
your position is amazing. What gives you the right to decide which
animals are 'pets' and which are 'food' for others. Decide what you
wish for yourself... your right and privilege since we live in a
free country, but since it's a free country, others have the same
right, and while you have the right to voice your criticism of
their choices, they have the right to think you arrogant and a
hypocrite for doing so.That said, the manner in which animals used
for food are treated during their lives is something that many
people who eat those animals can still deplore... hence raising
your own so you know they aren't abused during their lives is
certainly more noble than buying it cellophane wrapped at the
store...Stoney{'holier than thou' is crap no matter the religion,
even if it's veganism or thinking yourself better than others cause
they eat certain animals you think should only be
pets...}

This is sickening - is the writer truly advocating that breeding
rabbits should be done as a hobby when there is already an
over-population? Shelters are bursting at the seams with rabbits
that were bred as a 'good idea' or in breeding mills for sale at
petstores, then dumped when the sudden interest wears off and the
reality of the commitment these animals needs kicks in - and what
happens in most cases? There aren't enough people able to give them
a good NON-BREEDING home and they get killed, that's what
happens.We see in the article the 'cute' face of a Netherland dwarf
- yes, a beautiful rabbit, but then they all are - yet your writer
advocates breeding them to kill and eat! Make your mind up! Are
they a lovely animal that you want to have as a pet (I do, but I'm
prepared to give time, commitment and most of all love to my
rabbits) or are they a commodity like a can of beans? If so, we
don't need the cute pictures, thanks.To encourage people, and
especially children, to see any animal this way stinks. Come on -
this is MEANT to be a civilised society!

As someone who rescues rabbits, fosters rabbits for the House
Rabbit Society and enjoys them as indoor pets along with my three
dogs, I was disheartened to read your article about raising
backyard rabbits for meat. As the third-most popular pet in the
U.S., rabbits have unique personalities and are intelligent,
gentlecreatures. They suffer in agony, being bred and massacred
onfactory farms and in backyards. What next? Perhaps you'd like to
turn my dogs into Labrador lasagna and Rottweiler ratatouille as
they do in Korea? Most developing countries have severe
overpopulation problems--would you advocate cannibalism? I hope
Mother Earth will focus on publishing articles about people who
treat animals with compassion.

This whole argument is kind of ridiculous. Meat is food even if
you personally don't eat meat. Meat has a face. Get to know your
food. You are what you eat. Respect that plants and animals that
you eat in order to survive. Honor them for the life they have
given you. Thank them. Do this with great heart.

Trying hard to be a vegetarian means you still eat meat. Do you
know where that meat comes from, or do you hope that because its
labeled organic, that its treated humanely? Did you know that a
vegetarian/vegan diet takes more energy overall than eating small
amounts of meat? Especially rabbits, who dont require that much
energy input. First growing the grains, the mechanical processing
of them, the storage, the transportation, then you cooking them
(and they require longer cooking times, sometimes as much as 3-4
hours). There is very little left over from the process, to
compost. On the other hand, meat once or twice a week,with a good
vegetarian diet, will fulfill your protein needs. For that the
rabbits need food (you can use grasses, herbs and produce
leftovers) and then when its time to butcher there is only,
storage, and cooking energy. Then you have manure for your gardens,
wool for clothing.(which by the way, uses a lot less energy than
your imported or recycled soda pop bottles materials.) The grain
industries in large mono cultures have caused more deforestation
than any other crop. They also account for most of the erosion of
the soils in every agricultural region. And the US doesn't grow and
keep enough here for us to eat, so we import it from other
countries while their people go hungry. If you are as "green" as
you say you are, you will consider small portions of meat in
replacement for you high energy input diet. And I have to agree
with all of the other REAL green people, if everything goes to heck
in a hand bag, at least I can feed my family.

And, yes we do respect and honor all of our animals, plants and
trees. They truly provide for us.

I started out with two, which turned into a dozen! I ended up
keeping two from the litter and they were fantastic little buddies.
Aside from being warm and soft and fun to play with, their
cocopuffs provided me with enough 'umpf' to give me a 100 pound
pumpkin one year!Beware though, that any hutch you build that will
be in a residential area, or anywhere you've seen dogs roaming,
should be made of heavy duty supplies. One of my does was killed by
two dogs who proceeded to rip through the chicken wire of her cage
to get at her. They tried to get my big black buck too, but he hid
in his bedding where it was solid wood.I'm considering getting a
couple more bunnies in the spring for pets and poop. Considering my
big black buck lived to the ripe old age of 13, hopefully they'll
supplement my soil for many years!

I can't agree more with the idea that Rasing Rabbits is a very
cost effeciant way to get protein in you diet. I lived in an
upstairs apartment, I was out of perminate work for 6 months and I
raised over 300 lbs of rabbit meat in that time from 2 miniature
Jersey Woolly does and 1 minature rex buck. What didn't fit in my
freezer I sold fresh to my neighbors and made enough from the meat
and the manuer to at least pay rent and some of my utilites (and I
didn't have to lose my cable) Rabbits are the most cost effeciant
feed to meat ratio that an urban dweller can have. They are quite,
take up very little space, and with produce left overs from your
local super market you can really streatch your feed dollar. I have
since moved to Oklahoma with 100 degree heat and 80% humitity. Ever
since moving here I have been trying to figure out how to raise
rabbits with out them dying from excessive heat when I'm at work.
So for those of you "House Rabbit" fans, see... I'm not cruel, I
just realize I'm a bit futher up the food chain and my buck goes
futher.

I raised rabbits for 7 years. Had 15 adults. I would butcher and
sell some as well as eat some. While doing so I learned a lot about
them. A good thing is that the meat is high in protein,low in fat
and all white meat. For those with stomach or digestion problems,
rabbit is easier to digest than chicken. For care, check with your
local feed store. Also purina use to publish pamphlets on how to
raise rabbits also at the feed store. Best cages are made from
1"x2" galvanized welded wire sides and 1/2"x1" on the bottom
assembled with j-clips or hog rings. These are easier to clean.Read
books and talk to feed store personnel to learn about
them.

I have to admit that as horrified as I was at reading your
article, I understand the opinions of all of these people who do
eat meat. I guess that's why I felt the way I did, I do not. And
the thought of those cute fuzzy little pets getting the ax, made me
sick. But, fact of the matter is, there are people that do eat
meat. And the issue really is the humane treatment of the animals
that are giving up their lives so that you can sustain your's. Back
in the days when Indians roamed this land and they were hunting for
their meat, the animal was always thanked for giving of its life so
that the people could live. That's what many of the hunters today
have forgotten, if you're going to kill something, eat it - don't
just hang it on your wall. Respect for all living things.

For W. Alderson:-Here's the link to the Oklahoma Rabbit Breeders
Assn. http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/osrba/. Contact a breeder in
your area, and I'm sure they wouldn't be bothered at all to help
you. My rabbits are in a AC garage with ventilation, so my set up
is a little different than yours. For D. Chapman and S.
Richmond:-Thank you!For Mother Earth News:-A very large thank you
for having a publication that covers a diversity of topics that
educates and promotes a natural lifestyle.For the Rest:-Please, do
not forget that our country is based on Agriculture, no matter how
big or small the "farm" may be. To be healthy, one must consume
clean, pure, and "live" food. Not food that has been marinated in
chemical fertilizers or infused with antibiotics and radiation.
Know where your food comes from whether it be fruit and veggies or
meat. Research the benefits of having a rabbit hobby and understand
their usefulness (whether they are used for food or not).We rabbit
breeders are not cruel to our animals. My herd resides in a double
garage with AC, heat, ventilation, individual cages, plenty of food
and water, and a manure remover (me). I adore my Mini Rex, the
community of show breeders and its comaraderie. Some of my rabbits
are sold to 4-H kids who start a rabbit project. When I do that, I
see the future of the rabbit raising in the arms and eyes of that
child. Be aware of the communities around you and
learn.~R.C.

OK EVERYONE LISTEN UP !!!! When TMEN started a long time ago
they were about helping people learn to grow food and house
themselves. Raising rabbits or chickens can be helpful to people
who still eat meat. They are not saying to eat pet bunnies, they
are telling everyone the different types of rabbits you can raise.
What you raise and do with it is your own business and you don't
have the right to tell anyone else what to eat or not eat. If you
don't want to eat meat that's alright with me! But don't gripe at
the people who want to eat meat that is high in nutrients and low
in pollution. Go read vegetarian times and make love to your
cucumbers for all I care.

I live in Florida. I have had rabbits for 8 months. I have 5
does and one buck. The last time a doe had a litter the ants
attacked the babbies and killed them. I need some help on this
problem. I have wooden hutches, that sit on sheets of plywood to
help keep their area clean. I clean up their droppings weekly and
move their droppings to the flower bed. It would be nice if some
one could advise me on how to solve this
problem.ThanksJoyce

For W. Alderson,Here the temps can go to 100 degrees - tho the
humidity is less. I have my buns with a very high roof that has
white refective material on the top, open on the sides, with
powerful fans blowing over the tops of the cages. When it is
extreamly hot I put 1.5 lliter frozen bottles of water in each
cage. The pg does sometimes literaly straddle the bottle - cute to
see. I keep a PG doe pen - concret floor covered in sawdust - so
they can get excercise and it is good for their hocks - they enjoy
the bonding time with other does - in the pen I have put blocks of
ice - they take turns sitting on it - really cute. In a high
humidity it might be bettr if you put yout cages in a tunnel like
situation with one powerful fan blowing thru.It can be done. I
applud your ingenuity in a time of crisis.

Joyce - put the feet of your sawhorses in cans of water with a
bit of oil on top of the water - the ants go in but do not come
out. the cages should not be directly on the plywood but raised at
least three inches so the droppings do not stay in the
cage.

It must really be nice to be "Greener than thou"...Arrogance
isn't pretty no matter how 'noble' the arrogant think they
are.Stoney{most countries eat most animals... the US is rare in
it's delicate sensibilities in what's a 'pet' and what's 'food'...
Most countries don't have that luxury...}

I was disgusted by your article , "How to raise backyard
rabbits" ...my God, what values are you teaching our children? You
raise a pet, love it and then kill it? Isn't Michael Vick getting
his just deserts for doing something like this? I'm truly shocked
that your magazine would advocate something so cold, cruel and
inhumane towards pet rabbits, especially in the 21st century where
rabbits are now the third most popular pet in the US! You've got
some catching up to do it seems to me!Evonne Vey

(I wonder if chickens raised this kind of ruckus...?)Yes,
rabbits are cute, but they're also a source of high grade easily
digestible protein that can help kids grow.Do you have any idea how
ridiculous this entire thread looks to anyone in a developing
country? Rabbits are an insurance policy against crop failure; all
meat animals are. And, when I see families lining up at soup
kitchens and food programs right here in the USA, I realize that
we're not so far from 'developing' status ourselves.Shame on you
for projecting your narrow-minded values and trying to quash the
dissemination of knowledge for your own agenda. Shame on
you!Reality pie is made with vegetables AND meat.

I live in a third world country - and am trying my best to teach
people to start up a back yard rabbtry. For pennies a day the
poorest people can eat meat when before the mothers and childern
were pleagued with mal nutrition and sickness. They do not need to
have a fridg nor a freezer. When the nearest town is 4 hours walk
and another 4 hours on a bus - it is wonderful to have a source of
inexpensive protien righ in your back yard. We name the "stock" and
love and pamper them - the offspring are the potential meat source
- they are cared for very well but not named so that when supper
times comes around there is no conflict. When ever I read reactions
like most of the above I think of what hipocrits those people are.
I will bet that 90 % are not vegetarians, that they have never been
hungry a day in their very fortunate lives and do nothing to even
help the hungry. Shame on you !Mother Earth - keep up the good work
- do not listen to the hipocrits.

Once again, MEN has proven that it is an absolutely phony
anti-environmentalist publication. The way to be green is to live
in harmony with animals and devote land resources toward living as
low as possible on the food chain. If your editors need a tutorial
on this basic premise of genuine environmental stewardship, there
are literally thousands of sources of remedial education for
you.Why not feature a peppy article on raising dogs fo fur, food,
and fun in your next issue? Or cats? Or parrots? This promotion of
animals as harvestable tissue and as one happy accomplishment of a
"green" way of life and of "homesteading" is the sort of garbage I
expect from pro-industrial agriculture publications.Stop pretending
to be "green" and offering a more advanced way of life. And
unsubscribe me. Now.Northwest Florida House Rabbit
ResourcesNonprofit Adoption/Education Services for Companion
Rabbits

Dear Readers - are you all really that clueless about farming?
About agriculture? How the human species on this planet survive?
Are you really that uneducated? Well, here's a lesson: Professional
rabbit raising for food, fur, and hobby has been in the U.S. since
the early 1900’s and has been cultivated into a worldly
organization. This organization advocates and educates how rabbits
can be for personal use, such as using manure for gardening; to
commercial use for fur and food. I emphasize advocate AND educate.
It’s equivalency is to the American Kennel Club or American Quarter
Horse Assn. RABBITS ARE A NATURAL AND USEFUL. Some individuals see
rabbit raising as pure hobby, to show, love, and let the rabbits
live out their natural lives. Others use rabbits as their main
source of income just like cattle or swine. If you really want to
be upset about something, the next time you see a cute little baby
rabbit for sale at Easter – just think – once your kids are over
its novelty and you throw it away outside thinking that it will
survive because “It’s a rabbit”; you are being more cruel to that
animal than a breeder.

Mmmmmm. Tasty Wabbits ;-)

WOW!!! I read this and cant believe what some people are saying.
What do you think...that chicken, cow, or pig just up and one day
committed suicide and fell into nice slices and shrink wrapped
packs!!!! Hello......reality is calling!!!!! I am a member of the
American Rabbit Breeders Association. I raise rabbits for pets,
show, and meat. Our philosophy on our farm is "I'm not feeding
anything that isn't eventually going to feed me". With all thats
going on in the world, contaminated pet food, anti-biotics in our
meat, contaminated sea food etc, isnt it about time for us (who are
able) to raise our own source of food???? If more people raised
their own food we wouldnt have to depend on the mass production
'feed lots' that produce our food stock we are used to getting at
the grocery store. Get real people!!! There is coming a day in the
not too distant future when the only ones who will have a safe,
nutritious food (meat/fruit/vegetables)will be one ones who raise
it themselves. The great thing about being a human is we can make
choices. If you dont want to eat rabbit, you dont have to. At the
same time dont condemn those that do. By the way, our farm raises
rabbits (9 different breeds), Ducks (4 breeds), Chickens (5 breeds)
Goats (milk and meat), Turkeys, Sheep, and Llamas. Everyone carries
his own weight in one way or another........oh, and we do all of
this on 1.1 acre of land. Each and every one of them is healthy and
well cared for. I love each and every one of them for what they
provide....meat, fur, wool, eggs, companionship, and a good sense
of well being. Thanks Mother Earth News........you were my
inspiration to return to the farm and a healthier may of life. I
spent years living underwater (U.S. Navy) reading all the back
issues of MOM I could get my hands on.........THANKS!!!! Any
questions on managing rabbits or your 'micro-farm' feel free to
email me askelfarm@up.net

....oh by the way, The United States is one of the top 3
produces of horse meat in the world. Over a million pounds were
produced last year for HUMAN consumption and exported world wide
(mainly to Europe).

I must admit I was a little shocked when I started reading the
comments. You'd think that MEN was some sort of front for a new
world order or something. We have pet rabbits and chickens living
in our backyard in suburban Seattle. They are pets for us, with the
exception of eating the chicken eggs. However, I fail to see where
some people who have made a personal lifestyle choice to not eat
meat are somehow morally superior to those of us who haven't.We are
fortunate to have grocery stores, etc., and I am not interested in
killing animals myself, but if my children are hungry, the world
goes to pot, or the stores shut down, I would not hesitate to
consume a rabbit or feed it to my family. It seems the natural
thing to do.Thank you

In addition to manure, rabbits produce urine -- and it smells
like ammonia. That's something to consider in an urban or suburban
neighborhood.

I am going to have to truley agree with RClifford on this
matter. How in the world did humans survive before now? We were
nomads....IE HUNTERS and GATHERERS. Long ago humans understood the
need to have meat in their diet and that the domestication of
animals was the best way to ensure the survival of the human race.
Everything has fur/feather and personality before it hits the meat
market at your local grocery store. Rabbit is one of the most
common meats eaten by MAN from the middles ages onward. It is still
a commonly eaten meat in European countries! Just cause we don't
emphasize it here in the US does not mean that it is not done!
Rabbit is a clean highly digestable meat and when raised in the
backyard rabbitry, is free of harmful hormones and antibiotics that
are present in your packaged store bought meats that have effects
on the human body (I know, i have recently discovered some of the
problems myself!)In addition to this, I work in a veterinary office
that sees 'pet' rabbits on a regular basis, and yet I still breed,
raise, love and dress out my own rabbits in my kitchen. I can
seperate the idea that other people have different interests in
rabbits and completely respect them for it! I have a great respect
for everything in the circle of life, and if you don't like it,
keep your negativity to yourself. GREEN LIVING is not synonomous
with being VEGAN. To the editors of MOTHER EARTH NEWS: I trust in
your sensibilities and I congratulate you on your informative
articles that have helped me and my family change our practices and
think of our future.

To "RPie" and the rest of you who find killing animals for food
acceptable, I would like to qualify my earlier statements. Although
not perfect, I do try very hard to eat vegetarian, both for ethical
and health reasons. I am 100% against "sport hunting" and the
"hobby" of raising animals for food IN THIS COUNTRY under the
inhumane conditions that have come to exist for most "factory
farmed" animals. That includes chickens, turkeys, beef cattle,
sheep, pigs and yes, rabbits. The "need for greed" has become so
great in this country that there is no humane standard of care
upheld anymore for "market animals." Sure, there may be a few John
Farmers out there who do provide clean, appropriate and natural
living conditions for their animals (and, perhaps even, a clean,
humane death), but they are few, far and between.My point is that
in the USA, we do not "need" to kill animals to have a healthy,
balanced diet. In developing countries where animals may be the
"only" source of nurishment, that is a different matter and a
different culture."We" don't eat horses, dogs or cats here, and I
see no difference between those species and those deemed "edible."
They are all sensient and deserve respect...not inhumane treatment
and a fear-filled, cruel death.

I've been trying to "be nice" and send a confidential message to
Mother Earth regarding my opinion of their egregious suggestions
that we all should be killing animals for food, but "conveniently"
their website e-mail addresses do not work. I'm glad, however, to
discover that I can post an open opinion in this forum. First it
was beef, then they suggested various other "farm animals," and now
they propose we should be killing and eating bunnies??? Get your
head out in the sunshine and your ethics back on track. If this is
the kind of "green living" in tune with "Mother Earth" that you
propose, I want no part of it.

When I saw the subject of my Mother Earth e-mail today, I could
not imagine that Raising Backyard Rabbits was something they would
write about. Curious to see what the REAL issue was, I read on.
And, needless to say, I was horrified - raising rabbits for food
and meat....and fur. WHAT? Come on - let's get back on track. Maybe
next week we'll be reading about backyard puppies. Have been
enjoying what you share up until now.

Unless a person is a vegetarian I can't see why they would
object to the idea of rabbits as food. Rabbits are cute, soft, and
warm, but calves are also playful and sweet, and turkeys are
gentle, friendly and have soft, sweet voices. There isn't a species
of animal that is inherently more or less suited to being eaten by
humans than another. Nature requires that at some point we give the
energy and nutrients of our bodies to other living entities, there
is no way around it. Even humans ultimately do this.The important
thing, in my opinion, is to provide your animals with a high
quality life full of tender loving care, peace, and pleasure. When
the time comes for them to die, you kill them quickly and as
painlessly as possible, and in a way that prevents them from
knowing fear. You thank them for contributing to your life. You
appreciate their gift.I love animals as much as anyone, and the
thought of killing them is difficult and painful for me, but I know
it isn't wrong to do so. We are all part of the same natural system
which requires giving and sharing of all resources, including the
ones in our own bodies. Humans are omnivorous, and besides, plants
have their lives to live too. In order to live we have to take
somebody else's life, animal or vegetable. The point is to live
lovingly, respectfully, and with full awareness of the consequences
of all our actions.

I really appreciate your informative and interesting articles.
We have raised rabbits and used their manure for fertilizer over
the years and it does wonders for the garden! I have recently
started raising chickens for meat and eggs as well, and appreciate
your helpful chicken info! Keep 'em coming! Not everyone is a
vegan!

We always have meat rabbits BUT when my children were small they
had their small dwarf rabbits for pets. They were not required to
care for any of our meat animals which also include chickens,
ducks, geese, guinea & turkeys. I also did all of the
"dressing" early in the morning while they and my husband were
asleep or I waited until they were in school. They grew up knowing
the difference between pets & food.As they got older they were
given a choice whether they watched/helped with any "dressing".
Mother Earth is a very valuable resource and they cater to those of
us that wish for a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Thankfully, our
choices to raise our own organic, non-chemically altered food has
not been taken from us. Thank you Mother Earth for your continued
efforts to help all of us lead healthier lives.

I completely agree with CMcLaughlin. This is sick.