I asked my boys for some “J” ideas for this week’s post.  They suggested: jack rabbit, jackaloupe and j feeder.  All of which are great ideas.   I got to thinking though. It’s so easy to just give information… perhaps I should just talk about the Joy of raising bunnies. 

Why do I raise bunnies?

Did you know that I grew up on a farm? I was an animal focused farm girl. Put me behind a wheel and things tended not to go well… I remember lots of “acks” from my dad. But give me a calf or a cat to care for… I LOVED IT! The naming of the calves, caring for the chickens, and chasing the cats. I would tie anything up I had the chance to (though I took it a bit more easy when I almost killed a cat). NOT on purpose I promise! Rope, cat, feeder started, cat freaked out and rope got caught! I panicked but managed to free him. I remember that whole thing as clear as a bell! (GACK!!!!)

BUT I not only cared for calves, chickens and cats… we also had goats, ponies and rabbits. I’ve had a love for rabbits for a very long time. In my young adult years I replaced that love of rabbits with a firm appreciation for fancy mice and guinea pigs, but when I had a chance to get bunnies again… I DID! By the by… my son has picked up on my love of fancy mice.

Having a furry critter to care for does my heart good. It has ever since I was little, I would retreat with a dog or cat in tow, and then settled.

Specialness

I will freely admit that not every bunny is special. Some are completely normal, nothing really impresses, but then you meet one that tugs on your heart strings.

Tubs, pictured above was one such kit. Oh this little cutie grabbed my heart from the moment he was born. A singleton, fortunately born in the summer, and momma didn’t have nest buddy (a doe bred at the same time in case of singletons born) so Tubs had to take his chances. He thrived! Momma did an excellent job with him and he was super friendly from the time he started hopping around. He quickly found a home, and is still delighting a now 13 year old. 🙂 Stellar little rabbit that if he had been a girl would have stuck around.

BlueBonnet

BlueBonnet is my current heart throb. One of my bottle babies, she was an eager happy drinker of goat’s milk. She’s going to stay in my herd (hence the two-part name). She’s a slightly bossy lass but still thinks that I am the cat’s meow… rushing to see me all the time whenever I move anywhere near her cage. Her eagerness and attitude make my heart smile. 🙂

My current favourite litter

Pond’s kits are super sweet. They are much like their momma, thinking all good things come from the two-legs who comes by frequently. They are just starting to eat pellets and grain. The little white in the back I think is a nosey little girl… she’s constantly checking out what I’m doing and grunts at me when I pick her up. Little does she know that doing so means I pick her up all the more. 🙂 My little runt is the dark brown one facing away from the camera. A smart, active little mite, I’m going to push that he/she goes to a middle schoolers home… this bunny, if it’s the boy I think it is, will want to be with his people doing stuff.

It’s part of what I love you know? Watching them grow, seeing their parents and grandparents in them as they mature. Seeing the hope and promise in each of them. Holding warm bodies and watching twitching noses. Monitoring their eating and drinking habits, and generally just fussing over them without being obnoxious. 🙂

Bunny Joy

Oh… and some bunny joy! I remember one year for my rabbit club show I went around collecting stuffed bunnies as rewards for the kids. It was SO much fun and the kids from big to small were delighted with the stuffed bunnies. 🙂 It is so great to encourage young people in the rabbit world.

Others in this Series

• American Fuzzy Lop.
• Baby Bunnies.
• Culling well.
• Discussing Death.
• Errors in Judgement.
• Feeding Rabbits.
• The G’s of rabbits.
• Holland Lops.
• Interesting facts about rabbits.

Letter J Link Up

Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
• Christine @ Life’s Special Necessities 
• Kimberly @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
• Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag
• Wendy @ Life On Chickadee Lane
• Yvonne @ The Life We Build
• Jennifer @ A Peace Of Mind
• Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest To Teach
• Kirsten @ DoodleMom Homeschool