Goodbye, Fryers!

I finally got some fryers to be able to process! Here are some pics!

Ready to load!

All loaded up!

The Modern Farmer Boy Show

I have a podcast called The Modern Farmer Boy Show. If you like my Dad's show, The Beginning Farmer Show, you will like The Modern Farmer Boy Show!

I was in a couple of The Beginning Farmer Show episodes.

• Episode 22: Listener Questions, An Interview with the Modern Farmer Boy, and A Hard Lesson Learned 
• Episode 72: The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and A Hard Lesson

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.oapv2qat.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.CpPD545P.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.CpPD545P.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.CpPD545P.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.CpPD545P.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson - See more at: http://thebeginningfarmer.com/?s=fair#sthash.CpPD545P.dpuf

The County Fair, Farming for Kids, and a Hard Lesson Learned

2014 Marion County Fair

I showed some rabbits at county fair.  I liked doing showmanship even though I got bit and scratched doing it. The rabbit was scared. This is how I did:

• Pen of 3 = 3rd place
• Individual fryers = 4th, 5th, and special recognition
• Senior bucks = 1st, 2nd, and best of breed
• Senior does = 1st and 2nd
• Junior Showmanship = Champion

My pen of 3

Practicing showmanship

Watching the judge with my pen of 3

Doing showmanship

My showmanship rabbit

Rabbit Pictures

These are some pictures that I took of my bunnies. I took them to fair.

The different colors are because Champagne De' Argents are born black and then they gradually change to silver!

This one got a blue and outstanding 4th grade ribbon

This one got a blue ribbon

Making a Grower Pen

This is a 4-H project I did. I put all these pictures into a book. At the end of the book I had a write-up. I got a blue ribbon and a striped ribbon!

I am choosing furring strips for the slats. My grandpa is also choosing furring strips. We needed to get ones that didn’t have any holes or big knots so that it looked nice.

I am drilling holes so that we can screw the furring strips to the furring strip slats. I drilled holes so that the furring strips wouldn’t split. My grandpa is waiting to screw them down.

My grandpa and I are squaring slats for a new cage. We are using the prototype as a workbench. When you measure the cage from diagonal corners the measurements should be the same.

I am drilling a hole for a furring strip to connect the slats. My grandpa is making sure it is against the wall by holding a wall piece against the slat that I will screw it in to.

My sister and I are drilling screws in to posts to keep the box sturdy while my grandpa helps my sister. When screwing into plywood you don't sink the screw into the plywood because plywood is thin. Sinking the screw in is when the screw head goes in the wood just enough to make the two pieces of wood come together.

I am drilling a screw in to hold the frame together. I need to sink the screw so that it is tight.

After the frame and the box were done I tried to hammer in a staple to staple the chicken wire. I wasn't able to get it. I learned that you need to go easy.

I am hooking up a water bottle. My grandpa is installing the feeder.

I am drilling the screw into the hinge while my grandpa holds the door. I learned that with Phillips head screws you need to push hard because the driver head pops out easily.

I am twisting an eyebolt in so that I can latch the door. I learned that the longer the rod the easier it is to turn the eyebolt into the hole.

I am screwing down steel while my grandpa pre-drills the holes.

All done!

Putting a rabbit in one of the new cages!

1. What did you plan to learn or do? (What was your exhibit goal(s)?

I wanted to make grower pens for my rabbits.

2. What steps did you take to learn or do this? Explain what you did so it is easily understood.  The judge wants to know and understand the steps you used to make your exhibit.

First, at his shop, my grandpa cut the pieces so that the pens would be ready to build. Then we built the cages at my house. When we were building I screwed the pieces that held the slats down into place. After that I drilled a hole for a furring strip to connect the slats. After that we put the walls up for the box, and we cut out a huge door so that there would be plenty of airflow. I drilled screws in to posts to keep the box sturdy. Next we put the supports up, I drilled screws in to hold the frame together, and my mom stapled chicken wire around the sides. After my mom did the sides my grandpa and I did the roof. We made it out of tin. One piece we screwed down and the other we weighted down. Then my grandpa and I made a rope handle for us to pull the cages around. Last my grandpa and I made the lid for the box and put the bunnies in!

3. What were the most important things you learned as you worked toward your goal(s)?

I learned that when a screw is too long you could angle the screw. I learned how to choose boards that don't have knots, that when you use staples you need to use small hits with the hammer, that you need to really push the drill when you screw in Phillips head screws, that you need to go easy when you hammer in staples, and that the longer the rod you use to turn an eyebolt the easier it turns. I also learned that you need to sink screws in to the wood, but when screwing into plywood you don't want to sink the screw in to the plywood because plywood is thin. Sinking the screw in is when the screw head goes in the wood just enough to make the two pieces of wood come together.

4. What would you like to do in this project area next year?

I would like to do some woodcarving.  I would also like to make a trellis.

Bunnies!

I have 26 bunnies as I type!
One of them had 10. That is a lot for a rabbit. The others had 3, 8, and 8. Right now I have 3, 8, 8, and 7. They are doing well! Here are some cool pics!

The oldest

The second youngest

Miyuki at Home

 I had a rabbit named Miyuki. Let me tell you about her at home.

Well, you heard about getting her and her cage. Let me tell you about her at home.

Well, when we got her she needed to get use to her cage and the place. I got her food and water in case she needed some.  Then I looked at her.
The next day I checked on her and gave her dandelions. After Dad got home, I checked on here again.
The next day, after nap, I gave her food and found that she had made a pile of straw. When Dad got home I gave her fresh water and Dad and I put the nest box in. After Dad got chores done, I watched her.
That is my story!

Feeding Miyuki some grass

Buying Miyuki

On Sunday, March 25, 2012, I got Miyuki with Mom, Dad, Isaac, Jonathan and Hannah.
We got her in Iowa City. We got her so I could raise rabbits. We got to pet her. We talked to her owners. Then we bought Miyuki!
We got Miyuki's pedigree paper. Then we brought Miyuki home. Next we put Miyuki in her cage.
It was fun buying Miyuki.

Petting Miyuki

Miyuki in her box

Building the House for Miyuki

On March 25, 2012, I got a rabbit named Miyuki. We thought she was pregnant but she was not.
Here is how Dad and I made her cage.
At Farm and Home we got chicken wire, a water bottle for Miyuki, feeder for Miyuki, feed for Miyuki, a nest box, screws, and drill bits.
At Spahn and Rose we got we got twelve 1x2's, six 2x2's, and three 2x4's. Two of the 2x4's were treated.
At home, Dad and I started to build. First we put the treated 2x4's in place. Then we cut the other 2x4 in half. Then we put the pieces in place to make a rectangle. Then we screwed the pieces together. Next we did the slats for the floor. After that we did the room to nest in. After we did the posts to hold the roof up, we put the sides on the room. Next we did the chicken wire. After that we did the roof. Last we did the panel for the feeder and water.
It took a long time.

putting the slats on

putting the roof on

My Beginning Of Rabbit Raising

My name is Caleb. This is my beginning of raising.

So you may be wondering why I have this blog. I made a company named Five Loaves Two Fish. I was selling potholders and I wanted something that you could continually sell. So I started thinking of ideas and came up with rabbits. And this where my story starts. A while back my dad suggested a blog. And so this is my blog.

For awhile I planned how I would raise rabbits. Then one Saturday, in May 2012, I built a cage with my dad. The day after that I got my first rabbit, Myuki. Awhile later I got five more. With the buck we mated Myuki. She had five kits. Two made it. One we didn't know if it was born alive.

I enjoy raising rabbits!

The first five kits.

The first four rabbits.