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

[Angelicisi]

I'll try... happy to share what I know. Im still learnin tho!

All a pedigree is, is a family tree. Well kept records for each generation. I made my own design, then included all the needed info to be able to register a rabbit should a buyer ever want to go that route.
There are programs that help keep records like kintraks.

Registered rabbits are different than pedigreed rabbits. *and a lot of buyers don't realize that when I tell them*

Registered rabbits should be more expensive than a pedigree alone rabbit.

A pedigree of at least 3 generations is required to register a rabbit. But not to show a rabbit.

Pedigrees can cost $5-$10 here per rabbit here.
A registered rabbit can run double a non registered rabbit cost here.

As one starts showing a rabbit and they win a specified number of shows called "legs" I believe, they can try for "grand champion". They must be pedigreed and registered I believe to win grand champion.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Thank you - that's a good start. I will check further online and check out the kintracks you referenced. I'm not breeding yet, but I do like to keep records/statistics so I may as well start now.

 

[CrookdBeak13]

This will be the THOUSANDTH time I have tried to post the pictures of my bunnies so I hope that it works! Here they are:
They don't have names yet!!!

New Zealand White X Flemish Giant Buck (born 1/29/14)













California Doe- age unknown--(hopefully due to kindle on 7/7-7/11/14)








New Zealand Doe- Bought her as a breeding pair with the buck above-- She should be ready to breed July 1st according to the breeder we bought her from (Born 1/30/14)








The California was bought from someone on CL who said they were selling to switch to "heritage" Breeds--I emailed her as soon as I got home, because I forgot to ask how old she was, and I have never heard back from her. She said she had kindled 3 litters with 1 litter where they were in the middle of moving and she "ate" one baby......said she thought it was just the stress of moving....We will give her a chance here--3 strikes and shes dinner!!!! We bought the rest mats in their cages from Tractor Supply because I was worried about them getting wire sores-----They barely use them!! But at least they have them.

Anyway--theres my bunnies! Hope you enjoy!

 

[kacklinkelly]

Congrats. Can't wait to see the kits. I can't wait till we breed our does. Just a few more months. It feels like an eternity

 

[CrookdBeak13]

Congrats. Can't wait to see the kits. I can't wait till we breed our does. Just a few more months. It feels like an eternity

I agree! I can't wait either, though I am optimistically waiting. I tried to palpate her on Wednesday, that would put her at 16 days and I couldn't feel anything. If she didn't take I am going to wait and breed her and the NZW doe together so I will hopefully have a foster should something go wrong. I am new to the bunnies so this is definitely a learning experience for me!

As far s waiting for breeding, yes indeed it feels like an eternity!! I am anxious to see lil buns out in the nest box....

 

[kacklinkelly]

...I am going to wait and breed her and the NZW doe together.... I am new to the bunnies so this is definitely a learning experience for me!

This is the way I read your previous message. I was going to tell you that since you are new to bunnies, you might want to breed her and a buck together for better results. I sometimes make myself laugh.

 

[chookrodney]

good to see other rabbit breeders starting up i'm in south Australia and will be moving soon to Tasmania Australia to get my commercial rabbitry up and going again as the climate is cooler. I have only got about 150 bunnies at the moment but am planning to get to 10,000 does. yes that's right 10,000 . that's not to mention the 750 chooks , ducks , geese , turkeys , guinea fowl & pigeons that's coming with us as well . it's a big move for me over 1000km of driving and then a 10hr boat trip .

 

[Angelicisi]

Love the pics! Nice herd you got started there! Does the cali she sold you have a dark fur chin/dulap? I always give adopted adult does a couple chances to raise litters. I'd think mid move it could happen. 3 litters... I'd assume the does is around 1 1/2 years-2 years old if she was a virgin doe prior to the lady you bought her from. The "ate one" Could have been over cleaning newborns too. I have seen them come from some rough environments and I get that it takes time to come around. But if mine continue to do poorly as moms they gotta go lol @ dinner. I can use that time/space/energy on much more productive does. I was under the impression (i will have to look it up again tho) that New Zealands (actually made here in the states) and Calis were not heritage/rare breeds, that we created them. That they were actually well tuned crosses that breed true and make a quality meat. But still learning rabbits! Maybe 'heritage' is classified different in rabbits! Both breeds have been around a very long time now.

This will be the THOUSANDTH time I have tried to post the pictures of my bunnies so I hope that it works! Here they are: They don't have names yet!!! New Zealand White X Flemish Giant Buck (born 1/29/14) California Doe- age unknown--(hopefully due to kindle on 7/7-7/11/14) New Zealand Doe- Bought her as a breeding pair with the buck above-- She should be ready to breed July 1st according to the breeder we bought her from (Born 1/30/14) The California was bought from someone on CL who said they were selling to switch to "heritage" Breeds--I emailed her as soon as I got home, because I forgot to ask how old she was, and I have never heard back from her. She said she had kindled 3 litters with 1 litter where they were in the middle of moving and she "ate" one baby......said she thought it was just the stress of moving....We will give her a chance here--3 strikes and shes dinner!!!! We bought the rest mats in their cages from Tractor Supply because I was worried about them getting wire sores-----They barely use them!! But at least they have them. Anyway--theres my bunnies! Hope you enjoy!

 

[Bunnylady]

Dark spots on the dewlap aren't unusual on Cali's, and aren't even considered a fault. On a Himalayan colored rabbit, dark pigment is deposited in the fur on parts of the body where the skin is cooler. Normally, that is just the extremities (ears, nose, tail, paws). If the skin on other parts of the body gets chilled while fur is growing, dark pigment can appear there, too. Apparently, this doe pulled a lot of fur from her dewlap during cool weather - most likely for her last litter. If a Himi baby gets out of the nest and gets chilled, it can wind up with a black ring on the part of each hair at the place where it was growing at the time (this can almost look like the banding on a Chinchilla). These extraneous dark areas normally shed out with the next molt; it is also normal to see the dark "points" shrink some during warm weather, and grow larger and darker when the weather is cool.


BTW - the New Zealand breed was developed in the early 1900's, and the Californian in the 1920's; that hardly qualifies them as "Heritage" breeds. I'd be curious to know what breeds this person has decided to work with, and how they do - as with poultry, the older breeds were superseded for a reason, and the major market for them is trading among other fanciers.

 

[Angelicisi]

I do know temp effects color in calis Always thought it was neat cooling rooms are used to darker points in some areas where heat causes blacks to go brown and not sunlight bleaching it.

I thought I just read that color other than on points and feet on a Cali are a disqualification. Maybe that's only grand champions, could have been an old article too...I've been knee deep in culling for shows on my NZWs my brain is swimming in bunnies .

Just got into Calis tho I have a lot of work ahead of me if I try and go a non meat route with my calis tho. 

Dark spots on the dewlap aren't unusual on Cali's, and aren't even considered a fault. On a Himalayan colored rabbit, dark pigment is deposited in the fur on parts of the body where the skin is cooler. Normally, that is just the extremities (ears, nose, tail, paws). If the skin on other parts of the body gets chilled while fur is growing, dark pigment can appear there, too. Apparently, this doe pulled a lot of fur from her dewlap during cool weather - most likely for her last litter. If a Himi baby gets out of the nest and gets chilled, it can wind up with a black ring on the part of each hair at the place where it was growing at the time (this can almost look like the banding on a Chinchilla). These extraneous dark areas normally shed out with the next molt; it is also normal to see the dark "points" shrink some during warm weather, and grow larger and darker when the weather is cool.


BTW - the New Zealand breed was developed in the early 1900's, and the Californian in the 1920's; that hardly qualifies them as "Heritage" breeds. I'd be curious to know what breeds this person has decided to work with, and how they do - as with poultry, the older breeds were superseded for a reason, and the major market for them is trading among other fanciers.