Best Meat Rabbits??

[kman]

when i did rabbits i liked new Zealand whites for meat and they make good pets, but the California is not a bad idea either

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I am lucky to live near a former Polyface apprentice who just brought some home with him, so that is how I'm getting them. I doubt Salatin would ship any, since that is verboten according to his local-farming philosophy. You might have to make a trip to VA.

For other breeds, you may be able to pick some up on Craigslist or at a small animal auction. Imagine they shut down up there for the winter, though, so you may need to wait till spring.

I can ask my friend for you to see if he is interested in shipping some. I get first dibs, though.

He is selling them by the pound butchered, at $5 a pound. So, I expect to pay at least that much per pound. Probably more for breeding stock.

 

[Overeasyplz]

what is a polyface rabbit? Or a brazillian? Never heard of them. My breed of choice for meat? I love Champagne D'Argents. HUGE bodies, Sweet disposition. Usually large littlers and gorgeous fur coats. However all I could get around here was NZ 's and a Californian Cross doe. I have two different lines of NZ and you can really see the difference in their faces, lol. I haven't started breeding them yet, too harsh outside. I saved my baby angoras born Dec 8, they were born on a -15 day and even with lots of straw, pulled wool and getting milk they were still almost dead when I found em. They lived inside untill they were five weeks old and back out to momma they went. I didn't bottlefeed them, I brought momma inside and let her feed em.

 

[Overeasyplz]

I live just a state away from a cinnamon breeder, looking into them as well. it's too hard to eat the angoras, the kids love em too much. But we've done it before

 

[honeydoll]

The cinnamons are cool. I've thought about them to but I hear they can be kind of mean. Which does make it easier to cull, I guess. Have you ever thought of the rare breed lilacs. They are calmer than cinnamons and are actually a light purple. The are a very rare breed too.

 

[Overeasyplz]

I have but the lilacs I've seen are not impressive by far. I like a large bunny. Pretty fur though. I did breed Van Beverens for a short time before i had to move to florida and give up my animals..they went to a fella in washington state. I have no idea what happened to them They were blue! I loved them so much, but you know sometimes moing to follow a job is more important.. sigh. At least now we are fairly stable and i can raise whatever I want

 

[chellebyerly]

we have californaians. they are pretty big rabbits. and they are not totally mean. I also have a New Zealand.


Mine are bred for 4-H for the kids, but then also through out the year for meat. in the colder months its a little hard to get them to breed sometimes, but its easier if you keep them bred/raising pert near year round.

most of mine were just bought in the last 3 months, and hadnt been bred in quite a while, so they were hard starters. But the ones that have been bred recently were easy breeders.

(I'm not talking about 12 kindles a year, I'm talking 3 or 4.)

I have a bunch of babies outside right now (for meat), and I'm thinking of bringing one in, letting the kids make a pet out of it, and letting my daughter show it in the little kids 4-H show.

 

[mountainpridefarm]

Rabbits will breed year round as long as the kits aren't cold they are fine. My rabbitry was unheated and frankly had a bit of a draft running through it. A nice solid wood nestbox and a heat lamp above it and the kits did just fine. Make sure if you use a heat lamp to be extra cautious (not to close, not near hay, general common sense). If it is over 55-60 degrees then you shouldn't need a heat lamp as long as it is draft free. I raise french angoras now, great wool production and the unwanted woolers make great fryers.

Obviously I am assuming you are in search of just a meat animal and I would suggest the Florida Whites or New Zealand, perhaps a cross of the two. Floridas are a bit smaller, but fast growing with a leaner meat on them. Very docile buggers and are easy to dress. I would join ARBA (http://www.arba.net/) they are a wealth of information and you can't beat the deal. Probably $20.00 per year, you get a guidebook, and a magazine every other month. They really are great and helpful.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
Thanks for the info.. I had thought of doing a dual purpose Fiber/Meat rabbit.. But decdied i am stretching myself kinda thin as it is... I used to belong to the ARBA when I was in 4-h.. I'll have to get signed back up...

 

[mountainpridefarm]

good luck! Let us know what you do end up getting!