Friend or foe
Look who we found in the garden this evening, hopping along as if she owned the place:
She (he?) dashed into this drainage tube, which unfortunately for her was only 4 feet long and flexible. I looped it up and she was trapped. This little cutie pie had already been chased out of the garden a couple times before… I wasn’t going to do that again. Josh fetched the chicken cage.
And there she’ll bide for the night, with a nice helping of fresh alfalfa, raspberry, and plantain leaves. I warned Sofía that she might not last the night (though I take pains never to couch anything euphamistically with Sofía, so I said something more like “she might be dead when we wake up to look at her in the morning.”) She said – I am not making this up – “If she’s dead, will you make her into a glove?” Wow. My child is hard-core.
Will the rabbit still be alive in the morning? Will she be the start of my new bunny-poop empire? Will she be released far away, to go pester someone else? Only time will tell – stay tuned.
Josh brought up all these hard questions, and I shrugged and said something along the lines of “Relax, man.” He gave me a very dirty look. I think he feels we have enough pets for now.
EDITED TO ADD: Okay, the rabbit – which I seem to be calling “Penelope” and which seems to have become a “bunny” instead of a “rabbit” – lets me pet her. She closes her eyes and wiggles her nose. So dinner’s out, all you softies who were going to ream me out for even considering it. I suck as a homesteader.
June 11th, 2013 at 10:44 pm
If you are going to keep the sweet little bunny, you will need to get some timothy hay, or let it graze in the yard. Pellets should also be timothy based and not have extra stuff,(beans, nuts, seeds, etc.), mixed in with it. Alfalfa won’t hurt it, but too much can mess with its digestive system. Veggies are great for bunnies, especially the green leafy part. Fruits are okay, but should be very limited because of the sugar content. Good luck!
June 11th, 2013 at 10:46 pm
Thank you! If she survives the night… and if we decide to keep her rather than release her… I will have a lot to learn.
June 11th, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Had a thought… young rabbits, up to seven months old, DO need alfalfa! Blackberry leaves are supposed to be very good for them too, just avoid the thorns! They also like mint, parsley, Swiss chard, and cilantro.
June 12th, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Oh great Melissa! I have almost all those things, organic even. I was just feeding her/him all the stuff I normally saw her around; grass, clover etc. I’m thinking when this next chain of storms passes I may put her out on the lawn in a little “bunny pasture tractor” with roof etc. AW SHE’S SO DARN CUTE!
June 12th, 2013 at 8:22 pm
love that you’re a softie!
June 13th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I.
Love.
Bunnies…!
June 14th, 2013 at 8:59 am
I am becoming very fond of this one!