Update: Found a pair, picking them up Friday! Thinking about buying this rabbit trio..."experts weigh in!

[Tre3hugger]

This spring I would like to start a meat rabbit program. I got my cages and everything all set up, and am now attempting to select rabbits. I decided I wanted to go with a Heritage breed that needs help, and have landed on the American Chinchilla. So on to my questions...

1.Has anyone raised this breed for meat? Please share experiences

2.Is $200 a fair price for a pedigreed proven trio, unrelated, that has been selected for meat?

Here are some pics of the animals. They're proven (have been bred to each other) and have been selected for meat. I would really appreciate any input!

Buck born May 2018

Doe 1 born May 2019

Doe #2 born May 2019

I am very close to purchasing these buns. Please weigh-in. Thanks!

 

[Tre3hugger]

Some pics from the seller
Buck

Doe

 

[Tre3hugger]

I found a beautiful pair of pedigreed Amchins for $50 total!! Person is desperate to downsize and just wants to be rid of them by friday. Their pictures are stunning and the price is so right. Only downside is they are two hours away. Oh well. Road trip!

 

[Tre3hugger]

Hope you get them! Can’t wait to see them.

Thanks! the person has already given me their address and set up a time. I just put the finishing touches on my cages and bought food and hay today. Got 18% protein pellets and timothy hay. I'm so excited!

 

[Tre3hugger]

$200 seems a little high to me, and their age suggests they may be culls. I always weeded mine out around 2 years old, maybe a little older for a buck. Just like chickens, their prime reproductive years are 8-24 months.

They aren't posed very well, so it could be the pictures, but they look a little narrow in the shoulder. Meat rabbits should be shaped like a brick.

If you are looking simply for pets, they would be fine, but I would look elsewhere for breeding stock. Also, line breeding is common in rabbits, so completely unrelated stock could result in generation of breeding to get the result you want. Line breeding lets you remove traits you don't like sooner because they show up sooner. And then you eat your mistakes.

Good breeding rabbits that are in their prime should cost $30-40 each in most areas.

Thank you for the input. I passed on those.
Found a year old pair for $50 total. Pedigreed and the pics look gorgeous. Picking them up friday! I will post pics.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Those rabbits look really good. I do think for getting proven and unrelated $200 is a fair price for the owner.

 

[Tre3hugger]

@Egg Snatcher Thanks so much for the input!

 

[Tre3hugger]

You're welcome! Sorry I couldn't answer your other questions. Never raised this breed.

It's all good! Maybe someone else will weigh in. I am thinking I am going to get them. I will probably purchase a NZ or Cali buck also. Keep all the hybrids for meat. Attempt to sell the pure breeds as pets/breeders. If they don't sell, I am sure they will be just as tasty.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Hope you get them! Can’t wait to see them.

 

[MissE]

$200 seems a little high to me, and their age suggests they may be culls. I always weeded mine out around 2 years old, maybe a little older for a buck. Just like chickens, their prime reproductive years are 8-24 months.

They aren't posed very well, so it could be the pictures, but they look a little narrow in the shoulder. Meat rabbits should be shaped like a brick.

If you are looking simply for pets, they would be fine, but I would look elsewhere for breeding stock. Also, line breeding is common in rabbits, so completely unrelated stock could result in generation of breeding to get the result you want. Line breeding lets you remove traits you don't like sooner because they show up sooner. And then you eat your mistakes.

Good breeding rabbits that are in their prime should cost $30-40 each in most areas.