Rabbit Raising?

[CYGChickies]

We have two New Zealands, a white doe and red buck, and they have good meat-to-bone ratio. They're also gorgeous rabbits as the breed has been worked with for a long time by talented breeders. Our New Zealands are laid back sweethearts and did not experience as wild of a personality change as most rabbits do when reaching maturity. Our white doe comes to her name when we let her outside for a romp in the field. Our other rabbits are easy to catch but she's the only one who actually recognizes and responds to being called.

New Zealands come to butcher weight young and so it's a less expensive meat form as far as feeding than some larger animals. New Zealands can get wool block so make sure they get pineapple, papaya or a tablet designed to help prevent wool block. We usually give pineapple weekly to our rabbits at risk and more frequently if they slow in eating or drinking.

--kuntrygirl-- I absolutely love your rabbit setup. I'm going for something similar in my barn that I hope to have in place before Thanksgiving.

CYG

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Thank you. I love to recycle so I love coming up with new ways to recycle things.

Do you have any problems with predators with no door? I have my buns in an old workshop right now and it's secure (and a little warmer/cooler than the outside temperature in the good direction) it's secure, but it's darker than I would like.

No predator problem at all. However, I have been thinking about putting on a door "just in case". It's getting cold and I don't want any predators coming out of the woods looking for food.

 

[steinway]

I highly suggest you get a book called "Raising Rabbits the Modern Way" (although modern is 1975

). There is alot of information at You Tube as well. I got my equipment from Bass Equipment.

I also have New Zealand and California, 4 total one buck and one doe of each. I got my rabbits from a local Amish farmer real cheap, not from a breeder as I am not planning on showing them. Once of your earlier responders mentioned getting from a breeder that also breeds for temperament and that is a good idea, three of mine are friendly but the New Zealand male is NOT.

I just mated the two New Zealands and will know in a couple of weeks how that turns out. Good luck to you.

 

[debilorrah]

All the info you have received about the meat rabbits is right on the money. Are you interested in wool? I believe your post said for "fur". If you are looking to either spin and knit or sell the raw wool, you will want an angora breed. Some are less maintenance than others. As an example, french angoras may weight up to 10 lbs, but they have clean faces, ears and feet; an English angora can weigh 7 lbs but has face, ear and foot hair, which IMHO makes them harder to groom. Giants have ear hair, germans cannot be plucked; they must be sheared as their coat does not produce an undergrowth. Satin angoras I am clueless about.

Hope this helps!

 

[AuroraSprings]

We raise Silver Fox rabbits to continue the breed and for meat. They are a heritage breed, so they grow slower, but we are raising them on a pasture-based system, which cuts down on input. They can cost much less to produce this way. Plus it's healthier for the environment. The fur on these guys is an awesome "by-product". Lots to do with it.