Our Rabbitry

Feeding: My rabbits are free-fed on Pfaus 18%. I have tried many different
brands of feed and I feel that Pfaus is definitely top notch. It's a nice fresh
green color and my rabbits gobble it right down. Since I started feeding Pfaus,
 I've noticed much improvement in their over all condition and my rabbits seem to
like it much better than other feeds I have tried. My rabbits also get a handful of
hay and half a cup of my grain mix each day to keep them in top condition. It is important to keep some sort of roughage in a rabbit's diet as it helps to keep their digestive track regulated. Each rabbit also gets some sort of fruit or veggie (usually a piece of banana, carrot or apple slice) but in moderation. Too much can cause diarrhea and an upset tummy. I like to put a chew block in with each rabbit as it helps to keep teeth in good shape.
Housing: My rabbits are housed in my 12 X 16 barn (built April 2010) which
is insulated with heating and cooling. I have a series of 3-4 hole condos (30" X 30") in which they are housed. I have about 26 cages for the moment but the herd will be expanding
as I fill up our new barn with condos. Because english lops and champagne d'argents are larger breeds, it is very important that they have an EZ mat to sit on to give their feet a break, as larger breeds are prone to sore hocks. Cage pans are cleaned thoroughly twice a week (3 times a week in the summer months). For bedding in the cage pans, I really like Dry Den pellets. They are very absorbent, so a little goes a long way. They also reduce odor by quite a bit. Sanitation and cleanliness are our top priorities here! New rabbits are put in a different area away from my other rabbits for a week, I feel it is important to quarantine newbies just in case. 

Our Standards: At Pease & Carrots Rabbitry, we do not breed for fancy colors or record holding ear lengths. Granted, it is fun to have a variety of different colors but I will only allow a "colored" english lop into our herd if our standards are met as I am not willing to sacrifice stellar body type. I breed for OVERALL BALANCE and easy-going temperaments. I prefer any rabbit in my herd to have at least 24" ears (again, it's about balance). I have a small rabbitry and have to be very selective. I like english lops with big bone and capacity to them. I didn't like the "race horse" look when I raised sheep, and the same applies to my rabbits. Breed character of course is very important. No visible crowns, nice shape and texture to the ears, correct structure, excellent depth and full hindquarters with that mandolin body type.


Pictured at the right: My BOSV youth winning rabbit, Big Louie & I at the 2004 Lop Nationals.
Our Barn
In April 2010, my husband Rudy and I decided to finally build that rabbit barn I've had my heart set on. We do not have room for such a barn at our house so we built the barn on
 my in-law's property in Newberg, just a short drive away. Our original plan was to purchase a barn from a home improvement store. But after much research, building our own barn would not only be more cost effective, but also provide us with more building options. So, construction began!

Our rabbit barn is 12½ feet by 16 feet. We built it on sturdy skids with the idea of someday moving it to another location down the road. The one feature of the barn that I love is the 8 foot deep loft which provides ample storage space for all of my carriers, feed bags and other supplies. The barn is very well insulated to protect the rabbits from harsh weather and the walls are lined with wall panels. These wall panels protect the dry wall and are easy to clean. The barn is very well ventilated with various types of vents throughout so that air can flow in and out of the barn properly. In the summer months, a window air conditioning unit is installed to keep all of the rabbits cool and comfortable.

The barn can hold 40-50 holes. Most of my condos are 3 hole condos but I am in the process of switching most, if not all of them to 4 hole condos which will utilize more space. Our barn is a work in progress for the moment, as I do not have all of my cages in place and the yard work will need to be completed.

Once the barn is completed entirely, our next project will be to put some outdoor cages in place. These cages will be off to the side of the barn and covered to protect them from the rain. I will be keeping my small herd of champagne d'argents and some of my matured english lops in these holes, while the juniors, intermediates and bred/nursing does remain in the barn.

New photos will be posted once the barn is completely finished. The above photo is our the barn when we were installing the wall panels. The photo to the right is of part of one of the walls now that cages are in. More cages to come! Right now we have approximately 26 holes in the barn. Keep checking back for updates as our barn is completed!

Rabbitry visits are allowed but by appointment only. Please keep noise to a minimum and leave dogs at home. Bathrooms are not for public use. This is a private residence.
 

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