Back yard rabbit group anyone?

[rancher hicks]

So? What do you do with your rabbits? Anyone have Angora's for hair? Do you eat them? Does someone process them for you? What about the pelts? I see a lot on CL and wonder what do people do with babies when they're born and why do they let the breed anyhow?

I just got two Mini Lops. Not for show or eating. Pets. Both girls so I'm told. Traded some eggs for them.

 

[cassie]

So? What do you do with your rabbits? Anyone have Angora's for hair? Do you eat them? Does someone process them for you? What about the pelts? I see a lot on CL and wonder what do people do with babies when they're born and why do they let the breed anyhow?

I just got two Mini Lops. Not for show or eating. Pets. Both girls so I'm told. Traded some eggs for them.

People have rabbits for any number of reasons. Some have pets, some raise them for meatand/or show, and some people have angoras because they like to spin wool.When I had rabbits we ate some ourselves and I had a good market for my surplus fryers. I just put a RABBITS FOR SALE sign by the road. Rabbits are easy to process, much easier than chickens, so most people process their own. Just a word of warning. Be aware that just because you were told your rabbits were females, it doesn't mean they are.

 

[rancher hicks]

People have rabbits for any number of reasons. Some have pets, some raise them for meatand/or show, and some people have angoras because they like to spin wool.When I had rabbits we ate some ourselves and I had a good market for my surplus fryers. I just put a RABBITS FOR SALE sign by the road. Rabbits are easy to process, much easier than chickens, so most people process their own. Just a word of warning. Be aware that just because you were told your rabbits were females, it doesn't mean they are.

Yes I did consider that. Since the later add for his last three stated at this age he couldn't tell. I've experience but the girls had to go and pick these two up and of course they couldn't or wouldn't have had a peek. I'm already suspecting one of being a male since it is larger than the other of same age.

How did you house your rabbits? I'm thinking of a system with a drop floor that will tilt and let the manure "roll" out and away where I can shovel it up and take it to the compost pile.

I also plan to attach it so the inside hutch is inside the chicken run which I cover each winter with plastic. If I let the manure fall into the run will it bother the chickens healthwise?

What about predators? The last time I had rabbits we lived in the city and I housed them in the basement.

 

[braehedge]

Backyard rabbits sounds like a great idea! I wish I knew more about creating forums:/

 

[dreamgirl21]

I would love to hear more about rabbits as i want to get a few rabbits
along with my chickens Im planning to get this summer. ( In separate houses of course)

 

[balloonflower]

Backyard rabbits sounds like a great idea! I wish I knew more about creating forums:/

There are about three rather active threads here regarding rabbits, and a couple more that we're trying to get going again. You just sift thru the other animals, and get subscribed and it's easier.

I would love to hear more about rabbits as i want to get a few rabbits
along with my chickens Im planning to get this summer.  ( In separate houses of course) 

For this and the couple previous, why are you wanting rabbits? I'd bet that you'll get answers, but I would start there--just pets, pets + breeding, shows, meat & sustainability...

For me personally, I just got started last November and love all of it. We got a breeding trio of silver fox rabbits primarily for meat, though when I get a chance to sell kits I will happily do so (and did sell my first pair yesterday). My second litter is now two and a half weeks old, with the older kits at 9 weeks. We are also planning to allow my daughter to purchase a dwarf hotot for a pet when the breeder's litters are old enough-we like the buns that much.

 

[dreamgirl21]

Ive always liked rabbits. I raised them as a kid with chickens for meat.
Im not sure about raising them for meat now...maybe. I always hated when my
older brother would kill them to butcher, they scream like crazy. Im leaning more
toward raising bunnies and selling them. I do like rabbit meat but maybe that will
come later. Im on the fence about it. Im thinking about getting 3 cages. one for my buck
and one for the does and one for the bunnies when they get weaned from mommy.
What else do I need?

 

[balloonflower]

I would plan on keeping the does separately as well--then you control the breeding process with no surprises or fighting. You can prepare and know when to expect the kits, plus mamas can go after another doe's litter. Depending on what you plan to do with kits, you may need additional grow-out cages.

Currently, our society has gotten so far from a good understanding and is completely disconnected from where our food comes from. I get a very interesting array of responses when people realize why I am breeding rabbits. Raising for meat is a personal choice that not everyone can or will do. I personally feel that it is a responsible one--I can humanely breed and enjoy all stages of my rabbits, but with that comes a commitment to properly harvest. Breeding without plans for what happens when not all the bunnies sell is a problem for me. I've been working with a young girl in my DDs 4H club who is going to be raising mini-rex. We went through all this--all scenarios. I'm not saying that having or breeding pet-types is wrong, just that there needs to be an understanding of reality and numbers.

Screamers--yeah that is tough. There are ways to minimize, but still...

 

[moomoodiddy]

I would plan on keeping the does separately as well--then you control the breeding process with no surprises or fighting. You can prepare and know when to expect the kits, plus mamas can go after another doe's litter. Depending on what you plan to do with kits, you may need additional grow-out cages.

Currently, our society has gotten so far from a good understanding and is completely disconnected from where our food comes from. I get a very interesting array of responses when people realize why I am breeding rabbits. Raising for meat is a personal choice that not everyone can or will do. I personally feel that it is a responsible one--I can humanely breed and enjoy all stages of my rabbits, but with that comes a commitment to properly harvest. Breeding without plans for what happens when not all the bunnies sell is a problem for me. I've been working with a young girl in my DDs 4H club who is going to be raising mini-rex. We went through all this--all scenarios. I'm not saying that having or breeding pet-types is wrong, just that there needs to be an understanding of reality and numbers.

Screamers--yeah that is tough. There are ways to minimize, but still...

preach

 

[moomoodiddy]

Ive always liked rabbits. I raised them as a kid with chickens for meat.
Im not sure about raising them for meat now...maybe. I always hated when my
older brother would kill them to butcher, they scream like crazy. Im leaning more
toward raising bunnies and selling them. I do like rabbit meat but maybe that will
come later. Im on the fence about it. Im thinking about getting 3 cages. one for my buck
and one for the does and one for the bunnies when they get weaned from mommy.
What else do I need?

You need a realistic goal for breeding(pick a breed that is toward that goal and do your research) and get more pens than you think you will need. I would go with the common five slot wire cages. They are easy to find and work well for just one breeding pair. You can always make doors between slots for more room and then cut them off.