The best and most useful tips, tricks, and tools in my rabbitry have come from one of two places: Either picked up along the way from other meat rabbit breeders, or from experience and stumbling over some useful small thing that makes life a lot easier in the rabbit room.
More often than not, these are random things that have worked their way into the rabbit barn. They often come in by accident, and then prove to be really useful in handling, treating, or managing my meat rabbits.
I like to share these small things that are often overlooked or taken for granted, because what’s worked for me will often work for others, too!
Jump to:
- 5 Useful Everyday Items for the Meat Rabbit Raiser
- 1. Post-its and a Pencil or a Pen
- 2. Dry Erase Markers (and a permanent Sharpie)
- 3. Small Spray Bottle
- 4. Denim Apron
- 5. Farmer’s Defense Sleeves
- VIDEO: 5 Favorite Random Things to Use in the Rabbit Barn (Summer-ish Edition)
- What Are Your Favorite Things for the Rabbit Barn?
- Read on:
5 Useful Everyday Items for the Meat Rabbit Raiser
There’s not necessarily much rhyme or reason to what I choose to highlight. The things that make my list are the things I find myself reaching for regularly, and it suddenly occurs to me that maybe I should share or highlight.
The first list was done this past winter(ish). Here’s the first list for summer(ish) seasons.
1. Post-its and a Pencil or a Pen
Main Use:
- Reminders
- Calendar notes or lists of things to do (easy to stick to a certain date)
- Shopping and supply lists
It seems like there is always something that you think you’ll remember you need or need to do, and then don’t.
I’m a HUGE fan of Post-its notes (ask my kids!). I have a strange addiction to writing single tasks and to-dos and then ripping them up when they’re done. So strangely satisfying.
You can even get multicolor packs to color-code your tasks and reminders. Another favorite thing in my life that I’ve taken into the rabbit room!
Obviously, Post-its and writing utensils don’t need a lot of explanation, but they do come in handy when you need to keep track or remember to go to the feed or supply store!
My favorite trick is to write my list and then stick it right to my debit card in my phone wallet. (The mini pads work well for this -- they also fit well onto a calendar day block.) I’m almost guaranteed to see it later, and remember to get feed while the store is still open. Keeps my next morning routine flowing!
(I just happened across this protective dispenser while I was researching links…this could keep them cleaner and drier…may be a future Favorite 5!)
As for pens and pencils, most any will do, but I do like a good mechanical pencil in the rabbit room. It never freezes in the winter, and water and mud don’t stop it, either.
2. Dry Erase Markers (and a permanent Sharpie)
Main Use:
- Marking cage tags
- Occasionally marking an ear for temporary identification
I always have dry erase markers and permanent Sharpie markers on hand in the rabbit room. Mainly, these are used for marking cage tags.
They’re nice because they write on my plastic cage tags, but can be easily removed when not in use. The Sharpie is used for more permanent information, like cage numbers on tags. The dry erase markers don’t rub off too easily once they’re set. They’re quite reliable, too.
Both will come off the tags with a little rubbing alcohol, in case the marker has been on for a while and won’t wipe off with just a rag.
Pro tip: keep the individually-wrapped prep wipes on hand for this and other veterinary uses!
I’ll also use a Sharpie or dry erase marker if I need a quick and easy temporary identification for a rabbit, like a grow out in a mixed litter. If there is one I need to come back to to track or retake a weight or one I’m watching in a mixed litter for a health issue (or because it looks like a great candidate), I’ll just color inside the ear.
The mark won’t last forever, but it will last several days to a week. And it can always be re-colored.
Different colors will help track different individuals in the litter.
3. Small Spray Bottle
Main Use:
- Applying mineral oil for ear mites
I’ve recently switched over to using a small fine-mist spray bottle for applying mineral oil for ear mite control. I had previously assumed that the rabbits wouldn’t like a spray bottle because it’s sending noise straight into their ears, but they seem to take this better than having droppers inserted into the ear folds.
The spray coats well, can coat the whole ear top to bottom, and allows for quicker work. If you have an obstinate rabbit hiding in a corner, it’s a lot easier to get close enough and get the oil into their ear without having to pull everyone out of the cage. (A hand gently but firmly over the front shoulder helps to calm them and keep them from running around the cage, too.)
A small four-ounce spray bottle, like those used for crafting or essential oils, works well. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket as I work around the room, small and easy enough to get into the ear without being too large, scary, or bulky, and the fine mist sprayer does a good job of getting coverage on the ear in seconds. It’s also large enough to hold enough oil to go around the whole rabbit room in one go. It even works at angles if it’s kept full enough.
4. Denim Apron
Main Use:
- Protecting clothes from fur, urine, feces, and general mess
- Protecting the torso from scratches!
A friend gifted me a medium-weight denim apron this past winter, and it’s found a solid home and solid use in the rabbit room.
This comes in very handy if I have somewhere to go after handling a rabbit, or if I just generally want to come away less fur-covered. It keeps more of the barn out of the house!
It also does a lot to protect my upper body from scratches through my daily wear, and from holes being ripped and scratched into my clothes!
I find this especially useful on breeding days or during times when I am treating a rabbit, and I might need to just run in and administer a treatment quickly during the day. It saves a lot of wardrobe changes if I also have errands to run or somewhere to go!
5. Farmer’s Defense Sleeves
Main Use:
- Arm protection when handling rabbits
- Protection from reaching through doors
- Defense against scratches!
If you handle rabbits, you will get scratched, even if you have very friendly rabbits. Things happen. And the better protected you are, the safer your rabbits are because you’re less apt to reflexively let go or drop them.
I originally had the Farmer’s Defense sleeves for gardening, which is what they were mostly invented for, but quickly found that I had a lot more use for them in the rabbit barn.
The sleeves are lightweight. They do not ride up and they do not fall down. They protect the arms and hands but leave the fingers free to function.
Surprisingly, the rabbits can’t scratch through them, save for the occasional very determined rabbit that gets it just right. For the most part, when wearing these sleeves, I only get scratches on exposed parts of the hand. Saves a lot of arm scars!!
They’re easy to slip on and not too hot or bulky to work with in the summer. And you don’t have to wear a whole overshirt to protect yourself.
These sleeves come in really handy for handling, health, and hygiene, including things like
- Handling new rabbits
- Handling nervous rabbits
- Getting rabbits used to being handled
- Moving does for breeding
- Nail clipping
- Sexing rabbits
- Tattooing rabbits
- Eye treatment
- Any veterinary care where a rabbit might not love what you’re doing, but you’re doing it for their best benefit
VIDEO: 5 Favorite Random Things to Use in the Rabbit Barn (Summer-ish Edition)
What Are Your Favorite Things for the Rabbit Barn?
Many of my favorite things are things I picked up from other meat rabbit growers. So if you have a handy random tip or tool, share it for others to use.
Have a tip, trick, or tool to share? Let us hear it in the comments!
Read on:
Find my list of five winter(ish) items here: 5 (Simple and Useful) Favorite Things for the Rabbitry: Winter Edition -- It was made in the colder months, but many are useful all year long, so check it out!
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