Newbie meat Rabbit breed selection?

[kentuckychicks]

NZR - New Zealand Reds.  NZW - New Zealand White

LOL, I don't call them dreaded, plus it is a meat product, I am not looking to make friends with them, I am looking for a healthy rabbit with good meat quality, don't really care how it looks.  You may want to think about that, it is a whole lot easier to butcher something you are not attached to then something that looks like a cute fluffy, loveable bunny.  New Zealand whites can/do have the albino eyes, but our crosses don't, but we crossed a cross to a cross and did get an albino doe this past breeding.  Our Californian cross buck does have albino eyes, but that would have come from the New
Zealand in him, as the Californians have brown eyes.

Lol I wouldn't call them dreaded either. Like I said my husband isn't a fan just mumbles about devil rabbits. I believe he watches
entirely too much sci fi network! It seems the "devil rabbits"(sigh) are the best all around meat rabbit breed. I think I just might mix and match. I don't want a super cute rabbit either I mean have you seen those lop ear ones!?!?! So in your opinion.....I get three rabbits two does and a buck...how would you start off?

 

[kentuckychicks]

Do you have any pictures of your rabbits or your set up with your hutch?

NZR - New Zealand Reds.  NZW - New Zealand White

LOL, I don't call them dreaded, plus it is a meat product, I am not looking to make friends with them, I am looking for a healthy rabbit with good meat quality, don't really care how it looks.  You may want to think about that, it is a whole lot easier to butcher something you are not attached to then something that looks like a cute fluffy, loveable bunny.  New Zealand whites can/do have the albino eyes, but our crosses don't, but we crossed a cross to a cross and did get an albino doe this past breeding.  Our Californian cross buck does have albino eyes, but that would have come from the New Zealand in him, as the Californians have brown eyes.

 

[UnlabeledMama]

Rex (also known as Standard Rex to differentiate them from mini rex) are also good meat rabbits. Or you could look for New Zealand Reds or New Zealand Blacks. I have a couple New Zealand Broken Blacks that have been good for me.

You can also look into the Heritage breeds like American Blues, Silver Fox, Creme d'argent, or Champagne d'argent.

 

[kentuckychicks]

I had thought that I had read that people didn't care for Rex rabbits because they were all dark meat? Is this true? I was leaning towards silver fox but haven't talked to anyone actually raising them...

Rex (also known as Standard Rex to differentiate them from mini rex) are also good meat rabbits.  Or you could look for New Zealand Reds or New Zealand Blacks.  I have a couple New Zealand Broken Blacks that have been good for me. 

You can also look into the Heritage breeds like American Blues, Silver Fox, Creme d'argent, or Champagne d'argent. 

 

[cassie]

The usual rabbits raised for meat production are New Zealands and Californians. Florida Whites make a good meat rabbit for family use. They are a little smaller than the other rabbits but they are very dense and they produce a lot of meat for their size.

 

[guineagirl23]

These are my three future breeders. They are broken new zealands. Broken chestnut doe in the first pic, broken blackdoe in next, and then outlr broken red buck. They are all are purebreds

 

[kentuckychicks]

Very nice!!! Are those all you have?

 

[kentuckychicks]

I have heard good things about the American and giant chinchilla rabbits. Does anyone on here raise them?

 

[guineagirl23]

Very nice!!! Are those all you have?

Yep. We only have 3 at the moment

 

[kentuckychicks]

Are you just starting out with meat rabbits?