What rabbits do you have?????

[antishot]

I am looking for any info from any of you who have rabbits or have had rabbits. We have chickens and I am looking to get into rabbits for meat. Basically my question is what breed of rabbits do you have and why did you pick that breed.

Thanks for any info

[610Alpha]

I wouldn't worry too much about breeds until you can keep them alive and successfully breed them. Once you get that part down then look at specific breeds.

[Lowdown3]

Well said E!

Ours are basically meat rabbits, or as a dog would be called "mutts." They are likely mostly New Zealand because of their size but they are definitely not pedigree. I don't see a lot of need for that in an animal that's going to end up eaten.

Just avoid the small breeds and you'll be fine. Don't let them get too fat.

[eeyore]

I used to keep California's. In my past experience they are a good breed to start with, a meat rabbit that grows fairly quickly. Only had a few bad mothers and other deaths.

When i get back into it this year i was planning to get American Blue rabbits. If i can find them locally and at a reasonable price. If not it will be back to the California's again.

The host of the site has a short series on rabbit raising on utube, worth checking out will give you a lot of the basics and other good info.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SurvivalReport#p/u/8/3LIXETt5M-c

http://www.youtube.com/user/SurvivalReport#p/u/7/MVYH0P8m0Aw

[antishot]

thanks for the links

[becky3086]

Mine were mutts as well but I really wished at the time that I had some better meat rabbits.

[Boyd]

I cross Cals with Silver fox for my meaties, or just cals depending on which buck is worn out lol.

[Megan]

California or New Zealands are the best as they mature fastest. My family raised rabbits when i was a kid. We started out with a trio (one buck 2 does) and went from there. You butcher offspring at about 12-15 weeks old, and rabbit meat cans beautifully! You will need to separate the males out as they become sexually mature around 10-12 weeks, so separating at 8 weeks would be beneficial.

Rabbit meat is definitely one of my favorite meats, and tastes very similar to chicken. Good luck!

[tarheelsman71]

I guess it differs for everyone, but we have NZ brand mutts. We butcher litter after 8 weeks. We found that the rabbit doesnt seem to get much more meat after that. They just tend to get a lot of fat on them, making them harder (not impossible) to butcher. We run 1 buck (who must love his life) and 3 does. We butcher 1 out of 3 litters, and sell the other 2 litters. Great source of income. Craigslist is my friend. $10-15 buck a pop, for something that cost about $1.50. Great investment. I make the kids do the maintenance and feeding, and I give them a % of the money. Homemade sweat shop!!

[Mikeg175]

I have wascally wabbits . Hehe , J/k

[antishot]

I guess it differs for everyone, but we have NZ brand mutts. We butcher litter after 8 weeks. We found that the rabbit doesnt seem to get much more meat after that. They just tend to get a lot of fat on them, making them harder (not impossible) to butcher. We run 1 buck (who must love his life) and 3 does. We butcher 1 out of 3 litters, and sell the other 2 litters. Great source of income. Craigslist is my friend. $10-15 buck a pop, for something that cost about $1.50. Great investment. I make the kids do the maintenance and feeding, and I give them a % of the money. Homemade sweat shop!!

I don't know if you heard but I was listing to the power hour and Joyce was talking about some family that was teaching there children about money and business so they raised rabbits and then sold them. Long story short the gov't came after them and fined them about 90,000$ for doing it. I will see if I can find the article about it and post it.

[crossbow]

I started yrs ago with a Palomino and calif does,later I crossed with some New Zeland white. I just got another palomino buck to get away from the white rabbits,We keep 3 does and change every 3 yrs so we're never inbreeding. I like to start winter with a least 95 in the freezer and some in canning jars, I don't breed any between Oct. and March anymore, the cold weather makes it to hard to keep freah water in front of them, I know buy a water heater, but I'm in it to save money, not spent it.

[crossbow]

Family fined for raising rabbits.

http://www.gridirondigest.net/index.php?/topic/40409-usda-fines-family-90000-for-selling-rabbits-as-hobby-if-not-paid-by-today-may-23-fine-balloons-to-4m/

[Boyd]

Family fined for raising rabbits.
http://www.gridirondigest.net/index....alloons-to-4m/

they were fined for selling w/o permits.. A lot of folks on the rabbit boards are talking about these guys. I think its total bravo sierra, but still...

[Boyd]

Here is my breeder setup, grow-outs are in different area after 4 weeks when I wean them