What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[PrimroseMom1]

Primrose and Chocolate, I weighed my bunnies today and they are each slightly over 4 lbs at 10 weeks. Based on the research I've done, it seems they are on track to be decent breeders.  Do you agree?  I know they have a ways to go to be fully grown out. 

Chocolate is definately the expert here for that question. I defer to her.

 

[mindylee]

I raise netherland dwarf rabbits. All are 2.8lbs or less.

This is Boo. Shes fully grown at 2 yrs old and weights 1.11lbs!

I have 7 total. 5 does and 2 bucks. Currently breeding season here.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Oh my! XD *embarrassed* Well, Kelly, I would say that is a very decent weight for them! I expect my bunnies to grow to about 4lbs by 10 weeks. Sometimes when they aren't eating/growing well because of the season (dead of winter, highest heat of summer) they won't quite make it and I'll give them 1-2 extra weeks. The "goal" for most people is 5-6lbs at 12 weeks for a "fryer" rabbit, but I like to process younger because people like them to be a little bit softer meat-wise, and I have better dressage ratios than most folks who tend to have bigger bunnies so I don't mind.

Chicken Farmer; You're only a few hours away from me! Fancy that! Why do you wanna raise rabbits? If you want meat rabbits it's very different than if you wanna raise pet rabbits. Either way, some general requirements rabbits have are clean space (I have my big 10lb NZWs in 4X4 cages, some people keep NZWs in 2X3 cages but the more space the better), clean water (almost everyone finds water bottles to be the easiest way to water), good food (some people use crocks, J feeders, whatever... but some good foods would be pellets appropriate to your rabbit's needs ie; pet rabbits get low calorie pellets, milking doe meat rabbits get high calorie pellets, good GRASS hay so timothy or orchardgrass not alfalfa, a mineral block as need, and certain rabbit safe vegetables fruits and greens), somewhere to feel safe and secure (even my meaties, get cardboard boxes to hide in), something to entertain them (another rabbit in neutered pairs or colony style, toys, hidey holes, etc), and a generally calm environment.
Rabbits can be litter box trained, trick trained, obstacle course trained, trained to come when called, trained to be therapy bunnies... They can be meat rabbits, fur rabbits, show rabbits, pet rabbits, professional jumping rabbits... And depending on what you wanna do with your bunnies determines your more specific care needs.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Oh my! XD *embarrassed* Well, Kelly, I would say that is a very decent weight for them! I expect my bunnies to grow to about 4lbs by 10 weeks. Sometimes when they aren't eating/growing well because of the season (dead of winter, highest heat of summer) they won't quite make it and I'll give them 1-2 extra weeks. The "goal" for most people is 5-6lbs at 12 weeks for a "fryer" rabbit, but I like to process younger because people like them to be a little bit softer meat-wise, and I have better dressage ratios than most folks who tend to have bigger bunnies so I don't mind....

C

I got so excited with this response. it made me feel like a successful rabbit raiser. Meanwhile, I laugh at myself because they are doing all the growing. I really need to get a grip

 

[APDoxies]

Congrats on your new little ones.  Every once in a while I forget that there are others still in the deep freeze.  We have about 75 degrees today.  I'm already thinking about a plan to keep mine from getting heat stroke when our triple digits hit.  Sending you warm wishes and best of luck with the new ones. 

Thank you! It's still cold here - wind chills -6 or lower. But so far, the bunnies are doing ok. We lost one from the litter of 9 Saturday night. It was always weak & struggled. Wasn't smaller than everyone else, but was just weak. My mini Rex had her litter last night. I haven't counted babies yet...will do that after work today.

 

[Angelicisi]

Lol I have NZW, we started with them as meaties because of that...they're big cuddle bunnies now too and the red eyes have grown on me fast. Good luck but they're great rabbits...think Nom Nom Nom!

OK - so my first meat rabbits (breeders) are turning into my pet rabbits. They have snuggled their way into my heart. Now what?  They are starting to trust me more every day.  I have been letting them out of their hutch into an exercise area.  When they stop running and jumping, I open the door and one will hop out.  We snuggle for a while, I talk and they pretend to listen. we do a little trust exercise.  Sometimes they agree. They go back into their hutch.  Then it's the next one's turn.  We are starting to get a routine in place.  I am definitely going to have to get some NZ whites with the haunting red eyes.  Maybe that will break the spell. 

 

[kacklinkelly]

I find myself going back and forth between enjoying them as pets and seeing them as great potential breeders. Kind of like the cartoons where the character is looking at a cow and seeing a delicious steak in a bubble above the cow

. I keep petting, admiring how big they are getting and wondering how many kits they will kindle when it's their time. I've already had a conversation with them both to tell them what the agreement is. So far they seem OK with it

. I am pretty confident that they are both females. (based on my "youtube" rabbit sex education) So the buck I get will be the NZW. We recently lost our 14 y.o. constant companion dog. The rabbits jobs right now are helping me through those emotions. They are doing a really good job. My DH says they are being extra nice because they are afraid they will end up like the dog who we burried not far from where the outdoor rabbit hutch is. He's not on the same page yet about the harvesting idea.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Kelly, my beau was not so sure about it too... We owned two mini lops after all and they're super cute and definitely pets.

Then we went to our local market, the only place in the city that sells rabbit, and got a half-rabbit to cook and eat so he could see it and taste what it was like.

He changed his mind very quickly! (So long as I do the processing, mind!)

 

[kacklinkelly]

That was my husband's first request. Let's get a harvested rabbit to cook to see if we even like it. Well, I've done that. My whole family enjoyed it. (except my adult son who couldn't even try it. Too hard for him to get past the "bunny") I enjoyed it more than the meaties I raised and harvested last year. So, we are taking some baby steps with the big burly he-man who can't wrap his brain around his wife wanting to raise and harvest meat rabbits. My daughter and I are getting a kick out of the guys being more bothered by this than we are. Don't get me wrong. I don't look forward to the process. But I do look forward to being closer to our own food source and respecting and caring for the lives of the animals we raise while they are with us.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

That was my husband's first request.  Let's get a harvested rabbit to cook to see if we even like it.  Well, I've done that.  My whole family enjoyed it.  (except my adult son who couldn't even try it.  Too hard for him to get past the "bunny") I enjoyed it more than the meaties I raised and harvested last year. So, we are taking some baby steps with the big burly he-man who can't wrap his brain around his wife wanting to raise and harvest meat rabbits.  My daughter and I are getting a kick out of the guys being more bothered by this than we are.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't look forward to the process.  But I do look forward to being closer to our own food source and respecting and caring for the lives of the animals we raise while they are with us. 

Win-win