It’s Almost Time!

March 2, 2023

March in Michigan can be a fickle thing, full of hopeful sunshine and dreary freezing rainstorms. Even so, March means springtime, and springtime means farm babies!

This week, farm baby season is in full swing. Yesterday we started off March 2023 with baby fever as we welcomed in two litters of baby bunnies, and 8 new baby chicks. Or, as our three-year-old calls them, baby cheeps.

Meadow, our chocolate lab mama dog, is due any day now with her puppies. We have her comfy whelping box set up in our attached garage for optimal coziness and peak ability-to-peek-in-on-them. She has been sleeping in there the past few nights to get her used to the space so that she feels comfortable and safe there by the time she goes into labor. Her due date is 3/8/23, but she is so ready and so are we.

Jack and Meadow relaxing on the couch well before sunrise, as per usual.

Our two bunny litters born yesterday were to two first-time mamas. One was a bunny born on our farm last year who we retained for her beautiful coloring, and the other is a girl we bought from a farm upstate, a gorgeous Harlequin doe. I haven’t peeked in on the kits yet, a seriously impressive feat of self control. I’ll give them through the weekend to take care of their babies before disturbing them, and then I’ll get a count for each litter. Right now, I just check to see that the nest has movement in it, and that no one has been rejected or moved out of the warm nest.

I’m happily surprised that for two first time bunny mamas, we haven’t lost any kits to complications or rejection. Having does who are good moms is a must for us. We sell many rabbits to other farmers or homesteading families to start or diversify their rabbit colony, but we also sell just as many to families looking for a pet, so unique coloring and great temperament is important in our breeding program.

Our new “baby cheeps” will be laying hens to add to our flock. We have a good volume of eggs coming in to keep up with the demand, and it’s still a good idea to add new members every year or two to rotate through who is still growing up and who is retired - and still have enough working ladies in the middle to pull the weight of their freeloading counterparts.

More updates to come as we prepare for this year’s litter of puppies. Please reach out with any questions if you’re interested!

-Cassidy & Amy