I have a few questions about meat rabbits....

[Akane]

Rabbits want to create a litter area and if they are in wire cages the only place to do that is in a structure you provide like a nest box. Does not close enough to kindling are likely to do that. In colonies where the rabbits are on the ground (either in a building or out in a pen with shelters) the does supposedly keep the nest areas they setup very clean since they have plenty of space to make a community toilet area. I'm hoping to turn a 170sq ft oat bin that was our standard chicken coop in to a meat rabbit colony with no cages. I've got several leads on d'argent rabbits to use for meat and pelts. I'm going to try doing the same on a much smaller scale with my mini rex in an 8x8' building.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I too have just ventured into this journey! I found all my cages off craigslist for an AMAZING deal, and just got free wood off craigslist for building the stands. I have Californians and started with 2 bucks and three does. All the cages are 36" x 30", except the weanlings cages which are 36" x 36".

We are expecting our first litters next month! I plan on selling most of the babies and then whatever we don't sell will get processed. I also am planning on keeping and processing all the hides myself!

Just for reference, Encyclopedia Of Country Living, by Carla Emery is a fantastic book!

Here is my set-up. The nest boxes only go in with the does a week before kindling time.

My Boys:

My Girls:

 

[Amanda0609]

Thanks for sharing pictures! That's a nice set up with the shed.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Gotta love craigslist when it comes to that stuff!! That's actually a really good idea to check there for some supplies, especially to get started with!

PureSnowChic, that's exactly what we do with the babies. We sell what we can and then process the rest. It doesn't make us any money in the big scheme of things but it does let us buy some bags of rabbit food once in a while without having to take the money out of our own pockets. Worth it for me

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

Thanks!!!

I didn't see the post earlier, you beat me to it.