Raising our New Zealand Meat Rabbits *Start to finish - Birth to processing* Possible Graphic pics*

[Angelicisi]

How does everyone, if anyone tag their rabbits (breeding stock) and or mark other rabbits? As in some on hold?

I understand tattoos are used sometimes, I'd like another way lol.

 

[Beekissed]

They have tiny plastic ear tags like you'd use for larger livestock....

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/rabbit-ear-tag.html


And they have metal ones they use for "fur bearing" animals, even for rats in a lab.

http://www.hascotag.com/livestock.php

 

[Angelicisi]

A lady wants 2 pairs (male and female) of these kits for showing.
These are meat rabbits, yes from strong well kept lines but not papered lines nor show lines. Is this normal?
She saw the parents and said they'd do great in a show and she wants some winners! I take it as a compliment on Celies stock Great job Celie- this doe is from your lines and her kits are from another one of your bucks!
Once sold tho, I don't have any mind as to what the owner does but being that their meat rabbits and this lady is intent on showing them, there are no extra things I need to be concerned about right? I don't show rabbits, never have don't have any idea lol

Also, with chickens, o don't count my chicks before they've hatched...she wants to pay half now and half on delivery in April. She asked I grow them to 4 months.
I have no problem doing this but should I Not take any money until delivery? Sorta torn, reserving specific kits, feeding and growing them out I'd think a deposit is nice but on the other hand what if she changes her mind or god forbid somethin happened-VERY unlikely but must plan unjust in case right? (predator whatever)
Sorry to babble, I'm a newb at Big time rabbits lol I'm a chicken addict! Doh. Thought Wed be selling meat. Like processed bunnies for the oven lol not breeders (already have people on wait lists 9 deep for future trios all willing to hold out a year AND pay deposits.
Is this normal? They're rabbits...seems unreal. But then again I waited for my pure ameraucana chickens 2year's lol

I'd love input from others on what to expect. Eventually people will want meat for dinner no? Lol is it better to just continue to grow out quality breeding stock? I get better prices that way, obviously I pay more to feed them longer...

 

[Beekissed]

I would take deposits and I'd take reserving kits, but I wouldn't pay to grow them out for them that long. I'd let them take them home at weaning, as per usual for most any reserved offspring of dog, cat, cattle, sheep, etc. Rarely does a person grow out your reserved animal for you, even a little bit. That's a loss of profits and if you stick to that rule from the get go, you will have a system that won't take up your space and cages~not to mention food~ with someone elses property.

I think it's great that you have such interest in your kits! That bodes well for your operation, that's for sure. There's really nothing you have to do to prepare them for sale unless you want to tattoo them with the rabbitry of origin number/letters. That's a good thing to start if you want to advertise your line at shows, while also letting people keep better track of the origin of that specific animal. I would keep track of these numbers and who you sold them to, their addresses and phone numbers.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I use magic markers to temporarially mark kits to keep track of weights and genders and who has which rabbits on reserve. I do not do deposits right now but I also don't grow out kits. I'd ask a lot extra for growing out kits and a deposit.

 

[Bunnylady]

Just a note -

If anyone is interested in showing your rabbits, you can't put a tag on them. The only identifying marks allowed by the American Rabbit Breeders' Association are tattoos in the left ear. Any marking in the right ear is a DQ (other than the registrar's mark that the registrar puts there when he registers a rabbit). Holes, tears, or missing pieces that are large enough to significantly affect the appearance of the ear are also reasons that a rabbit would be disqualified.

 

[Angelicisi]

Id like to not tattoo. If I had fancy show lines I would, but I don't nor are they previously documented other than breeders breeding records, Celies and my other line from my aunt's. Do they chip rabbits? Like dogs?
A band seems like it just would not work lol
I do use a marker and it has helped and is not permanent if they want to show.

I don't really *need* to at the moment but I Will eventually have dozens that all look the same lol

 

[Angelicisi]

When the earliest I can sex them?
I figured it wouldn't matter for awhile (meat is meat lol) but if people want a certain sex I assume does are more sought after and probably less born to a litter lol maybe not.

 

[Bunnylady]

No, they don't chip rabbits. Chipping of a small animal used for food isn't cost-effective, and can be a problem down the line.

Tattooing is the only "permanent" means of identification that is currently recognized. I put permanent in quotes because ear tattoos aren't necessarily forever! I have known several rabbits that, for some reason, didn't hold a tattoo. In one case, the rabbit's ear was redone several times, by a few different methods, and it still faded out.

At one time, I could sex large-breed kits at about 3 days of age, but my eyes just aren't that good any more. If you handle kits enough, you know that the little monsters manage to pee on you pretty often. If the pee just sort of dribbles down the tail, it's usually a doe; little bucks can squirt you in the eye.

Other than that, it's a matter of practice. If you know how to gently pull on the tail and press just in front of the genetalia to expose the relevant "parts," the buck will have a little round thing that stands up evenly all around, with a round hole right in the middle. The doe has a tiny slit, which is a tad closer to the anus. The doe's vulva is v-shaped, rather than round, and stands up at the front, tapering down to level at the back.

 

[Angelicisi]

Doe #2s litter doing well. She has 6 kits, all nice n fat these are one week old yesterday