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

[Bunnylady]

I have a friend who does just the opposite, he has a NZW buck and California does! His buck was actually a mutt himself, because I kept him for a couple weeks, when their place flooded. I had to double up in some cages and a long story short, some of his offspring had gray ears and noses. LOL

It is genetically impossible for colored ears, etc. to come from a REW. If the buck was a NZW, the gene for the colored points came from the doe.

 

[mlongworth]

I fry everything like chicken the first time so far it has worked like a charm for fish and rabbit both. It helps that my kids eat everything no picky eaters here.

 

[Bitterroot]

I chose Florida Whites. Of course they're tough to find, so I had to drive 10 hours roundtrip to pick up a group.

I like them because they're smaller, eat less, take up less space, and supposedly their fryers have a similar dressout to the larger rabbits with very fine bones. I haven't sent the first bunch to freezer camp yet, so cannot confirm it. As cold as it gets here in MT, I also appreciate their smaller ears. I would think big ol' flappy ones would be more susceptible to frostbite.

So far, they've been very nice rabbits.

Some 7 week old kits in the growout cage

 

[Gelotri]

We have been considering raising rabbits for meat to suppliment the egg protein from our hens. My question is...what do you do with your hides from the rabbits?

 

[Celie]

I chose Florida Whites. Of course they're tough to find, so I had to drive 10 hours roundtrip to pick up a group.

I like them because they're smaller, eat less, take up less space, and supposedly their fryers have a similar dress out to the larger rabbits with very fine bones. I haven't sent the first bunch to freezer camp yet, so cannot confirm it. As cold as it gets here in MT, I also appreciate their smaller ears. I would think big ol' flappy ones would be more susceptible to frostbite.

So far, they've been very nice rabbits.

Some 7 week old kits in the growout cage

Wow, 10 hours, that's a long way!!!

They are adorable and look very similar to NZW, except a bit smaller ears. I don't know how easy rabbits get frostbite, but the larger the ears, I am told, the quicker they dissipate heat, so the frostbite issue makes a lot of sense! Let us know about the bone to meat ratio when you dress one out.

We have been considering raising rabbits for meat to suppliment the egg protein from our hens. My question is...what do you do with your hides from the rabbits?

I do not think they have the market, they did when rabbit coats were the style, and I throw mine on the burn pile, but maybe someone else can answer that for you, with a practical use?

 

[Celie]

It is genetically impossible for colored ears, etc. to come from a REW. If the buck was a NZW, the gene for the colored points came from the doe.

I know, so even though his owner thought he was a NZW, he had to be a cross between a NZW and a Californian. When he bred with my NZW doe, over half of his offspring had gray edges on their ears and noses, but the other half was all white, like him. My does are all NZW, and never had any other litters that had any color at all. Because the man only had him and Californian does, and this buck was all white, I guess he logically thought, he was a NZW! He later get killed by a wolf or a fox, about 3 months after I returned him, so I raised a 6 month old pure NZW for him. Now he does have a NZW over his Californian does!

 

[chickletteSarge]

i would like to get into raising rabbits! i want to raise them fo rmeat and fur!!! i would like to get silver foxes but the cost of the bunnies and shipping is way too high! so im thinkin a colored breed... does anyone suggest a breed/breeder near my area?

 

[yinepu]

We raise mutts to eat. Californian bucks over New Zealand does. The offspring is meaty and fast growing.

ours were Calis x NZ too.. unfortunately we only have 3 mutt does left after someone felt the need to leave their dogs at our property without our knowledge (dumped them)

We have been considering raising rabbits for meat to suppliment the egg protein from our hens. My question is...what do you do with your hides from the rabbits?

we tan the hides.. still have several in the freezer that need to be done

 

[yinepu]

i would like to get into raising rabbits! i want to raise them fo rmeat and fur!!! i would like to get silver foxes but the cost of the bunnies and shipping is way too high! so im thinkin a colored breed... does anyone suggest a breed/breeder near my area?

for meat if you are just getting started and don't want to pay an arm and a leg for registered bunnies.. check Craigslist.. a lot of the local breeders around Texas will post their excess on there.. just be careful of buying "adult does".. many times they are old worn out breeder does that aren't producing anymore

Also check with your local feed store.. They should have a list of breeders or at least a bulletin board you can post a "wanted ad" on

 

[chickletteSarge]

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