Are you raising your own rabbits for meat and if so what breed do you like best and why?

chickletteSarge said:

yea ive asked my feed store and they dont know what breed they have in their pens!

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Any idea what they look like?

black mostly...some multi colored...

We raised Creme d'Argents a few years ago but we didn't have much luck with them and I finally just sent them ALL to freezer camp and decided to start over. Now we have Rex and I'm much happier with them. My black doe is an excellent mother and she's very docile. She's the one rabbit I don't get anxious about letting our daughter carry and hold, she's never bit or scratched, she's bomb proof.

Unfortunately my nice blue sr buck went missing a while ago, I must not have latched his cage properly and I feel so awful. Not only did I lose him, but I know he probably met a bad end. I'm heading out to the state rabbit show in a couple of weeks to pick up new boys.

chickletteSarge said:

black mostly...some multi colored...

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New Zealands come in black and broken, so there is a possibility they might be NZ's. There are several other large, commercial-type breeds (Rex and Satins, for example) that also come in those colors/patterns, so the color alone is not a sure indicator. If the store doesn't know, they might even be mixed breeds.

is 25-30 bucks normal for a rabbit? i remember them being like 10 growing up!

chickletteSarge said:

is 25-30 bucks normal for a rabbit? i remember them being like 10 growing up!

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Depends on what type of rabbits and their age. That seems about right for purebred rabbits. I've been having a hard time finding reasonably priced rabbits that aren't "pet" breeds like mini lop or dwarves OR on the opposite end of the spectrum it seems my area is flooded with flemish giants. Just keep your eyes open on craigslist or your newspaper. see if your local feed store has a bulletin board or if the employees there know any rabbit breeders. As we get closer to Easter and further into the spring time you'll start seeing more for sale I'm sure.

Also, this might sound terrible to some people but you'll likely be able to find cheap or even free rabbits after Easter. People buy cute bunnies and then after a few weeks or months realize that rabbits aren't always the cute, cuddly, clean pets they thought they were. When I see someone trying to give away their pet rabbits I always tell them straight out that if I take them they will go into my meat herd and may end up in my freezer. Some people think that's awful, and some people don't care "just get this thing out of my house" is what I've heard a lot.

I first got mini rabbits (since I had no previous experience w bunnies). Two Netherland Dwarfs and a Mini Lop. I cared for them while sick, dealt w/ mites, sore hocks etc.... everything but breeding. Once I was ready I kept them as pets and got Californians. They grow sooooo fast!!! Even my first time moms have been pretty good mommies w very little kitts diseased.

I like that they are mostly white because I can spot them easily amongst my other farm animals and that has saved many of them from being killed when they get in the wrong area.

I recently bread my Mini Lop (she's mid sized) w/ my Californian buck. We plan to eat the offspring too (not keep them) but I just could not resist to see how they turn out. If there are any irresistible cuties I might just end up w/ additional pets...

chickletteSarge said:

is 25-30 bucks normal for a rabbit? i remember them being like 10 growing up!

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In my area, young rabbits go for 5-15. You can get a bred doe for 20-30, unbred anywhere from 10-20.

Pure or cross breed does not seem to matter much. The more exotic breeds cost more, but meat types are pretty cheap.

I got my three young rabbits for free and paid 20 bucks for a bred doe. Managed to get my cages for free with some repair needed. In all I got into the rabbit business for under 60 bucks total.

bilder said:

In my area, young rabbits go for 5-15. You can get a bred doe for 20-30, unbred anywhere from 10-20.

Pure or cross breed does not seem to matter much. The more exotic breeds cost more, but meat types are pretty cheap.

I got my three young rabbits for free and paid 20 bucks for a bred doe. Managed to get my cages for free with some repair needed. In all I got into the rabbit business for under 60 bucks total.

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wow i wish i could get off to a good start like that!