Rabbit production scenario.... Please help...

[Lurch1]

So does it make sense financially? Here is the scenario.

I currently sell meat rabbits at 8 weeks of age at around 4lbs live weight. I sell them for $10 a piece. I usually have about 12-16 (48-64lbs) rabbits ready every 3 months. I have been asked by a guy to supply 60lbs of rabbit every month so he can feed his dog a raw food diet. He wants me to just kill them and freeze them whole, guts and all. The catch is he doesn’t want the rabbits bigger then 2 lbs each and h only want to pay $2/lbs live weight.

A) I would have to expand to 7 does.
B) I would have to send the rabbits before they start to eat, but I would only get $4 a rabbit instead of $10 a rabbit after feeding them for a few more weeks.
C) I could however re-breed the does sooner.
D) What if I have a freezer full of 30 dead rabbits not killed for human consumption and he decides that he doesnt want them anymore.

Tell me what you think. As it stands right now, I don’t really have a problem selling the kits I am producing right now. I am a pessimist and indecisive; bad combination.

 

[BlueLagoonRabbitry]

I raise rabbits and in no way in my opinion is it financially worth it.

 

[vicki2x2]

Well, it sounds like you would be taking a big loss if he will only pay $2 at 2# when you normally get $10 at 4#. Financially, I don't think you could raise them for that little, that is not realistic on his part. If you could come to an agreement on price and size, I would make him prepay if they rabbits were under the normal sale weight, so you don't get stuck with a bunch of frozen bunnies you can't sell. I can understand giving him a little price break if it is a guaranteed monthly order, but why not keep them at 4# and he can cut them in half?

 

[la dee da]

Vicki the OP said the man will pay $2 a pound, not per rabbit so that's $4 per rabbit vs. $10. Lurch have you figured out how much it would cost one way vs. the other? Having him prepay is an excellent idea. If he's serious about it than he shouldn't have a problem with prepaying for the bunnies.

ETA: The most important thing you need to think about is would you be able to do this emotionally/physically? Would it become to hard keeping up with all that?

 

[TwistedSerpent]

Coming from a different side of things, I pay $3 a lb for my rabbits, which are also frozen whole and unbutchered for pet food (large snakes actually).

It all depends on how much youre selling and making now vs how much you could be with him. $2 a lb with 60lbs is $120, factor in the extra expenses and work and see if its a better situation then now. Also making him prepay or at least make a depost would be the best idea until you at least know you can trust him, or you can talk to him and find some middle ground to start off with. If I was close by I'd take any unwanted whole ones if you end up getting stuck with some.

 

[Lurch1]

So we have come to an arrangement. I am going to grow them to 4 lbs (8 weeks of age) and sell them for $2.50/lb live weight. He has no problem with me ramping production slowly and is in desperate need of a supplier. He is actually pleasant to work with. This will at least give me a steady "income" for my hobby.

 

[missy_cbell21]

Quote:
That's great! I'm glad you came to an agreement that you both are happy about. I wish I could find someone to sell some of mine to. Seams like no one around here feeds raw to their dogs.

 

[la dee da]

Awesome!