Last week I said goodbye to the last of my rabbits. I’ve enjoyed the time spent raising them and learning about them over the past 3 years, but life is busy and I’ve lost my passion for them. I’m sure someday it will return. We’re keeping all of our cages and carriers for that very reason.
For now, I’m happy to spend more quality time with our chickens. We got some new chicks back in May, and they’ve grown into quite a friendly flock! The kids named our rooster Mohawk, and I really dig it.
Ryan put together a bigger coop for them so we can actually go inside and sit with them. They hop into your lap and just make you feel so loved!
Chickens Vs. Rabbits: 3 Points to Consider
1. Chickens are lower maintenance and contribute more to the homestead in life.
In my experience, chickens are definitely lower maintenance than rabbits. I don’t have to worry about them escaping. You let them out, and they come back to the coop before dark. They eat bugs and scraps and make eggs to feed the family.
Most of a rabbit’s value comes after it’s been butchered (meat, pelts, etc.) The only contribution rabbits make to the homestead while they’re alive is their poop (and their cuteness). Rabbit poop is great, but so is chicken poop.
I have a really hard time not getting attached to my animals. Raising any kind of animal for meat will be hard for me for that reason.
2. Chickens normally don’t need nail trims.
When rabbits are kept in cages or hutches, they need nail trims once a month or so and they DO NOT like it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come back inside scratched up and bleeding after nail trims. Chickens only need nail trims if they can’t manage to keep their nails filed from their constant scratching.
3. Chickens lower the feed bill.
Feeding animals can be expensive. Chickens are really good at scavenging and cleaning up after us humans, which keeps the feed bill down. I’ve always foraged for my rabbits, but it does require more work on my part. It’s nice that the chickens can be let out to do it themselves.
All that to say, I just need a little break from rabbits. I don’t know how long it will be, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I had rabbits again in a couple of years. I wonder which breed I’ll end up with!
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