Chickens and Bunnies shared yard?

[Ninjasquirrel]

I really like the Flemish Giants just... We would keep then as pets primarily. I wouldn't be against breeding them for food and fur, but would likely sell the babies as pets and breeders.

Ah ok. I thought you were the OP so I was confused. Make sure you keep a good eye on the breeding then because people want the registered status.

 

[Kie]

We are wanting to get orpingtons buffs and as for rabbits, we were originally going to shell out for a good new Zealand Buck and three California whites, but after some more digging into the colony vs cage ordeal, I'm reading some truly awful horror stories of Zealands' attitudes in and out of cages. Despite breeding for food, I do want to have a good relationship with our breeders.
I also want to use the rabbit in every way I can (I hate wasting anything I'm taking the life of,) so I'm reconsidering the typical whites of the Californian.

For behavior and some color, we're looking into satins or Americans. Both usually good mannered (apparently satins get a little moody in mating season,) both good fur quality. (I mentioned in my introduction I also practice taxidermy, but just skeleton and fur, no stuffing things.) I won't be able to get much skeleton from the rabbits, but good fur and good skulls.

It will still be a little while before we can get some, but I like to have as much information on my options as I can.


Theory kind of being that more docile rabbits aren't only better for us to handle, but also could mean better chances of colonizing and even yarding with the chickens.
To be honest, if it turns out we can't colonize or yard with the chickens, it will be okay. We have plans in store for them.

 

[Kie]

I was reading through some posts of old rabbit forums that for private use, not crossbreeding may be a better option for several reasons. One of which was trying to play the genetics line. I wouldn't plan on breeding the offspring, I think I'd get new breeders when mine are ready to retire.
But the other thing about purebreeds is if you have that line for meat, you're still likely to get an aesthetically pleasing rabbit in at least one of three litters. It may be a worthwhile idea to sell a couple as pets or to the 4h kids--and our 4h kids don't really have a lot of "fancy" rabbits around here. I was a 4h kid for a very long time
Or selling one to breed for meat, even? We're actually in a good area that, if we wanted to get all the licensing for it, we can sell just about every part of the rabbit. I know we'll have more than enough meat for us, and even after giving some to friends and family. We do have plans for excess, so nothing goes to waste.

 

[gtaus]

we were originally going to shell out for a good new Zealand Buck and three California whites, but after some more digging into the colony vs cage ordeal, I'm reading some truly awful horror stories of Zealands' attitudes in and out of cages.

When I was a kid, I had about 100 New Zealand Whites (NZW) at one point, in wire cages. We kept them for meat, not as pets. I don't know what you expect from their attitude, but I never picked up my NZW without have on a long sleeve jacket. Even then, I would occasionally get a bad scratch or two. I was told that you really have to spend time with the baby rabbits, holding them often, if you want them to be more calm when you handle them as adults. But, that is not why I had rabbits. I would think that raising rabbits in a colony would be even more of a challenge to "taming" the rabbit's instinct to run away from you.

The last time I raised rabbits, I got a California White trio. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in breeding them and they all died during the winter. They were purebred rabbits, the most I ever paid for any rabbits, and they never had litters and just died when winter came. They sure were pretty rabbits, and in theory, should have made great meat rabbits for me. I am not convinced it was all the rabbit's fault, but I do think they needed more shelter from the winter cold than I was able to provide for them at the time.

Also, I would suggest trying to keep the pedigree lines pure. The New Zealand White is a great meat rabbit, but takes longer to reach harvest than the California White. If you plan on selling any of your rabbits for breeding, I don't think a NZW/California cross would be much of a selling point. And, thinking out loud, a NZW/California cross might only result in a smaller rabbit than the NZW that takes longer to reach harvest weight than the California White.

But, if that is what you decide, I hope it works out for you and you update this thread with your results. Again, I appreciate this discussion and the idea of colony rabbits - which I have never done, but am considering to try someday.

 

[Kie]

I had read some concerns on the nwz x Cali cross being smaller, but to be honest, I've never seen a real one. The meat quality and amount was apparently outstanding.
Ours aren't going to be pets, but we will be handling them, and the less violent the better. They'll only need to be handled when they really need to be after they've grown to where we need them, but I'd rather deal with as few issues as possible. I'm also very interested in pelts, which I hear satins and Americans are great for (mostly for personal use.) And I hear the bone to meat on both previously listed breeds are also good. Turns out my fiancé's coworker actually has rabbits and chickens (I forgot she had chickens, never knew about the rabbits,) so we'll be asking her some questions as soon as we can!

If we find ourselves with an amount we can't handle and already filling up our family's fridges, that's just about where we'd start selling while we figure out what we'll need I'd rather start too small than too big, but they're still rabbits and still have that reputation!
I'll be working on a few permits, anyway, so no real reason not to if I expect we might sell some.