Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[ocap]

I'd like to breed a Flemish giant doe to a smaller buck, but the better half isn't on board with the big girl, she want's something in the 5kg range.

here is the youtube video, about half way through they switch from chickens to rabbits

 

[Bunnylady]

A lot of people fuss about the lower meat-to-bone ratios of the giant breeds, but truth to tell, a lot of semi-commercial breeders are working with animals that have some Flemish in them. A strictly commercial breed that is gaining popularity in the US, the Altex, has a fair amount of Flemish in it.

Vehve, some folks manage colonies by burying fencing about 2 feet down; it seems that rabbits don't usually burrow much lower than that. Does are more likely to dig than bucks, I hear.

Rabbits often rebreed immediately after the doe kindles; while commercial breeders usually have rabbits that are pregnant and nursing at the same time, it's really hard for a doe to keep that pace up for long. In colony breeding, keeping the buck separate, and only putting him in with the does at carefully spaced intervals, keeps from overbreeding the does. Does are often pretty territorial; one of the biggest considerations with colony breeding is making sure the rabbits have enough space to get away from each other, and can have their own "special places" to hang around in.

 

[vehve]

Bunny, the plan would be to use a borrowed buck for breeding, doing one litter in spring, and another visit from the buck about six to eight weeks after the first litter is born, then probably letting the doe be sans offspring until next year. I'd like to make the aforementioned cage the main housing, but then also use a movable fence out in the yard to give the bunnies some variety in where they're kept. I can probably go as big as about 12 by 12 feet for that fencing if I fix it up with some decent aerial cover. That would be more of a daytime thing though, at night I'd like to keep them in the sturdier stationary hutch.

How are bunnies about social contact, do they seek it out? We were thinking of housing the bunny with the chickens in winter.

*Edit* Oh, and the hutch would have a deep litter, something to dig in. Probably some soil and straw and stuff. Also a little house to function as a nesting space.

 

[perchie.girl]

A lot of people fuss about the lower meat-to-bone ratios of the giant breeds, but truth to tell, a lot of semi-commercial breeders are working with animals that have some Flemish in them. A strictly commercial breed that is gaining popularity in the US, the Altex, has a fair amount of Flemish in it.

Vehve, some folks manage colonies by burying fencing about 2 feet down; it seems that rabbits don't usually burrow much lower than that. Does are more likely to dig than bucks, I hear.

Rabbits often rebreed immediately after the doe kindles; while commercial breeders usually have rabbits that are pregnant and nursing at the same time, it's really hard for a doe to keep that pace up for long. In colony breeding, keeping the buck separate, and only putting him in with the does at carefully spaced intervals, keeps from overbreeding the does. Does are often pretty territorial; one of the biggest considerations with colony breeding is making sure the rabbits have enough space to get away from each other, and can have their own "special places" to hang around in.

Bunny This is how Grandpa Dixon would keep rabbits... in very hot climates its very successful because when rabbits dig a warren they put in air conditioning...

deb

 

[Amberjem]

Arkansas blues are BBS Genetics and lay blue eggs:


Egg in the middle

whats BBS genetics??

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote: Blue/Black/Splash - feather color.

 

[ronott1]

whats BBS genetics??

Like Bunny said!

Blue/Black/Splash - feather color.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Blue/Black/Splash - feather color.

Whitmore Farms sells BBS Amauracanas.... I wanted some in the worst way... still do but they have a twenty five bird limit.

Nice part about it is you get the possibility of three colors at once without having to separate the birds.

deb "off to make coffee"

 

[Amberjem]

Blue/Black/Splash - feather color.

doh gosh I am never gonna get the initial thing.......sighs

 

[Areolyn]

I know someone selling rabbits the next town over...I thought of getting a couple but after seeing that the backyard is already filled with chickens, I think I'll pass haha. Coffee is gonna be my new energy source next monday...classes start again and I am ready for the fun ones, but not the others And this dang cold keeps fluctuating! Darn you Texas weather!