On the Rocks Rabbitry
ABOUT
My animals are ethically raised to have rich, fulfilling lives. Unlike large, corporate farms, I provide my animals with plenty of space to play, and I provide enrichment through personal interaction and toys. My rabbits also are sheltered outside, where they get to experience sunshine, fresh air, and plenty of external stimulation.
On the Rocks is part of a hobby farm nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains not far from San Jose. The philosophy of the farm is to work toward greater sustainability while pursuing improved responsibility for the products we consume. Much of what I do is an experiment. But when the opportunity arose to include rabbits on the property, I fell in love with the entire process. The rabbits are not just livestock. They're partners. And they're treated witht he respect and kindness you'd expect in that relationship.
Raising rabbits is incredibly fulfilling. They provide a good deal of companionship, and I spend an enormous part of the day outside interacting with the rabbits. My breeding stock are all named rabbits, and they have distinctive personalities and traits. I work to breed only the best rabbits, ensuring that the strongest qualities of the adults are shared with their kits. I care for each one of my animals with respect and kindness, and I pride myself in compassionately seeing each animal through the entire life cycle.
But Rabbits Are Cute
I hear this statement quite often. In fact, I agree with it. Rabbits are adorable, and caring for them is a privilege. Reconciling their appearance with the end of the life cycle is challenging, but I'd like to address this core concern if I can.
When I first started raising rabbits, a friend said to me: "I don't think I could eat one of your rabbits having seen them grow up." ...
How Do You Process?
I make sure each rabbit is handled individually on processing day. Each is humanely euthanized out of sight of other rabbits, then dressed immediately to insure freshness.
I do not do further butchering. Each processed rabbit is sealed and marked with the exact time of day. Then it is delivered the same day to you at your home or other location.
Each rabbit also comes with offal of liver, heart, and kidneys by request. Because of restaurant demand, I will be processing many future litters through a USDA-approved facility.