If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been dreaming about homegrown honey in your morning coffee or tea, and wondering when you can finally line your shelf with jars of beautiful liquid gold.
There’s no question about it: The mere thought of processing an animal as small, cute, and helpless as rabbits is enough to make even a grown man feel squeamish. But there are practical ways to mitigate the intimidation factor and make the whole event feel more manageable.
You’re not managing the bees so much as listening to what they’re telling you – that is, you read the signs. Are there eggs? A healthy, active queen is likely present. Do you see a honey rainbow on the top of the frames? Stores are abundant, and the colony is thriving. Are the bees calm? They’re content and likely enjoying good foraging and health.
To “breed like rabbits” may be a saying that’s widely known and understood, but people are often surprised at just how much meat a small, homestead-sized setup can actually generate.
Most beginner beekeepers feel understandably nervous the first time they open a beehive. Hearing 40,000 bees humming at once can make just about anyone’s hands shake a little.
Over time, many folks are able to overcome the fear factor with practice and the proper equipment. But more often than not, many beginners end up falling into one of two camps. Either they never inspect because they’re still uneasy around bees, or they inspect too often, out of anxiety or a mistaken impression that constant hands-on management is needed.
You’ve read the first article in our series on Raising Rabbits and are seriously considering raising meat rabbits – fantastic! Now you’re wondering how to feed and care for them. While it may seem intimidating at first, it’s a lot easier than most beginners think.
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