Apparently I'm growing rabbits now...

So I have a small garden, two kinds of tomatoes, jalapenos, banana peppers, cubanelle peppers, Fresno chilis, and a bunch of herbs. I'm to the point where we mostly use my rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, basil, and parsley when we cook, and I grow cilantro, but I can't grow it fast enough. We eat a lot of cilantro.

Anyway, I went out of town for several days, and when I got back I was checking on the garden, and found a rabbit nest in my cilantro plant.

I planted the cilantro in an old pig trough that had sprung a leak, and let the cilantro go to seed so it would fill the trough the next season. Only instead of cilantro, I got rabbits.

We've seen the mother hanging around, so we know they're being fed. I'm just hoping the cats don't notice the nest before they're big enough to run.

Hey, coyote food has to come from somewhere, right? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...315ba7a4c7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e7fc5a8bcd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4ae1497f9f.jpg

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They build nests down in the grass where they can't be seen. I've run over them with the lawn mower not realizing it, unfortunately, killed a few once, but as often as not, it scattered a few out unhurt, I picked them up and put them back as close to the nest as I could hoping the mother would come back to them.

The place we're in now has rabbits in the yard all the time. I never cared for how they taste, and I enjoy watching them so I don't hunt them.

We as a rule brown those down in onions and make a gravy, But those are a wee bit to small, Good Luck with em.

Yeah, I couldn't get anyone else in the family to eat rabbit, especially after seeing the babies. I'm not opposed to it, but I'd have to cook and eat it by myself. I'll let em grow up to be coyote or bobcat food, as nature intended.

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Kind of comical. I’ve been rabbit hunting more times than I care to count. That didn’t stop big old ugly mean me from scooping up for a little baby bunnies that we’re all alone still had their eyes closed because mama got ran over eaten by a cat or something. I bottle-fed them things every two hours for a few days, once their eyes open dying traduce them to some vegetables a little at a time. I can’t remember exactly how long we had them for until they were big enough to fend for them selves. But one they could I found what I consider a safe while location where I would’ve worn a bunch of stray cats running around and let them all loose, well I shouldn’t say let them all loose because one of them didn’t make it we only managed to save three. How come to think of it even though I can’t stand squirrels found one that fell out of the nest and raise them up for a few weeks too. What can I tell you maybe I’m just a real softy at heart LOL

Yep softy like me.
In nature, mother rabbits only feed their babies a few times a day. I did a lot of looking into it after I went through a cottontail nest with a tiller and a little baby popped out unharmed. the biggest thing that they need is some feces from the mother. Not the round little balls but a tarry substance that the mother feeds them. That contains bacteria that helps them digest grass.
Squirrels are very destructive but they can be very cute too especially if they get accustomed to people.

The only time we see rabbits near our house is in the Spring. We have a small garden for a few veggie plants and the rabbits are very selective in their eating habits. They love bell pepper plants but leave everything else alone. So far I have planted bell peppers three (3) times because rabbits will eat the peppers, leaves and stems down to the ground surface. Last week I put up a chicken wire fence around our few pepper plants hoping this will be enough to protect them.

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Originally Posted by poppy42

Kind of comical. I’ve been rabbit hunting more times than I care to count. That didn’t stop big old ugly mean me from scooping up for a little baby bunnies that we’re all alone still had their eyes closed because mama got ran over eaten by a cat or something. I bottle-fed them things every two hours for a few days, once their eyes open dying traduce them to some vegetables a little at a time. I can’t remember exactly how long we had them for until they were big enough to fend for them selves. But one they could I found what I consider a safe while location where I would’ve worn a bunch of stray cats running around and let them all loose, well I shouldn’t say let them all loose because one of them didn’t make it we only managed to save three. How come to think of it even though I can’t stand squirrels found one that fell out of the nest and raise them up for a few weeks too. What can I tell you maybe I’m just a real softy at heart LOL

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I love to squirrel hunt, but the little ones born this year are out and about now. Wife and I stopped the car to watch one playing on top of the mail box on the way out of the driveway yesterday. Our season is open again now, but I just can't see hunting them this time of year, especially not these young ones, though legally, they're fair game. I find myself, even when hunting, doing a lot more watching and a lot less shooting or thinking about shooting critters nowadays. Guess I'm getting soft.

I have many rabbits in my yard.

You'll have to change your name to "Mr. McGregor"! :-)

Rabbits can be anywhere they want to be, except in our garden. I've taken measures to keep them out, but once in a while a rabbit WILL get in. BIG mistake for the rabbit.

My cats bring them back to the house to show me that they are good hunters.

Rabbits are munching on stuff in my garden, neighbors likely won’t approve of me using a my .410 to get them gone. Not that I’m there enough to watch over it.

Haven't had rabbits around here in decades. Too many people moving in around me. Can't hardly shoot my pellet rifle anymore because of all the new neighbors :(

I wish i could find a rabbit around my place. TOOO many bobcats / coyotes / weasels.

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Originally Posted by Gator 45/70

We as a rule brown those down in onions and make a gravy, But those are a wee bit to small, Good Luck with em.

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Make great stir fry.......throw in that cat for some variety!

I have a JRT no rabbits in the garden or property

I guess nothing in my garden tastes good. They are always outside the garden eating clover or something. If they mind their business, I got no beef with them. Till winter anyway...

I used to have it all planted in the ground with a rabbit fence around it, but I've since moved everything into boxes, and attempted to turn it into a greenhouse. Fewer plants, but better temp and water control. But the herbs have always been in big pots. So most of it is too high for the rabbits to get into, except the cilantro, which is planted in an old pig trough.

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