What age to butcher rabbits?

[jaketheeggman]

I was thinking about getting rabbits for meat and was wondering at what age to butcher them?

Thanks
jake

 

[homesteadapps]

New Zealands and Californians can be butchered between 8-12 weeks for fryers and 12 weeks plus for roasters.

 

[terri9630]

You can butcher them as soon as they are the size you want. I have one friend that butchers at about 5 wks and another that waits until about 12 weeks.

 

[rickerra]

And you can keep the buns your raising with their momma for the full 8 weeks (preferably with a larger cage) while they wean and then it's off to freezer camp.

I have two current litters. #1 is 12 days old and has 8 kits. #2 is 2 days old and has 9 kits.

Cheers!