Myxomatosis is a highly contagious viral disease, caused by the myxoma virus, that affects rabbits worldwide. Among European domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the disease is severe and often fatal. Infected rabbits have a mortality rate of about 90-95% (Ross & Sanders, 1977) to 99% (Hudson et al., 1955). However, in its natural host, a type of …
In the five years I’ve been keeping rabbits, I’ve seen a variety of health complications arise, but certainly the most common issue I’ve dealt with is rabbit mites, also known as sarcoptic mange, or Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi. Sarcoptes scabiei is a mite that burrows deep into the epidermis of its host causing severe itching, …
Treating Mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) Infestations in Rabbits Read More »
We’ve had rabbits around the homestead for over 4 years now. For the most part, raising rabbits been something that I have really enjoyed. Bunnies are adorable and soft. Their poop is excellent fertilizer. Cutting greens for them twice daily keeps me disciplined to weed the paths and garden beds. Occasionally, our family is nourished …
Last post, I focused on goats as a great example of how herbivores can regenerate the land, through holistic management techniques, but they aren’t the only ones within our agroecology. We also have horses, and sometimes also work with donkeys in a similar pasture rotation system, often on their own, but sometimes sharing pastures with …
When I hear vegans argue against raising animals, I tend to agree with them, for the most part. Modern techniques favor confining large numbers of animals in dense areas, where disease is common, food lacks proper nutrition, and the animals are deprived of natural behavior expression. It’s not only the animals who suffer, but also …
