Maximum Yield USA 2014 February | Page 141

Rabbits Rabbits are not only a good family pet; they can be a great addition to self-sufficiency. Rabbit manure is an excellent garden fertilizer. Add it to your compost to let it break down before using directly on plants. Rabbits have a variety of other useful attributes, even if you would never consider raising them for meat. Rabbits can be used to keep grass and weeds at bay. Don’t, of course, allow them into a vegetable garden. A mobile pen provides protection from the sun and predators to allow rabbits outside during warm weather. Move it daily or more often depending on how voracious their appetite is. On a small lawn, you may be able to eliminate the need for mowing altogether. Rabbits will leave behind a nutrient-dense and organic fertilizer, free of charge! An additional benefit to the raising of some rabbits is their coveted fiber. There are four main varieties of Angora rabbits that can be sheared or brushed for their fur. This needs to be done regularly to help keep a healthy coat. The fiber can be used for a variety of useful crafts, or sold to defray any cost of the rabbits’ upkeep. Rabbits are native to a wide range of the world and come in numerous varieties. Make sure to select a breed conducive for your environment and climate. They are a relatively inexpensive animal to keep that can provide in numerous ways. Consider segregating males and females because they reproduce like, well, you know. rabbits will leave behind a nutrient dense and organic fertilizer, free of charge!” Maximum Yield USA  |  February 2014 139