Wanting to get rabbits any tips???

[chicken farmer]

He loves it here

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Okay, wow a lot of prejudice going on here. Let's start with some real facts...

Pedigrees are made up. They're regulated entirely by breeders, policed entirely by people saying "This guy is a bad breeder", and a dishonest breeder can put anything on a pedigree they want. There's no organization controlling this, no official books or records. I have a couple of "pedigreed" rabbits, but the lady who sold me my rex could have written down anything she wanted on them and I would have no proof or repercussions one way or another. A pedigree is a piece of paper written up by a breeder and a $0.25 tattoo and should NEVER make an animal cost more money. The quality of the animal should determine the price, not a slip of paper. Any lousy rabbit can be pedigreed as long as they meet general type, color and breed weight whether they have low shoulders, cow hocks, one lop ear, stray hairs of the wrong color, mis-colored toenails or any number of DQ's from the show table or meat pen.

Registered rabbits are different. A registered rabbit must be shown to an ARBA judge and actually seen and inspected and it costs a real fee and they are registered in a real and legitimate record keeping system. Registered rabbits should cost more and are appropriately rare. Rabbits can't be registered just cause their parents are, they MUST be shown to a judge.

New Zealands are a lousy pet breed. Without the right lines AND the right care as babies they can and will go bananas. I have a pair of does who the breeder claims their sire is from very famous breeder here in Ohio with more ARBA convention BOB's under his belt than anyone else in the whole state. The doe is pretty crazy and it's taken me a fair amount of work to get her to settle down.

She is a very good quality NZW rabbit, and I got her off of craigslist along with her sister and a similar quality buck for $18. They are some of the best looking rabbits I've got. They do not have pedigrees. The guy was downsizing his herd after keeping back too many good looking does and bucks. The merit of these rabbits is based on their looks and performance, not their pedigrees and their price. And yes, I sell breeders, and yes people have been very happy with my rabbits, yes they are quality rabbits and yes I sell on craigslist. In fact some of the best breeders around where I live of PET and SHOW rabbits sell on Craigslist regularly. I got my one pedigreed rex off of CL and I'm about to go back for another SQ pedigreed rex from a lady that sells on CL. It's really not the end of the world. A good rabbit is a good rabbit and someone looking for a good rabbit will know what they're looking at.


The temperament means that more NZW and other Big White Rabbits make it into shelters than any other breed or color. Personally, I do not sell for pets because of this. Once that little baby bunny rabbit gets left in a cage and ignored for a week with just food dropped in an auto-feeder they will come back and pick it up and the rabbit will SCREAM because it is no longer used to being handled. They'll drop it and next time they try to pick it up the rabbit will growl and bite them. Then the bunny is off to a shelter where it will get fixed and live out it's life with mediocre care, next to no space and will never be adopted regardless of quality because it's fixed and cheaper to buy a new baby rabbit than adopt. If that's something you're OK with, sell as pets. Personally, I don't see a good reason to sell big, white meat rabbits with possibly sketchy temperaments as pets.
Some breeds that are good for pets AND meat would be Palominos, Rex, Mini Rex, Florida Whites, Giant breeds (Especially Giant Chinchillas)... They will all be better meat rabbits than, say, a lionhead or a mini lop, by far. And they will have a nicer temperament that most any breed that is bred solely for meat. And they will also get picked up at shelters more readily because they are not just "another" white meat rabbit that someone can get as a baby for $5-$8.

Either way you will sell kits if you advertise appropriately.

Meat cross-breed rabbits are also popular, but they can't be shown. Meat crossbreeds tend to pick up hybrid vigor and grow faster. That is why so many meat producers cross NZW with Californians. My NZW/Rex cross rabbit grow like weeds and despite my doe only being 8lbs they grow as fast or faster than my pure NZWs sometimes. But if you are breeding in another breed, know why you're breeding it in. I bred in the Rex because she was known to produce 9-12kit litters and so was her dam. So I was breeding a quality meat rabbit to another quality meat rabbit to bring up the kit count in my litters (which tends to be 7-8). By doing this you produce rabbits that, much like the Altex, are unshowable but great for backyard meat production. Some people prefer my meat crosses for their hybrid vigor and nice colors. (If you're going to have a backyard meat rabbit, why not have a pretty one?)

This thread doesn't make it seem like it, but the world of rabbits isn't such a strict place. Because of the rules on pedigrees, you can do something like breed a Rex into a line of New Zealands and then breed it out 4 generations and have a purebred, pedigreed rabbit that can be shown and registered with the ARBA. There's a lot of wiggle room. New breeds and colors are being created and accepted into the ARBA each year. There was a time when New Zealand Whites weren't a showable color for New Zealands. The world of rabbits changes every day. So get some rabbits that you like and meet your needs and have fun! Don't worry too much. If you wanna take the step to the show table, get a tattoo kit and build up your pedigrees from your best quality rabbits. In the meantime, just make sure you have a good place for all your kits to go... Even if that place is your freezer!

As for care, the best advice I can give is clean cages, fresh water and hay, hay and more hay! (Grass hays like orchard and timothy are the best, legumes like clover and alfalfa should be fed sparingly. Cubes are fine too.) Rabbits THIRVE on hay-based diets and it's pretty much impossible to give them too much good quality hay!

 

[GentFarmer]

And I still gotta buy them some toys but still there gonna have great lifes,and the new zealand white buck had a bad past and his hair was almost all brown,his toe nails were so long they curled back to his paws,and his cage was infested with cockroaches so he's definitely gonna love his life

Pellets have enough salt, so you don't need spools.
Don't use crocks for food, use a hanging feeder.
Buy quality rabbits, they make better "just pets," as well as food source for homestead.

Those are my tips.

 

[chicken farmer]

Thank you ChocolateMouse,It seems like you understand and thanks for the info I might try to pedigree them but than again probably not.And yes I agree if I sell them as pets once they get bigger and not little and cute they will be ignored and not loved, just forgotten in a hutch so I'll probably just sell them as meat,4-h,and maybe pets if I know the people or if there gonna need some fresh new zealand white blood for there stock....but thanks again!!And here's a better picture of him and he came from a neglected past and he was almost all brown,toe nails so long they curled back to his feet,and his cage was infested with cockroaches but the people that got him from them cleaned him all up and they said he use to flinch but now he's use to bein petted I love him!! And I'm gonna build a couple better hutches myself soon and get a new zealand white doe and do some breeding,but like I said he loves it here and is settling in well!

 

[chicken farmer]

Pellets have enough salt, so you don't need spools.
Don't use crocks for food, use a hanging feeder.
Buy quality rabbits, they make better "just pets," as well as food source for homestead.

Those are my tips.

I know pellets usually have enough salt but it's there if he needs it,I'm not using the crocks for food I'm using them for water and you can see the hanging feeder in the back,and it don't matter to me I like the new zealand whites and there quality rabbits to me I love him

 

[GentFarmer]

Okay, wow a lot of prejudice going on here. Let's start with some real facts...




This thread doesn't make it seem like it, but the world of rabbits isn't such a strict place. Because of the rules on pedigrees, you can do something like breed a Rex into a line of New Zealands and then breed it out 4 generations and have a purebred, pedigreed rabbit that can be shown and registered with the ARBA. There's a lot of wiggle room. New breeds and colors are being created and accepted into the ARBA each year. There was a time when New Zealand Whites weren't a showable color for New Zealands. The world of rabbits changes every day. So get some rabbits that you like and meet your needs and have fun! Don't worry too much. If you wanna take the step to the show table, get a tattoo kit and build up your pedigrees from your best quality rabbits. In the meantime, just make sure you have a good place for all your kits to go... Even if that place is your freezer!

I'm not sure anyone said he (or anyone else) had to get pedigreed rabbits. And you're absolutely right: a pedigree is simply tracing back three generations. And yes, any unethical farmer can fill in a pedigree with any information he/she wants, but that person won't be in the rabbit business for long. Just like you, I have non-pedigreed rabbits, who are some of my strongest producers. I have pedigreed rabbits that are shown. I mix them both for a variety of reasons.

What I've never heard a rabbitry say is "start with substandard stock and hope for the best." I love rabbits, and my rabbitry is a great addition to the homestead as well as a source of homesteading stability and sustainability. There's a lot of good advice in this thread, but it's ultimately just that: advice. Take it or leave it or ignore it. I've objected to some of the tone here that is dismissive of some of the experience on the thread, but that's my own issue.

Your rabbit, by the way, is absolutely lovely.

 

[chicken farmer]

I'm not sure anyone said he (or anyone else) had to get pedigreed rabbits. And you're absolutely right: a pedigree is simply tracing back three generations. And yes, any unethical farmer can fill in a pedigree with any information he/she wants, but that person won't be in the rabbit business for long. Just like you, I have non-pedigreed rabbits, who are some of my strongest producers. I have pedigreed rabbits that are shown. I mix them both for a variety of reasons.

What I've never heard a rabbitry say is "start with substandard stock and hope for the best." I love rabbits, and my rabbitry is a great addition to the homestead as well as a source of homesteading stability and sustainability. There's a lot of good advice in this thread, but it's ultimately just that: advice. Take it or leave it or ignore it. I've objected to some of the tone here that is dismissive of some of the experience on the thread, but that's my own issue.

Your rabbit, by the way, is absolutely lovely.

Yes,pedigreed would be good to get but might start it with my rabbits in the future. And if your talking about my rabbit being lovely thanks he is a beautiful NZW and I think he has good traits and will be a good breeder

 

[GentFarmer]

Thank you ChocolateMouse,It seems like you understand and thanks for the info I might try to pedigree them but than again probably not.And yes I agree if I sell them as pets once they get bigger and not little and cute they will be ignored and not loved, just forgotten in a hutch so I'll probably just sell them as meat,4-h,and maybe pets if I know the people or if there gonna need some fresh new zealand white blood for there stock....but thanks again!!And here's a better picture of him and he came from a neglected past and he was almost all brown,toe nails so long they curled back to his feet,and his cage was infested with cockroaches but the people that got him from them cleaned him all up and they said he use to flinch but now he's use to bein petted I love him!! And I'm gonna build a couple better hutches myself soon and get a new zealand white doe and do some breeding,but like I said he loves it here and is settling in well!

Do you know how old he is? He looks (just from a quick glance) like he might be under-nourished. I wonder if he'd been fed grains like corn. You might try supplementing his pellets with some black-oil sunflower seeds (they run about $1.50/lb at my feed store) and whole oats (again, not very expensive). Don't overdo it on those. Just a small handful of sunflower seeds and a tablespoon of oats. That might get him a bit back on track. Also, black oil sunflower seeds are said to help get rabbits worked up for mating.

If you get a doe to breed him with, you might want to give them a couple months to settle in first. My top buck (yes, pedigreed, shown, etc., etc.) was a late bloomer and didn't come around until much later. He almost met an early end as a result. When it comes time to breed, check back in here. I'm sure all of us have some tricks/tips that might help with the exact process.

If he's skittish, try giving him a quarter of an apple. Just sit and hold it in your hand. Let him come over to you. Rabbits are adaptable. Both my fancy and plain old rabbits were skittish when they first came here. I whistle when I'm in the rabbitry, which prevents me from sneaking up on them. And they're curious about the sound, and will come to the doors to check me out. I just sit with my hand in the cage. They're not super friendly (as was said, New Zealands make pretty lousy pets), but some of them have turned quite puppy-like. Quality time with the rabbit is key.

Good luck, and apologies if I was terse. I really only care about rabbits, and I want breeders to be ethical. Sometimes it gets the better of me. Have fun. I hope they bring you as much joy as mine have brought me.

 

[GentFarmer]

I know pellets usually have enough salt but it's there if he needs it,I'm not using the crocks for food I'm using them for water and you can see the hanging feeder in the back,and it don't matter to me I like the new zealand whites and there quality rabbits to me I love him

I realized that after I posted. I'm not a fan of crocks for water. But that's just me.

 

[chicken farmer]

Do you know how old he is? He looks (just from a quick glance) like he might be under-nourished. I wonder if he'd been fed grains like corn. You might try supplementing his pellets with some black-oil sunflower seeds (they run about $1.50/lb at my feed store) and whole oats (again, not very expensive). Don't overdo it on those. Just a small handful of sunflower seeds and a tablespoon of oats. That might get him a bit back on track. Also, black oil sunflower seeds are said to help get rabbits worked up for mating.

If you get a doe to breed him with, you might want to give them a couple months to settle in first. My top buck (yes, pedigreed, shown, etc., etc.) was a late bloomer and didn't come around until much later. He almost met an early end as a result. When it comes time to breed, check back in here. I'm sure all of us have some tricks/tips that might help with the exact process.

If he's skittish, try giving him a quarter of an apple. Just sit and hold it in your hand. Let him come over to you. Rabbits are adaptable. Both my fancy and plain old rabbits were skittish when they first came here. I whistle when I'm in the rabbitry, which prevents me from sneaking up on them. And they're curious about the sound, and will come to the doors to check me out. I just sit with my hand in the cage. They're not super friendly (as was said, New Zealands make pretty lousy pets), but some of them have turned quite puppy-like. Quality time with the rabbit is key.

Good luck, and apologies if I was terse. I really only care about rabbits, and I want breeders to be ethical. Sometimes it gets the better of me. Have fun. I hope they bring you as much joy as mine have brought me.

Yes,I ran my hand down his back and his spine and ribs I could feel well and I think he is a little skinny and malnourished and if this says anything right when I put him in the hutch he went right over to the feeder and took a couple bites than hopped to the waterer and drank for a good 3 minutes or so and kept coming back so now he should be putting on weight and we bought Producers Pride may not be the best but it was around the cheapest 50 lb bag and good reviews and ingredients so I think it will work good,and I will give him some alfalfa cube treats I bought and maybe a little fruit and vegtables. And I read and watched a lot about breeding and now a lot,and I grabbed some pieces of grass out of the yard and put them through the wire and he snagged them up quick and ate them quick and after a couple pieces I put my finger up to the cage and he tryed to eat my finger he kinda nipped me but no mark or blood and he lets me pet him and usually closes his eyes in a relaxed way when I do so he's tamed. And there gonna be kinda pets but mostly for 4-h,meat,and things like that but still spoiled rabbits and like I said before were gonna build bigger,better hutches with a wooden box in the back with a hole in it and filled with straw and have a lid on the top and a big homeade cage in the front half board half wire and split down the middle(of course still built big) and the buck will be on one side and the doe on the other and the hutch the buck is in now will be for older kits until sold,harvested,etc.....but thanks or the info given and the apologies but I know how you can get it your on a topic your all about