Starting with Rabbits

[610Alpha]

I am waiting on a book right now but had a few questions about getting into rabbits.

Should I get cages all the same size or should I have some that are a little bigger for the doe's to have their litters?

How many doe's/bucks should I start off with for breeding stock?

Does anyone have pictures of their automatic watering system for their rabbits?

How much tracking of parentage should I do when breeding or does it matter (concerned about inbreeding)?

Is bassequipment.com a good place to get cage kits from?

How strict of a feeding program do you put your rabbits on? example each rabbit gets 1/2 cup of feed per day or whatever? Do you supplement with Timothy hay?

How much feed do you grow, if any?

I am not to worried about finding a breed right now...google can help me find a breeder to get started.

[MustangGal]

I am waiting on a book right now but had a few questions about getting into rabbits.

Should I get cages all the same size or should I have some that are a little bigger for the doe's to have their litters? We use the Bass Equipment 5A http://www.bassequipment.com/Cages/R...s/default.aspx for all of our cages. We have ten adult occupied cages right now and six grow outs.

How many doe's/bucks should I start off with for breeding stock?We started with a trio. A buck and two does.

Does anyone have pictures of their automatic watering system for their rabbits? We don't have one.

How much tracking of parentage should I do when breeding or does it matter (concerned about inbreeding)? Depends on who you ask. If you are not keeping back any, I don't think it matters much, your problems will come further down the generational line.

Is bassequipment.com a good place to get cage kits from?All of our cages are from Bass. They have great customer service. I had some problems with a couple tops and they sent new ones. Of course, I live close enough to their Missouri location it is cheaper to drive than pay shipping.

How strict of a feeding program do you put your rabbits on? example each rabbit gets 1/2 cup of feed per day or whatever? Do you supplement with Timothy hay? DH and I disagree on how much to feed, I think he feeds too much. Personally, I would put them on a daily ration and give hay. We give them the big alfalfa cubes and regular hay we feed the goats. I also pick plantains for them - they love those.

How much feed do you grow, if any? None yet, but I do pick plaintains for them. I am looking at growing swiss chard for them. We had a very young rabbit escape - a white one at that - thought she/he was gone for good. Then a couple weeks later, I spotted her outside the enclosure our rabbit cages were in. I managed to capture her with a fishing net (they work great for escapees) and quaranteened her. She was in fantastic condition.

I am not to worried about finding a breed right now...google can help me find a breeder to get started. I know you aren't asking, but I couldn't be happier with our New Zealands.

ETA: We just moved to our winter setup and don't have it all complete, but I can take pics if you need them. Ours are in the barn for the winter.

[MustangGal]

One more thing. Be sure you cull ruthlessly. It takes the same amount of resources to care for a rabbit who kits 3 or 4 as it does to care for one who kits 8-10.

[610Alpha]

One more thing. Be sure you cull ruthlessly. It takes the same amount of resources to care for a rabbit who kits 3 or 4 as it does to care for one who kits 8-10.

So are you saying that if a doe isn't producing good sized litters that I should turn her into a roaster? :)

Thanks for responding.

[MustangGal]

That is EXACTLY what I am saying. They are delicious. :D

[1Admin]

Other than the fact that they are not self sufficient, I think they are the perfect animal for the survivalist.

We recently re-vamped our setup. I'll try to get some pics posted once things calm down a bit.

[610Alpha]

Other than the fact that they are not self sufficient, I think they are the perfect animal for the survivalist.

We recently re-vamped our setup. I'll try to get some pics posted once things calm down a bit.

I hear you are pretty busy right now :) I watched ur vids recently and I am reading a pdf that I got about raising them and I have a book on the way. Learning some with our pet rabbit...I figure if the kids have it then I can teach them the others are for eating...well thats my plan at least.

Also watched your bee keeping vids again and I forgot that Darth Vader had made a cameo LOL.