Organic
rabbits are small animals that are fed with natural grown and organic
plants, vegetables, grass and herbs without using any chemical
pesticides and fertilizers. The animals are not injected with any
growth hormones and are kept in clean cages. Medicinal herbs and
plants are used to prevent and cure the diseases of organic rabbits.
Organic Rabbit Farming Practices
To
produce organic rabbits, one must implement the following rabbit
raising practices:
1.
The rabbit cages must be elevated at least twelve inches (12”)
from the ground and between cages from the lower cage and upper cage.
The cage setup protects the rabbits from soil and ground surface
water contamination.
2.
The plants, vegetables, grass and herbs must be grown on containers
using organic fertilizers and pesticides. The plants growing on
containers will prevent or minimize soil and ground surface water
contamination. Big containers can be used to plant small trees that
produce leaves to be fed to rabbits. For example, organic swamp
cabbage or water spinach (ipomoea aquatica)
can be grown in big plastic barrels (55-gallon barrel cut into two,
lengthwise) with unchlorinated water and produce stems and leaves
every 30 days. Organic carrots and sweet potato leaves can be planted
in 5-gallon containers. Madre de agua (trichanthera)
can be planted in big plastic containers and will grow organic leaves
for several years. Wheat grass and bermuda grass can be planted in
large boxes and cut the grass every 30 days to be fed to rabbits.
3.
The fresh manure of organic rabbits must be used in fertilizing all
plants, vegetables, grass and herbs. The fresh rabbit manure can be
immediately sprinkled beside the plants without “burning” the
plants. Another alternative is to put the fresh rabbit manure to your
earthworm composting bins and the resulting vermicast (earthworms'
poops) will be used as natural fertilizers. To produce vermicast tea,
you can brew the vermicast in water for 3 days and use the brew in
spraying the plants, vegetables, grass and herbs for vigorous growth
and protection from harmful pests.
4.
You must feed to your rabbits some organically grown medicinal herbs
such as oregano, peppermint, spearmint, basil, lemon grass, rosemary,
lagundi (vitex negundo)
and others to prevent and cure some rabbit's diseases. For example,
oregano and lagundi
leaves are given to rabbits with runny nose.
5.
Water must be mix with concocted indigenous microorganisms (IMO) to
serve as probiotics to prevent diseases and pathogens. The water and
IMO mixture will improve appetite and feed conversion ratio of
rabbits. The mixture will eliminate the foul odor of slaughtered
rabbit's internal organs when regularly mixed with the drinking
water.
6.
To avoid flies and diseases, the rabbit hutches, cages and
surroundings must be thoroughly cleaned. Regular cleaning will avoid
the build up of ammonia, thus eliminating respiratory problems for
the rabbits. Use natural cleaning materials and avoid chemical
cleaners and detergents.
Produce at Supermarkets
The
vegetables and fruits sold at supermarkets contained residual
chemical fertilizers and pesticides, except those labeled organic.
Such produce must not be given to your rabbits because of toxins and
chemicals.
