Sure, I'll go out and take some. We only have a small # of cages now, but you'll get the idea. Be back in a flash.
Those of you with Rabbits for meat... *Pics Page 4*
- Thread starter PineBurrowPeeps
- Start date
I'll be waiting. Thank you so much!
Quote:
I hope this was a typo and you plan to breed them in 4 months, not 4 weeks?!?! Big breeds shouldn't be bred until at least 8-10 months. They are just babies until then and it would stunt their growth.
I have NZW also. We raised meat rabbits for a while, but nobody wanted to "do the deed" so to speak and it wasn't cost effective to pay someone to butcher and cut it up.
To someone who wanted to know why someone would eat rabbit, it is because it is one of the healthiest meats out there, less fat, cholesterol, etc and it is very dense. You get more protein out of it pound for pound than any other meat. It is also one of the most cost effective meats to raise yourself.
I hope this was a typo and you plan to breed them in 4 months, not 4 weeks?!?! Big breeds shouldn't be bred until at least 8-10 months. They are just babies until then and it would stunt their growth.
I have NZW also. We raised meat rabbits for a while, but nobody wanted to "do the deed" so to speak and it wasn't cost effective to pay someone to butcher and cut it up.
To someone who wanted to know why someone would eat rabbit, it is because it is one of the healthiest meats out there, less fat, cholesterol, etc and it is very dense. You get more protein out of it pound for pound than any other meat. It is also one of the most cost effective meats to raise yourself.
I hope this works. I'm new at the image posting thing. We use thin chain to suspend the cages using S hooks and eye hooks. We put some saw dust on the floor to absorb the liquids.
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How many chains are supporting the string of cages?
At each junction of two cages the S hook joins them front and back and a chain connects each S hook to the ceiling to the ceiling. Then there is a chain at each end corner. Does that make sense? Chain or wire can be used to support the cages. We have used both. The chain has about 1/4" links.
Great setup. I hang my cages also. Just got finished putting some rabbits in the freezer. Eating some tonight.
Thanks. DH studied up on the set up for the large scale operation. The rabbits don't suffer when the mucking gets a little behind. Just more to shovel.
- Thread starter
- #49
"I hope this was a typo and you plan to breed them in 4 months, not 4 weeks?!?! Big breeds shouldn't be bred until at least 8-10 months. They are just babies until then and it would stunt their growth. "
No, it was not a typo. Their breeder starts breeding them at that age and that was what I was told.
I have multiple books on raising rabbits for meat and they suggest breeding the doe the first time at 4-5-6 months of age and to keep them pregnant pretty often as if they gain too much weight just sitting around in cages they can have a hard time concieving at all. They also don't consider the NZW a Large breed rabbit like the Flemish.
IMO if they are old enough to eat at 14-16 weeks then they're old enough to start earning their keep.
I'm not about to pour 8 months worth of feed into these rabbits and then have fat doe's that can't breed.
I'd rather go out to the barn right now and have myself some dinner. These girls are already over 5 pounds each. They aren't little babies.
Wild rabbit doe's have been having litters of kits from the time they are sexually mature for eons. It may take these doe's 2-3 times to "get it right" and raise a whole litter to maturity.
I would think that nature makes animals sexually mature at the age it feels the animal can handle it.
As much as we are overpopulated with pets, how many 6 month old cats and dogs have gotten pregnant on their first heat and raised the litters with no complications. I know, I used to deal with kitten season in the pound every year. Yes, those mama's were babies themselves in numbers of months old but their bodies were fully mature and able to handle reproducing.
Everyone has their own opinion though and I respect yours. You do with your rabbits as you like
No, it was not a typo. Their breeder starts breeding them at that age and that was what I was told.
I have multiple books on raising rabbits for meat and they suggest breeding the doe the first time at 4-5-6 months of age and to keep them pregnant pretty often as if they gain too much weight just sitting around in cages they can have a hard time concieving at all. They also don't consider the NZW a Large breed rabbit like the Flemish.
IMO if they are old enough to eat at 14-16 weeks then they're old enough to start earning their keep.
I'm not about to pour 8 months worth of feed into these rabbits and then have fat doe's that can't breed.
I'd rather go out to the barn right now and have myself some dinner. These girls are already over 5 pounds each. They aren't little babies.
Wild rabbit doe's have been having litters of kits from the time they are sexually mature for eons. It may take these doe's 2-3 times to "get it right" and raise a whole litter to maturity.
I would think that nature makes animals sexually mature at the age it feels the animal can handle it.
As much as we are overpopulated with pets, how many 6 month old cats and dogs have gotten pregnant on their first heat and raised the litters with no complications. I know, I used to deal with kitten season in the pound every year. Yes, those mama's were babies themselves in numbers of months old but their bodies were fully mature and able to handle reproducing.
Everyone has their own opinion though and I respect yours. You do with your rabbits as you like
- Thread starter
- #50
BTW; I LOVE the suspending cage set up and it's EXACTLY what I'm in the process of clearing out half of the lower section of my barn for, as soon as I get the prior tennents over here to get their junk out
I was hoping to put something under my cages on the ground though to catch the mess.
Obviously there will be urine too and not just coco puffs, my barn floor is concrete but I don't want to trash it incase one day I decide to do something else with that area...
How about rubbermaid tubs under the hanging cages? I could then drag them out and dump into a muck pile to compost.
MissPriss,
I was checking out that cage site you linked to and can't find the price of the cage you're buying, which is it?
The Flemish breeder is going to give me two next boxes for free when I bring my girls over
I've entered my does into the county fair next month, can't wait to see if they get a ribbon. I think they're nice girls.
To the person who was offended by meat eating,
I'm sorry you feel offended but I specifically put "Meat Rabbits" in the title so that anyone who was Veg or Vegan would know that's what it was about and could avoid it. I even put "white space" between the opening paragraph and the body of the post to further protect those who didn't want to read about meat animals. If these things bother you please don't read them.
I wish you much luck and happiness with your personal diet.
I was hoping to put something under my cages on the ground though to catch the mess.
Obviously there will be urine too and not just coco puffs, my barn floor is concrete but I don't want to trash it incase one day I decide to do something else with that area...
How about rubbermaid tubs under the hanging cages? I could then drag them out and dump into a muck pile to compost.
MissPriss,
I was checking out that cage site you linked to and can't find the price of the cage you're buying, which is it?
The Flemish breeder is going to give me two next boxes for free when I bring my girls over
I've entered my does into the county fair next month, can't wait to see if they get a ribbon. I think they're nice girls.
To the person who was offended by meat eating,
I'm sorry you feel offended but I specifically put "Meat Rabbits" in the title so that anyone who was Veg or Vegan would know that's what it was about and could avoid it. I even put "white space" between the opening paragraph and the body of the post to further protect those who didn't want to read about meat animals. If these things bother you please don't read them.
I wish you much luck and happiness with your personal diet.
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