meat rabbits

[Captain Carrot]

just a quick question on meat rabbits.

I've seen from everyone who breeds meat rabbits, that the rabbits are kept in tiny cages as apposed to hutches and runs. Why are the rabbits kept this way? I understand that it saves on floor space, but are the any other reasons for keeping the rabbits this way?

I bread chickens for meat, and would hate to keep them confined, I would also feel bad about keeping caged rabbits. A neighbor of mine keeps his rabbits in a stable, where they run around as much as they like. He keeps the bucks separate.

I'm planning on starting to breed them myself, I've bought a huge hutch with run for the does(thinking of starting with 2 or 3), and have started building hutches and runs for the two bucks. Mated does would be moved to smaller hutches a couple of weeks before giving birth, to make sure that they have their own space, and are left alone.

Any tips or advice?

thanks

 

[Akane]

My bucks are kept in 2x4' cages and my does run loose together in 12x24' horse stall. Lots of people are finding meat rabbit colonies are cheaper and easier to maintain. The does will have arguments but so long as they have enough space and objects to break up their line of sight so far mine just lose a few tufts of fur. After a day or 2 everyone has sorted things out again and there is peace until I do something to upset them again. Show people will never do this because of the missing tufts of fur and possible ear injuries which could get them DQ from a show and the rabbits do not stay as tame and easy to handle as they would in cages.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

I have meat rabbits and while mine live in cages, they're definitely not small cages.. not even my bucks are kept in a small cage. Mine have enough room to move around and play with their toys. Some even like running around their cage - which is why mine have to be tied down so that they don't knock the cage off with their running LOL. Some people do find that colonies are easier for them but in my case, cages are much easier to deal with.

 

[bagendhens]

i think cages are just "convenient" they take up less floor space, can be stacked and hung, easy to hose down and easier to prevent the spread of disese...if one rabbit starts to show sickness its much easier to quarrentein that one cage, in a colony situation by the time they show illness, its likley the entire colony also has it.
ive also read that does can be pretty agressive when they have a nest...

im personally planning on raising my meaties in a colony setting, the bucks will be caged seperatly because i dont want unregulated breeding and females due to kindle will be put into a seperate area untill the babies are old enough to be weaned/seperated by sex ready for butchering/selling

i like colony settings as i think its more natural for the rabbits...
but i think you defaintly have to be a little more attentive to any signs of illness, bullying ect.

 

[Captain Carrot]

sure I'm also planning on keeping the bucks away from the does, and also moving does ready to kindle to another hutch.


I'm thinking that if my kids and myself play with the rabbits and hold them often, then there shouldn't be a problem with the rabbits being less tame or harder to handle than a cage rabbit.

 

[rabbitgeek]

Think of the cages as rabbit "holes" where the rabbits live. We often refer to the cages as holes. These holes where the rabbits live are safe and secure for the rabbit.

There is a convenience factor. Not only makes it easier to feed and water, but you can get your hands on them to judge condition, for grooming, nail trimming, handling kits, nest boxes, etc.

Our rabbits would get toys in the cage to play with and were usually glad to see us for feed and head scratching attention. We would also try to give our breeding stock time out on the lawn every week to stretch and run a little bit. Chasing the rabbits was good exercise for us too.

Have a good day!
Franco Rios

 

[First To Hatch]

I think that one really shouldn't go with the colony method until they have raised rabbits for a 1 1/2 years to 2 years, I've raised them both ways and I liked single cage method better, everyone that I asked who raised them both ways love the single cage way much better. Rabbits, feel and seem healthier, they are easier to handle, clean up after, EVERYTHING. I honestly see no benefit of doing colony, if you really want create a little out door pen for them and let each one go there for an hour or two a day in the spring/summer. I used to take them in their wire cages and place them on the lawn and the grass would gr through into the cage from the bottom, they did enjoy it.

 

[Frugal Que]

We raise our rabbits in a colony and would never do cages. In our experience, it is much, much easier to feed them, provide them water and we spend time with them. Just a few minutes each day, we pet most of the rabbits while they are eating and they are not skittish.

We do not separate the does from the buck. Our rabbits are for meat. All our rabbits are very healthy and they seem to be extremely happy and friendly.

We have multiple nesting boxes that are used regularly and the buck is great with the babies. It is the cutest thing to see the mothers taking care of the babies and also to see the father taking care of them as well.

We haven't had any disease problems and it is super easy to clean the area. Rabbits are on dirt covered with hay with mesh buried underneath the dirt. There is always hay available to them. They pull the hay out and fill the boxes with it.

There is plenty of room and we have added two shelves for them to run up and look down on the others. The shelves aren't really high. Just about a foot above the nesting boxes.

For us, this is more natural and much easier. We raise our quail pretty much the same way. No cages.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
If you remove the doe from the colony at kindling it will be more difficult to reintroduce her to the group.

Many prefer the control of knowing who is kindling when, how many they have, the ability of tracking growth rates and otherwise just keeping a finger on things. However, I have found with non-showing stock of laid back and well matched personalities (not all rabbits are capable of cohabitating) that it is easier and more enjoyable way of keeping rabbits.

It is best to have litter mates or mother/daughter combos to start your doe colony. And I definitely advocate keeping bucks separate. I also suggest you do a periodic round of Cocciddia treatment (you can use the same sulfa drugs and dosage that you use with poultry.)