Motor City Menagerie

06/25/2024

I picked these summer squashes out of my garden today 😍 they were just little seeds that I got from the dollar store earlier April. We’re practicing some suburban homesteading here in the Detroit metro area! 🏠

06/25/2024

Hello piggies! They got a large batch of edible w**ds and plants from the yard today! They also get the leaf trimmings from my vegetable garden.

I have noticed the most common growing w**d in our backyard that is edible is white goosefoot/lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) this plant is not only edible for the herbivores, but humans as well. It’s very similar to spinach and contains vitamins A and C, fiber, protein, calcium, iron, manganese, potassium, niacin, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

06/20/2024

Just bought Gary this cat harness, I’m excited to take him out more. He is the friendliest of my rabbits!

06/19/2024

Lola approves the homemade smoothie cubes that I made last night!

I have made the decision to retire her from my breeding program. She has produced some amazing and colorful offspring for me, but it’s now time to focus on breeding my grow outs from her. She is only about 2 years old and her sire was harlequin, but I have no actual lineage information. I just know that she is a great mother and produces lots of colors if paired to the right male. She has even fostered kits not of her own.

She will be at my table at the upcoming Southeast Michigan Reptile Expo on June 29th in Lapeer.

06/16/2024

Working on this outdoor guinea pig run. Doesn’t look like much progress but it’s been tedious work! My total investment cost so far $10.

06/13/2024

Excited about this pairing 🐇

06/10/2024

Brought home Jumbo Brown coturnix quail this weekend! Looking forward to adding them to the little farm that we have.

06/09/2024

Blackjack the Cali Kingsnake 🐍 just ate a pinky rat and looking for more

06/09/2024

Sometimes when you breed a lot of animals you get ones born with a deformity. I noticed a runt in this litter of rats but it wasn’t until closer examination I figured out why. He was either born with these malformed teeth or had received an injury. There was nothing to fix this and he was too far gone. He was humanely put down. It’s a sad thing but you have to be able to deal with it as a breeder of animals.
On another note, we have two litters as of right now and tons of baby rats that are going to be looking for homes by the end of the month and early July. I am accepting deposits now if you want to reserve a specific rate and please inquire if interested. We have solid colored/blaze marked black, grey, tan. Parent photos upon request. I suspect the younger litter to be satin coat.

06/03/2024

06/03/2024

I haven’t posted updated photos of the bunnies in awhile! They are getting so big! 🐰

06/01/2024

Look who’s basking on top of the fake snake 😂

05/30/2024

How sweet are these two? This is Marty and Rosabel, two very spoiled guinea pigs! I think we may have started a piggy obsession for this family. 😂 We’re so grateful to find wonderful homes for our animals.

05/20/2024

Gorgeous chinchilla colored girl!
Doe
3 months old (DOB 2-14-24)
NZ/Standard Rex cross

05/19/2024

I never share photos of these guys! Loving their newly designed set ups. Top to bottom: My goldfish tank, Tiger salamander, and two snake enclosures (Cali kingsnake and Pueblan milksnake)

05/15/2024

They’re not super enthused about being in the holding bins while I clean their cages. 😂

05/14/2024

6 days old now, their colors are developing a lot more!

05/12/2024

Let’s talk about 🐇 💩 ⁉️
Rabbit manure is an amazing natural fertilizer for your garden or plants. On top of providing essential nutrients for plants, it also;
• Improves soil structure
• Improves soil porosity
• Adds stability to soil
• Holds nutrients for other organisms in the soil
• Acts as a slow-release fertilizer
• Facilitates drainage
• Absorbs moisture

Rabbit manure is a “cold” manure meaning there’s no need to compost it before adding it onto your garden, you just place them bad boys freshly on top of the soil!🪴It’s also completely odorless and not very messy.

You can read more about the benefits of rabbit manure here.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/bunny_honey_using_rabbit_manure_as_a_fertilizer

05/12/2024

Look how precious the rabbit kits are, just 4 days old and developing quickly! This silver colored one is my favorite!

05/11/2024

Cuniculture?

“Cuniculture is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising domestic rabbits as livestock for their meat, fur, or wool. Cuniculture is also employed by rabbit fanciers and hobbyists in the development and betterment of rabbit breeds and the exhibition of those efforts. Scientists practice cuniculture in the use and management of rabbits as model organisms in research. Cuniculture has been practiced all over the world since at least the 5th century.”

We want to make ourselves very transparent with our rabbitry; while we do provide lovely pets, not all rabbits make good pets. Some rabbits have health issues, some have temperament issues, and some are just downright “undesirable” or “unwanted.” Many in shelters end up abandoned or they are set free to fend for themselves.

What is it that everyone is preaching these days? Limiting your carbon footprint or becoming more economically sustainable. That’s exactly why we raise rabbits… for food! Not only sustainable but more economical than traditional livestock, and not to mention no real issues with them within city limits.

Did you know that this was common practice during the era of The Great Depression? Because rabbits were very easy to feed backyard fodder, easy to harvest, and made a good stew. Ask your grandparents if they’ve ever tried it.

No, it’s not a job that’s for everyone, but respect those who can. I can guarantee the life that the meat on my plate had, can you?

There is a reason we produce such great rabbits…only the healthiest and sweetest rabbits pass on their genes. And not a single hair on their head goes to waste. We welcome any future buyers; whether their interest is for pets only, future breeders, or looking to feed their family or pets.

05/10/2024

05/10/2024

Someone needs to get her before I change my mind on keeping her!
Doe
3 months old (DOB 2-14-24)
NZ/Standard Rex cross
Fabulous temperament

05/10/2024

These two produce very colorful offspring. I’m excited to watch these ones grow! 7 healthy kits.

05/08/2024

Lola rabbit just gave birth to 7 kits!

05/06/2024

Our very first skinny pig we produced went to an excellent home. He also shares the home with hairless dogs and cats. It’s like fate walked in when we were at the last expo. Very spoiled Mort. Highly recommend DIY cages like this one, they are so much more affordable than ones in pet stores.

05/06/2024

Just paired up a couple of my rats. 🐀 I will be expecting litters hopefully by the end of the month and the babies will be available at the Southeast Michigan Reptile Expo June 29.

05/05/2024

Gary is one of our favorites here. A very sweet pedigreed mini rex.

05/03/2024

Save the date! 📆 We’re gonna be vending once again at the Southeast Michigan Reptile Expo

05/03/2024

The best part of keeping herbivores is that you can feed them for free. I supplement their diet with fortified pellets for proper nutrition, but I also feed them the w**ds that grow in my backyard. Most of them are edible even for human consumption! I use the app called PictureThis to identify each plant 🌱 and make sure it’s not toxic.

05/02/2024

These two girls are off to their new home and I prepared them a nice little goodie bag! 🐀