Post by: HighlandLofts on August 12, 2017, 08:06:02 PM
This time around I want to breed one with a Flemmish Giant and the other one with a New Zealand. I plan on keeping two does out of the next breeding for breeding stock.
The ones we have now will be ready to butcher the end of September to the beginning of October.
Years ago I use to buy butcher rabbits and cook them in the oven with Shake & Bake for chicken.
This time around I want to try new things, marinaded in Italian Dressing cooked out on a charcoal grill. I do this with chicken a lot, I also do this with boneless pork chops.
I use boneless chicken breast and cube it up, after I marinade it a couple of days in Wishbone Zesty Italian Dressing put it on wood skews and cook it out side on the charcoal I'll put it on Italian Bread and have at it.
I'll try some simmered in spaghetti sauce.
I want to use a chicken & dumpling recipe but use rabbit instead.
Once I get the other two does up to six months old I'll buy a breeding buck to use instead on the Rex Rabbit.
It will be a fun little project, I'll sell a few of the off spring to help cover the cost of the feed. This breeding had thirteen babies, one litter of seven, one of six.
I built a four stall rabbit hutch, two pens on the bottom, two on top. This time around i can take the devider out of the top so the little ones will have more room until it's D-Day.
Once I get four does going I'll build a movable pen that will house the young rabbits until they are butcher age. Something like a chicken tractor, but off the ground with a all wire floor. Real light weight so it will be easy to move around.
Looking for favorite way to cook rabbits if any one wants to chime in.
Post by: h20hunter on August 12, 2017, 08:07:55 PM
I had some meat bunnies. Slow cooked them, pulled the meat, made pot pie. Delicious.
Post by: KFhunter on August 12, 2017, 08:08:53 PM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,157067.0.html
Post by: HighlandLofts on August 12, 2017, 09:15:27 PM
I did every thing they advised and so far everything is fine.
I built the breeding boxes they recommeded, did it their way every step of the way and had two nice litters of rabbits.
The litter with six babies are a little bigger then the seven litter babies.
No dead babies, all look healthy.
The two does I have are gloss black and dull black with flecking. Next breeding will be with different color bucks so I can choose two nice looking breeding does, maybe three if the one with the little babies raises another small size litter.
Here is the AZ. Rabbit site, http://azrabbits.com/useful-information/breeding.html
Haven't gone beyond this section yet. But will be here shortly.
If I replace that doe I guess it's crock pot time or pressure cooker time.
I replaced the bedding in the nest boxes today and replaced new saw dust & hay.
I'm sure there are things that I was unaware of that will come to light as this goes on. But in the mean time it will be a fun adventure.
I wonder it you could live trap a male cottontail and have it breed with a domestic rabbit?
H20, Thank you for coming down to help me out with the reloading, I got it down now. I bought a new 4th Gen. Glock 17 from Bud's Guns. picked it up yesterday from Sound Loan & Pawn.
I bought a nice Galco Jack-Ass shoulder holster from a fellow WA-Hunting member last winter for this gun and carried it today.
When I get done on here I will be reloading some 9mm ammo tonight.
I did take an old Pacific single stage press and had it drilled & tapped for the Hornady Lock&Load adapter. So now I have two Lock & Load presses. One for rifle and one for pistol.
The throw is different so I can't interchange the two. One complete set up for pistol and one complete set up for rifle.
I did go back to az rabbit site and got on to butchering.
http://azrabbits.com/useful-information/butchering.html
Post by: jackelope on August 13, 2017, 07:48:12 AM
The smaller litters will almost always have bigger babies. If you have a big litter and a small litter, split them up. A doe has 9 babies and another has 5. If they're the same age within a few days, take a couple babies out of the litter of 9 and put them in the litter of 5. Most does will foster ok.
I'd not recommend bringing a wild rabbit into your herd. Like...that should be the last thing you should ever do.
Flemish giants are big boned. Poor meat/weight ratio.
You ought to consider line breeding your animals. Get yourself a nice NZ buck and he can breed all your does. Breed for the best quality animals you can and you'll have great meat producers. You can line breed 2-3 generations and be ok. Get yourself a buck. Breed to 2-3 does. Keep a doe out of each litter and breed back to that buck and breed the buck back to the original does. Then line breed a doe from each of those litters again and so on. You'll have more rabbits to eat than you know what to do with.
If you need help finding a buck let me know. I pretty much know someone who keeps just about every breed.
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Post by: jackelope on August 13, 2017, 07:52:13 AM
Post by: HighlandLofts on August 13, 2017, 11:54:58 AM
I bought these two does from the same litter, they came from up by Sumas.
The hay I bought for them is orchard grass, would alfalfa be better?
do you know any one close to arlington that has a buck I could breed them on this time around? i don't want to buy a breeding buck until I get two more does up to breeding age which would be out of the next cycle of babies.
Post by: jackelope on August 13, 2017, 01:40:33 PM
I don't know anybody that studs out their rabbit bucks. Too much risk for issues to transfer from one rabbit to another. I wouldn't do it either.
Post by: jackelope on August 13, 2017, 01:43:45 PM
Post by: inchtowntracking on August 13, 2017, 02:07:16 PM
It's right at that time for use to look into getting a couple more bucks and butchering the ones we have. They appear to regulate themselves with the breeding. We usually get a big spurt in the spring and fall. They have stopped for the last month and we don't get any bunnies in the winter.
The rabbits seem to be way happier this way. The bad part is the neighbors cat and the owl that visits every once in awhile. We have around a hundred rabbits right now once we were able to scare predators away.
Post by: Widgeondeke on August 14, 2017, 11:33:47 AM
my kids have cut back on the bunnies. They currently aren't breeding. Focusing more on 4-H poultry, gardening and creative arts.
As stated:
no on alfalfa, Grass or Timothy is the best hay. I also give my rabbits treats from the garden: radishes, strawberries, root crop greens such as carrots, turnips, beets, parsnip, etc
Yes, Flemish are big boned. Look into California, Florida Whites, NZ, Rex or Chinchilla for meat.
Honestly, any breed can be eaten: even the backstraps of a Jersey Wooley make a nice snack :yike:
Saw dust has fine particulates and can cause respiratory issues. Pine shavings, pellets are good. I used hay in a pinch cause they'd eat there bedding
if we culled at 12 weeks or younger, fried em up. the older ones hit the crock pot or ground for tacos :drool: I like me some rabbit tacos
Post by: jackelope on August 14, 2017, 03:42:43 PM
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We feed pretty much only pellets and a treat mix/conditioner stuff for show purposes. Occasionally we give them some sweet potato chunk or some carrot tops or radish tops as a treat. Too many vegetables can be too rich or make them fat.
My wife shows jersey woolies and my daughter shows Dutch rabbits. A few of the Dutch have gone to folks' freezers but they'd be the Cornish game hens of the rabbit world.
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Post by: Machias on August 14, 2017, 03:56:15 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 14, 2017, 03:59:59 PM
I'll start again eventually but I want to rebuild the hutch entirely. It'll be a big hutch tractor that's cattle proof and designed for feeding hay mostly. 1/2 chickens and 1/2 rabbits in this big mobile hutch I move around with the Kubota.
Post by: jackelope on August 14, 2017, 04:09:55 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 14, 2017, 04:13:49 PM
cost me a bunch of money and made it less fun
Post by: KFhunter on August 14, 2017, 04:23:26 PM
While they were on hay I did toss in trace mineral salt licks.
While I was feeding hay I did offer free choice rabbit pellets, but they didn't consume much at all.
I want to rebuild the hutches with primary feed being hay, I'm thinking half moon cages where the hay drops into the valleys.
kind of like this masterpiece :chuckle:
Post by: KFhunter on August 14, 2017, 04:35:59 PM
Does would run round and round the pen and get nails caught in the wire and bleed, obviously this would hurt, and I think negatively effect breeding. A round pen on the lawn would be better, or outdoor carpet maybe. Put the buck and doe in a neutral area free of obstacles.
Post by: jackelope on August 14, 2017, 05:46:11 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on August 14, 2017, 05:57:47 PM
If I like the way these finish off I might keep one doe from this batch.
If any one needs any to start out I'll have extra from these two sets of little ones,Black New Zealand, dark gray Rex cross.
They will be weaned at the end of the month.
If any one wants to try one for the table hit me up with a pm.
My plan is to have four breeding does and two bucks.
Some young ones for the table and some to get rid of to help cover the cost of feed.
Is there any Don'ts on produce they shouldn't have?
Post by: jackelope on August 14, 2017, 09:51:48 PM
Post by: runamuk on August 14, 2017, 10:30:04 PM
Post by: Airnip on August 15, 2017, 01:24:27 AM
Wild American rabbits are a lagomorph specie closer to hares than domesticated European rabbits. Related sort of the way chickens and ducks both are poultry but don't make mules. Hares are born fully formed, while rabbits are born naked and blind.
Second the advice to pick a breed. Raising farm mixed rabbits might give some hybrid vigor to the first generation of a terminal cross. Who knows what type and conformation farther along. Breeds are the result of selection for uniformity.
Type correct pedigreed breeding stock sold at three times the value of a dinner rabbit. Same input to produce them.
There is a thick book "One thousand ways to cook a rabbit". Mostly about cooking with ingredients to make sauces instead of using premixed from a bottle, or box. Basically any way you can cook a chicken substitute rabbit. Save front legs to make false wings. Once a week put leaves of alfalfa on the tops of my all wire battery cages. Rabbits would stand up and pull it down. Wasting a lot of leaf. Figured this to be entertainment being that production does had complete diet requirement pellets free choice. Bucks got a large tuna can full a day. Also gave each one a sixteen inch long piece of one by six that they would eat. Gnawing them up in about six months or so. Automatic water through tongue fittings threaded into eighth inch plastic fittings.
Post by: HighlandLofts on September 01, 2017, 09:40:04 PM
One from each doe.
Post by: jackelope on September 02, 2017, 08:40:58 AM
Post by: jackelope on September 02, 2017, 08:42:24 AM
Post by: HighlandLofts on September 08, 2017, 08:36:18 PM
Some where up around Everett or north would work out the best.
Post by: jackelope on September 08, 2017, 09:47:38 PM
I'll have my kid at the show in Monroe in October. If you want to talk to some NZ breeders there let me know. I like the blues.
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Post by: HighlandLofts on September 09, 2017, 01:01:35 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 09, 2017, 02:02:01 PM
This rabbit is a little pinched in the hindquarter.. you can see she comes to a point. The other one is full in the HQ. That's what you want.
Post by: jackelope on September 09, 2017, 02:03:42 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on September 09, 2017, 08:43:21 PM
I think I'll rebreed the two does I have on the Rex male I have for meat rabbits, these little ones are getting good size.
Post by: jackelope on September 10, 2017, 12:20:17 PM
Post by: jennabug on October 28, 2017, 08:59:51 PM
Post by: Widgeondeke on October 28, 2017, 09:18:45 PM
Post by: Machias on October 30, 2017, 11:41:28 AM
Post by: jackelope on October 31, 2017, 09:06:11 AM
I have three litters due over the next couple of weeks.
Nice, Fred. What breed?
Post by: jackelope on October 31, 2017, 09:06:56 AM
I've been considering meat rabbits for some time now, and had gotten into contact with someone to get a butchered rabbit to try the meat before committing to it. But I went to a rabbit show today with some friends and couldn't resist this beautiful bulky black New Zealand doe. She should be ready to breed in about a month. I'm going to use a friend's broken NZ buck as stud. :IBCOOL:
Good stuff. You must have gone to the Pasco show. Have fun. She looks like a nice one.
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on October 31, 2017, 11:20:18 AM
Post by: Machias on October 31, 2017, 09:07:29 PM
I have three litters due over the next couple of weeks.
Nice, Fred. What breed?
Harlequins
Post by: jennabug on November 01, 2017, 07:15:24 AM
I am really excited about this new project, though I haven't figured out cages/space for growing out litters yet. I suppose I have at least a couple of months. Yes, I went to the Pasco show.
Post by: jackelope on November 01, 2017, 07:18:52 AM
Excellent! Glad to hear so many others do this.
I am really excited about this new project, though I haven't figured out cages/space for growing out litters yet. I suppose I have at least a couple of months. Yes, I went to the Pasco show.
You're going to wean a likely large litter at 8 weeks old so you've got 31-ish days gestation plus 2 months once you breed to figure it out LOL. Cages you're probably going to want to be at least 30x30 for the doe and litter. All wire is about a thousand times better than wood. Rabbit pee is not the greatest stuff in the world to mix with wood and is not easy to clean.
I have three litters due over the next couple of weeks.
Nice, Fred. What breed?
Harlequins
Very cool...a rare breed.
Post by: Machias on November 03, 2017, 09:25:51 AM
Post by: jennabug on November 03, 2017, 07:27:27 PM
I had 2 rabbits last night, crock pot with an Alfredo sauce. Mmmmmm so good!!!
Yum!
Post by: HighlandLofts on November 18, 2017, 11:59:06 PM
I'll be making up a weaning pen something like a chicken tractor that can be moved around.
Post by: jennabug on November 20, 2017, 07:33:28 AM
I got a few more cages this weekend for the future rabbitry. I'm still determining where to keep them, but my doe is in our spare basement storage room for now. I'm excited for the future of this, getting closer to being able to provide most of our own meat between hunting and suburban farming.
Post by: Machias on November 20, 2017, 10:36:22 AM
Doe #1 built her nest outside of the nest box and had 3 babies. Since they wouldn't have survived anyways, I moved the whole nest and babies inside the box and put the box where she built the nest. They made it 6 days, thought they were doing great and then Mom didn't pull enough hair and they all died from exposure.
Doe #2 did not produce a litter, never made a nest and generally acted like she had never been bred.
Doe #3 built a nice nest in the box and has pulled good hair. I have not checked to see how many babies she had, but they are moving good every time I feed, so hopefully in about 5 days I'll be able to see how many she had.
I'll re-breed at the end of Feb.
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 10:42:24 AM
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Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 10:44:56 AM
Well my 3 young does, all first time Moms, went like this:
Doe #1 built her nest outside of the nest box and had 3 babies. Since they wouldn't have survived anyways, I moved the whole nest and babies inside the box and put the box where she built the nest. They made it 6 days, thought they were doing great and then Mom didn't pull enough hair and they all died from exposure.
Doe #2 did not produce a litter, never made a nest and generally acted like she had never been bred.
Doe #3 built a nice nest in the box and has pulled good hair. I have not checked to see how many babies she had, but they are moving good every time I feed, so hopefully in about 5 days I'll be able to see how many she had.
I'll re-breed at the end of Feb.
You're fine getting in there on day 1 to check on them and count if you want. Won't bother anyone at all.
Good move moving the nest.
Sometimes they don't take. Not a bad idea to breed them again right away, especially with the one with the dead babies. Watch for mastitis with that one. She could get milk bound with no babies to drink it.
Post by: Machias on November 20, 2017, 11:28:13 AM
Well my 3 young does, all first time Moms, went like this:
Doe #1 built her nest outside of the nest box and had 3 babies. Since they wouldn't have survived anyways, I moved the whole nest and babies inside the box and put the box where she built the nest. They made it 6 days, thought they were doing great and then Mom didn't pull enough hair and they all died from exposure.
Doe #2 did not produce a litter, never made a nest and generally acted like she had never been bred.
Doe #3 built a nice nest in the box and has pulled good hair. I have not checked to see how many babies she had, but they are moving good every time I feed, so hopefully in about 5 days I'll be able to see how many she had.
I'll re-breed at the end of Feb.
You're fine getting in there on day 1 to check on them and count if you want. Won't bother anyone at all.
Good move moving the nest.
Sometimes they don't take. Not a bad idea to breed them again right away, especially with the one with the dead babies. Watch for mastitis with that one. She could get milk bound with no babies to drink it.
I have been keeping an eye on her, so far so good. I normally don't breed this time of the year, just so cold over here at night in Dec and Jan. I rarely have babies survive once it gets down in the lower teens and single digits, unless they are a couple of weeks old.
Post by: KFhunter on November 20, 2017, 11:46:55 AM
We pretty much boiled it down to 2 meals we'd make with rabbit. Rabbit noodle soup and Rabbit dumplings.
I know there's literally 100's, 1000's of ways to eat rabbit but in this house it just all came down to two dishes. Wife won't cook them unless I thaw them out and get them boiled, then she'll debone and make one of 2 dishes. Kids aren't excited about either one.
:dunno:
I had trouble butchering at the optimal age for frying, 1 or 2 weeks past due makes a big difference in meat tenderness then you end up with stewing rabbits instead of fryers. You get busy, time fly's and then next thing you have boilers.....again.
I'm going to tear out the hutch and build a different design, but before I do that I want a legit butcher shop that'll handle everything from a small rabbit to a huge Angus bull. I didn't enjoy butchering in the summer, in the rain, in the snow, in the wind, in the mosquitoes, bees, flies etc.
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 12:05:23 PM
Post by: KFhunter on November 20, 2017, 12:31:59 PM
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 12:43:52 PM
Some of the meat breeds can be more docile than others. NZW aren't one of the docile meat breeds
I think she'll likely end up with a Cali litter from the guy I just got set up or a NZ litter. Our friend raises NZ's and they're all pretty nice. She told my kid she could borrow a bred doe. It's more the size of them I wonder about when it comes to a 10 year old handling them. They have to do a seperate round of showmanship at fair with their meat project and need to be able to handle them trouble free. She wants to raise fryers and she has to have the rabbits in her possession 45 days before fair so the age requirements of fryers at fair mean they're not old enough to be weaned when they would have to be in the kid's possession. A lot of the kids buy rabbits 45+days before fair and do roasters rather than raising them themselves for a fryer class(1 rabbit under 12 weeks I believe) or a meat pen(3 rabbits under 10 weeks I think)
(maybe it's under 12 weeks. Honestly I can't remember. I know they have to be old enough to make weight but not over 10 or 12 weeks and not over a certain weight)
Post by: jennabug on November 20, 2017, 01:14:16 PM
Congrats on the trio to your friend jackelope.
Post by: jennabug on November 20, 2017, 01:23:12 PM
I will be making new cages here shortly, the one I built isn't to user friendly.but it worked. I old a few butcher rabbits and put the rest in the freezer until get back. I'm out of state for another three weeks visiting family and getting in some deer hunting.Good luck on your hunt. Be sure to post up pics of your new setups.
I'll be making up a weaning pen something like a chicken tractor that can be moved around.
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 01:28:57 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171120/14db741cec0cbdb0e9330e12ba2cc0f8.jpg)
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: h20hunter on November 20, 2017, 01:31:48 PM
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 01:42:37 PM
Shut your mouth right now that is a cute bunny!!!!!
They'll be ready for your kid to take one home in 5 weeks!!
Post by: Woodchuck on November 20, 2017, 01:44:37 PM
Should't they always go in pairs so they don't get lonely?Shut your mouth right now that is a cute bunny!!!!!
They'll be ready for your kid to take one home in 5 weeks!!
Post by: jackelope on November 20, 2017, 01:45:59 PM
Should't they always go in pairs so they don't get lonely?Shut your mouth right now that is a cute bunny!!!!!
They'll be ready for your kid to take one home in 5 weeks!!
Yes. Your second one will be ready at the same time!!
Post by: h20hunter on November 20, 2017, 01:53:19 PM
Shut your mouth right now that is a cute bunny!!!!!
They'll be ready for your kid to take one home in 5 weeks!!
Sweet....our snake is probably tired of rats.
Post by: Machias on November 20, 2017, 01:54:14 PM
Post by: jennabug on December 15, 2017, 02:54:56 PM
I was hoping to have a larger litter, and have friends requesting to buy any of my broken NZ that are does. So it looks like I won't get as much meat from this litter as I expected. And I'm not sure if I want to wait to grow out this litter for breeders.
In other news, I have the opportunity to get a Silver Fox buck in exchange for helping someone butcher. And am considering buying a Champagne D'Argent doe as well. Does it seem unwise to have such a mix of breeds? So far I don't particularly care for the NZ temperament, and would primarily be breeding for meat. I don't have time to do tanning and breaking hides myself.
Post by: Machias on December 15, 2017, 03:21:48 PM
My doe is about to wean 7 nice Harlequins, they were 4 weeks old yesterday. All doing great. I'll have to post a photo this weekend.
Post by: jackelope on December 15, 2017, 03:44:25 PM
My input regarding mixing breeds will come down to what you want to do with them. I know a lady who is a Champagne breeder in central WA and she breeds meat rabbits as well. Her meat rabbits are all NZ/Champagne crosses. I've never bred for meat production before so don't have any personal experience there. If you have any interest in showing rabbits, don't mix breeds unless you have a lot of space. Silver foxes are super rare. It would be cool to have them, but from a showing standpoint there is zero competition.
As far as temperament of the NZ's go...I think it comes down to handling and that sort of thing. I also think it's a little genetic. We have a local kid who uses a NZ doe for showmanship, so they're not all unfriendly. I've handled a bunch of them and like any other rabbit, there are calm ones and exciteable ones. My kid has had Dutch rabbits that were biters and generally spastic. Others that would snuggle on her pillow with her. If they don't get handled, they're going to be little jerks from time to time.
Unrelated news, my kid had a 6 month old Dutch buck choke on a feed pellet 2 nights ago. We got him cleared up to where he was breathing ok, but the damage was done I think. You could tell he wasn't well and was hurting so I took him to my buddy's house last night and put him down. He's the guy we just set up with the Cali's and he wanted to try out his new equipment. Processed him and put him in the freezer.
Post by: jackelope on December 15, 2017, 03:58:28 PM
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Post by: KFhunter on December 15, 2017, 05:35:14 PM
Post by: jennabug on December 15, 2017, 06:15:41 PM
I honestly have zero interest in showing. So I'll probably move forward with mixing. The Silver Fox buck is a blue, but the seller says he's not showable. It's fine by me. And I've really like everything I've read about the Champagnes.
Sorry you had to put one down. I may have to put one of the kits down. It is not moving its hind legs at all. I'm going to see how it looks tomorrow.
Post by: Widgeondeke on January 18, 2018, 10:51:16 AM
I still blame the person that was bit for being rough with him :chuckle:
As far as temperament of the NZ's go...I think it comes down to handling and that sort of thing. I also think it's a little genetic. We have a local kid who uses a NZ doe for showmanship, so they're not all unfriendly. I've handled a bunch of them and like any other rabbit, there are calm ones and excitable ones. My kid has had Dutch rabbits that were biters and generally spastic. Others that would snuggle on her pillow with her. If they don't get handled, they're going to be little jerks from time to time.
Post by: Widgeondeke on January 18, 2018, 10:54:58 AM
I like it in stew/soup, but am the only one in the household that does.
Post by: KFhunter on January 18, 2018, 10:39:17 PM
I never tried rabbit burger
Post by: Jpmiller on January 23, 2018, 10:26:30 AM
Post by: Machias on January 23, 2018, 10:30:10 AM
https://spokane.craigslist.org/grd/d/harlequin-rabbits-8-weeks-old/6451731875.html
Post by: Machias on January 23, 2018, 10:32:08 AM
Always wanted to try this. What kind of time commitment are meat rabbits? We had plain pet rabbits.growing up that we fed and played with but I'm curious if the time commitment for breeding and upkeep is significantly higher for meat rabbits?
I spend about 15 minutes a day with mine, 5 to 7 minutes in the morning and the same in the evening. But only because I have some babies right now that eat a hopper full a day and drink a crock full during the day and night. Otherwise I could feed and water once every couple of days and they would be good to go.
Post by: jackelope on January 23, 2018, 10:39:31 AM
Always wanted to try this. What kind of time commitment are meat rabbits? We had plain pet rabbits.growing up that we fed and played with but I'm curious if the time commitment for breeding and upkeep is significantly higher for meat rabbits?
My wife and kid have rabbits that they show. I assume they spend more time with them than you would meat rabbits because of grooming and stuff. Probably 30 minutes a day if they don't spend time playing with them or whatever. Once or twice a week we clean cages and that takes an hour or so dumping trays etc.
You can set up your rabbitry without trays if you have the place to do it and then use the poop for fertilizer. It's really great fertilizer. That would save cleaning time.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 23, 2018, 10:47:50 AM
Post by: jackelope on January 23, 2018, 11:03:46 AM
So other than the butchering process there's nothing specific meat rabbits need? That's good to know. Really like eating rabbit the handful of times I've been given it.
I think you need some cages to house your rabbits where they'll live and when they're kindling, then maybe cages for the grow outs after they're weaned. Babies are probably good together till 10 weeks or so, which I imagine is probably about butcher time depending on your breed and growth rate. Cages take up space. With 2-3 does and a buck you can make a crap ton of babies if you do it right. Meat rabbits are usually big so 24"x30" cages where they live and kindle and then a big place for the babies once the litter is weaned. It takes some space.
Quality pellets, timothy hay and wire floor cages. Figure out a way to dispatch rabbits....broomstick, bolt gun, hopper popper, etc.
Post by: Machias on January 23, 2018, 11:58:10 AM
Post by: jennabug on January 23, 2018, 03:28:03 PM
I've been helping a lady butcher her extras in exchange for meat while my small set-up matures. So far we've made some pan-roasted, simmered in curry sauce, and jerky. Tacos next?
Bonus: All the waste has been going to the garden (rabbit waste is "cold" manure, so you can directly apply it in the garden without composting first.)
Machias, those are beautiful kits! Congrats!
My 4 surviving kits from the first litter are doing great, and I will be ready to re-breed my NZ doe next week. I did lose a couple after birth.
I'll be adding a Champagne D'Argent doe soon from a breeder who will also provide her with stud service until she can make an unrelated buck for me. I decided to keep the Champagnes are purebred and pass on the Silver Fox buck.
Post by: jackelope on January 23, 2018, 05:00:50 PM
Breed her back to her best male offspring.
Post by: jennabug on January 23, 2018, 08:08:47 PM
There's nothing wrong with line breeding. Super common in the rabbit world.
Breed her back to her best male offspring.
Yeah, I'm not opposed to that. Keeping my options open in the meantime. :tup:
Post by: HighlandLofts on March 03, 2018, 08:54:38 PM
I used about half of the young I raised last year.
I am going to build new cages that will be a little user friendly.
I can,t figure posting pictures on here.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on March 03, 2018, 11:01:27 PM
I will be picking up another buck tomorrow to breed on my two black NZ does, i,'ll breed my white broken red doe on the rex buck I have.
I used about half of the young I raised last year.
I am going to build new cages that will be a little user friendly.
I can,t figure posting pictures on here.
If you have an Apple Iphone try screen shooting your pic (I don’t know if that helps on android phones) then try posting, that works for me.
Good luck
BTW your pm in box is full.
Post by: HighlandLofts on March 04, 2018, 01:59:24 PM
Post by: jackelope on March 04, 2018, 04:13:07 PM
The less wood your cages are built from, the better off you’ll be from a sanitation standpoint.
.02
Post by: jennabug on March 05, 2018, 07:32:30 AM
I will be picking up another buck tomorrow to breed on my two black NZ does, i,'ll breed my white broken red doe on the rex buck I have.
I used about half of the young I raised last year.
I am going to build new cages that will be a little user friendly.
I can,t figure posting pictures on here.
I need to get my larger cages set up soon. My two does both kindled this past week.
First timer (Champagne D'Argent) had 4 survive birth. The kits are really fat and well fed.
The NZ doe had 9 survive, though I had to assist with the sac on one of the kits. She has not yet figured out building a nest, but allowed me to put the kits into the nest I made in the nest box for her.
My 12 week kits aren't quite 5 lbs yet. We're keeping one, selling one to a new meat breeder, and processing the remaining two. How large do most of you butcher at? They seem too small to process to me.
Post by: jackelope on March 05, 2018, 09:58:40 AM
Post by: jackelope on March 16, 2018, 10:37:24 AM
http://www.thenav.ca/2018/03/16/deadly-rabbit-disease-strikes-nanaimo/
This has the potential to be a big deal. It's the same virus(different strain I guess) that they released in New Zealand to eliminate all the feral rabbits. NW Washington is in the 150 mile radius "red zone". Might be a lot of hype at this point, but either way it's something to be aware of. Hopefully it stays on Vancouver Island but it's really easily transmitted or carried to different areas. If it makes mainland BC the kid's rabbits will probably end up locked down and she'll have to take a break from showing.
Post by: HighlandLofts on April 07, 2018, 07:52:44 PM
I am going to build a couple or pens to finish the kits out in.
I will also be buying a galvanized garbage can to keep the feed in.
I have been using 5 gallon plastic buckets.
Post by: jackelope on April 07, 2018, 09:18:34 PM
My kid has 2 litters now and we bred another doe last night. She’s not showing right now so might as well work on some new show prospects.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180408/1857233d958d4b4435090095ca891ed1.jpg)
Post by: HighlandLofts on September 14, 2018, 03:30:19 PM
Post by: jennabug on September 16, 2018, 07:09:59 AM
I have three litters New Zealand/Rex crosses that are about ready to butcher if any one wants any. There are 22 little ones, I'd like to keep half.That's fantastic! The majority of my breedings were unsuccessful this year (I think heat sterility, plus I lost a doe this spring.) I think my boys may come inside the garage next summer. Fortunately we're not lacking for meat yet from helping others with culls. I have 3 does hopefully due early October.
Anyway, that's great that you're sharing this opportunity with others. :) :hello:
Post by: eastsidemallard74 on September 16, 2018, 07:13:06 AM
Post by: jackelope on September 16, 2018, 05:35:17 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180917/52579d32504daa53a504c6e5477ea36c.jpg)
Post by: jennabug on September 16, 2018, 05:59:42 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on September 16, 2018, 06:58:25 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 16, 2018, 07:23:18 PM
This doe is a young senior so a little over 8 months old.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180917/d7c356cd3cb5f16a907ebd8f9d2a7c37.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180917/fe3bd358a8d88e0a56d2b53a0a5ee83b.jpg)
Post by: jennabug on September 16, 2018, 08:04:17 PM
How big do the Californians get? I was going to keep a buck.from this cross for my next spring breeding and then get rid of it and keep a buck from that set to use.
Have you considered Champagne D'argent? The mature does get up to 12 lbs and have a really nice meat ratio. I'm seriously considering ditching my New Zealands moving to just D'argent and crossed after growing some of each out.
Post by: jackelope on September 16, 2018, 08:10:41 PM
Post by: jackelope on September 16, 2018, 08:11:25 PM
How big do the Californians get? I was going to keep a buck.from this cross for my next spring breeding and then get rid of it and keep a buck from that set to use.
Have you considered Champagne D'argent? The mature does get up to 12 lbs and have a really nice meat ratio. I'm seriously considering ditching my New Zealands moving to just D'argent and crossed after growing some of each out.
Martie likes that cross if I remember correctly.
Post by: jennabug on September 16, 2018, 08:28:03 PM
If you’re growing for meat, growth rate is where it’s at, not so much maximum size. You look for the best quality animal you can afford and know about growth rates of their offspring. This doe I posted pics of above is from a litter that was 4.5-5 pounds at 10 weeks old. That’s pretty darn good so we held her back. We just processed a litter that was 14 weeks and they had a lot of fat buildup on them because we waited too long to harvest them.10 weeks? That's pretty good! I think my current NZ kits are at least 12 weeks now are approaching 5lb. The champagnes did grow out faster, but the only one I butchered died from heat. The remaining 3 of the litter were does. (Kept or bred).
One of Marty's does weighed in at over 13lbs last weekend in hermiston. :chuckle: :chuckle: I'm going to try to get one of her kits. But yes, I've heard good things on CdA/NZ. I'm sure that cross will be bred later this fall.
Post by: jackelope on September 16, 2018, 09:31:56 PM
There was 10-12 CdA’s at the Bremerton show yesterday.
Post by: jennabug on October 04, 2018, 06:26:39 PM
But fortunately for me a couple of friends have culls that they need help with, so I wont be out of rabbit meat. The deal is that I keep half of what i butcher. That's my plan for tomorrow.
Meanwhile I've been making a new lean-to shelter for winter using scrap wood. It's still in a work in progress. It should fit my 2 stackers and a couple of growout cages. The roof is lined with plastic to keep out the moisture. It looks uneven because I didnt align the roof boards well. I promise the roof base is level. :chuckle:
Post by: HighlandLofts on October 14, 2018, 01:56:39 PM
Next year I want to do something different for my rabbit and laying chicken adventure. I am thinking of rabbits on one side and the chickens on the other side with an isle between..
Post by: Kc_Kracker on November 10, 2018, 01:02:45 PM
Post by: jennabug on April 13, 2020, 02:20:01 PM
I'm still producing rabbits, but honestly I've been selling a lot more than I've butchered this year. LOTS of people wanting to buy their own starter herd. :chuckle:
Last spring I processed a lot and there's still some in the freezer, so I have time to produce more for myself later and help people with their food security now. The feed store sends me people's phone numbers who are searching/asking. Are you guys seeing the same thing?
Post by: KFhunter on April 13, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
but I don't have rabbits anymore, my electricity went out and all my bottles froze and cracked, so they went to freezer camp cause I didn't want to buy 10 heated bottles @ 20 bux ea
now I kinda wished I had em again :chuckle:
Post by: jackelope on April 13, 2020, 03:18:01 PM
Post by: jennabug on April 13, 2020, 05:13:27 PM
YupUnderstandable decision. I moved mine into the garage last summer and added an exhaust fan to help with heat and cold issues.
but I don't have rabbits anymore, my electricity went out and all my bottles froze and cracked, so they went to freezer camp cause I didn't want to buy 10 heated bottles @ 20 bux ea
now I kinda wished I had em again :chuckle:
If you want to get into them again, mine are producing really well and I'm happy to help.
People going crazy for Rabbits and chickens.Indeed! I was going to refresh my hens this year, but it looks like I may wait until summer or fall.
Post by: jackelope on April 13, 2020, 05:27:03 PM
Crazy. I’m worried/expecting the same thing as what’s happening with panic buying of guns. Lots of people buying animals for meat who have no business owning them. The time will come to harvest and they won’t be able to do it. I had to help a family with meat rabbits 2 months ago in this very situation, and that was pre-panic. They decided to breed meat rabbits. Welp... about 40-something rabbits deep and they were over their heads. Helped them reduce their numbers and made them some meat at the same time. We’ll see if they hold up their end of the bargain moving forward.
Too many Instagram farmers.
(I’m not insinuating I’m a farmer at all)
Post by: Jingles on April 13, 2020, 06:31:26 PM
Post by: jennabug on April 13, 2020, 08:02:50 PM
This all really is a littleI'm waiting for the same thing. We have a local processor that has a waiting list that is MONTHS long for poultry and rabbits. :o A lot of people are unwilling/unable to do their own dirty work. Hopefully they address it before there is suffering.
Crazy. I’m worried/expecting the same thing as what’s happening with panic buying of guns. Lots of people buying animals for meat who have no business owning them. The time will come to harvest and they won’t be able to do it. I had to help a family with meat rabbits 2 months ago in this very situation, and that was pre-panic. They decided to breed meat rabbits. Welp... about 40-something rabbits deep and they were over their heads. Helped them reduce their numbers and made them some meat at the same time. We’ll see if they hold up their end of the bargain moving forward.
Too many Instagram farmers.
(I’m not insinuating I’m a farmer at all)
Post by: jackelope on April 13, 2020, 08:25:46 PM
1-irresponsible people freaking out about running out of food and
2- Easter. No selling rabbits right before Easter.
Had a lady contact me looking for 2 about 10 days ago. One for each easter basket for her kids. I Facebook stalked her and her 2 kids were like 3-5 years old. Nope. Ain’t happening.
Post by: Bango skank on April 13, 2020, 08:32:19 PM
People going crazy for Rabbits and chickens.
My neighbor is getting chickens now. For eggs, not meat. But i have a feeling when their egg production tanks in a few years and she realizes its time to send them to freezer camp ill probably end up doing it. I know she will take good care of the chickens in the mean time though.
Post by: jennabug on April 13, 2020, 08:33:49 PM
I won’t let my kid sell rabbits right now unless they’re show rabbits.Yikes! Good call!
1-irresponsible people freaking out about running out of food and
2- Easter. No selling rabbits right before Easter.
Had a lady contact me looking for 2 about 10 days ago. One for each easter basket for her kids. I Facebook stalked her and her 2 kids were like 3-5 years old. Nope. Ain’t happening.
Persons I've sold to have asked me all the right questions before I let them know that I have available stock. Fortunately it is easy to weed them out.
Post by: jackelope on April 13, 2020, 09:44:20 PM
Current situation is one super sweet baby that she’s become attached to that only has 1 ear. Not sure how we’re going to make that one go away. It’s a really nice doe other than the ear issue.
Post by: jackelope on April 13, 2020, 09:45:38 PM
People going crazy for Rabbits and chickens.
My neighbor is getting chickens now. For eggs, not meat. But i have a feeling when their egg production tanks in a few years and she realizes its time to send them to freezer camp ill probably end up doing it. I know she will take good care of the chickens in the mean time though.
As long as they live a good life while they’re alive and die quick when the time comes. I’m sure you’ll do them right when the time comes.
Post by: gaddy on April 27, 2020, 10:24:02 AM
Post by: jennabug on April 27, 2020, 10:49:36 AM
Whats your average cost per pound invested after processing ? Am thinking about getting into it on a small scale for personal consumption. Our family had a large rabbit operation around Lake Stevens area years ago. The wife's never had rabbit and I need to justify it. Average initial cost for a breeding buck and a couple does ? Tri-Cities area.Hey gaddy, it depends on how you feed them and if you include operating/equipment costs. Pellet feed only costs me about $3/lb of rabbit, bone in. This could be cheaper with a lower quality food and supplementing more with hay and yard cuttings. But I also try to balance out the amount of time I have available to do it vs just buying pellet food. The quality of meat is more important to me than the $/lb.
I'm in the tricities and I typically charge $40 per rabbit when sold in trios with pedigrees. But keep in mind that is for purebred pedigreed stock. If you can find backyard mixes, they for $10 to $20 each when young. They're ready to be bred by about 8 months old.
Post by: jackelope on April 27, 2020, 11:02:33 AM
You won't produce the same amount or quality of meat feeding them sub-par feed just like all other livestock. Feed them a quality, nutritionally complete feed pellet and keep the junk food salad, vegetables, weeds, grass, etc away from them. They're cheap to raise considering you're processing rabbits at 10-14 weeks before they start growing fat and the meat quality diminishes. The first 3 weeks or so they won't eat much actual feed at all. They'll just start eating feed in that 3rd week. A quality commercial breed rabbit will be 5 pounds or so live weight at 12 weeks. My friend has 2 litters of Californians right now that were 11 babies a piece. That's 35-ish pounds of meat in 12 weeks. If they're free fed and healthy, I bet they go through 50 pounds of feed per litter in that time including the mother rabbit, so $20 per 50# or so. I might be off in my feed guesstimate. A quality breeding trio should be in the area Jenna mentioned, although I think she's too cheap if the rabbits are good quality.
One of my friends who raises meat rabbits says 4 pounds of feed to 1 pound of meat.
Post by: nwwanderer on April 27, 2020, 01:06:06 PM
Post by: jennabug on April 27, 2020, 06:39:15 PM
Yes, jackelope, I undersell them. But I'm not in it for profit. My main buck got best of breed last fall and my does are good quality. I just want to enable people to raise the best rabbits they can if I have extras. The rest of what's left from my kits will be heading to the freezer though. The girls get the summer off.
Post by: gaddy on April 28, 2020, 08:55:21 AM
Post by: KFhunter on April 30, 2020, 04:32:26 PM
Also forgot to add that I pay more for feed supporting a small business. I would probably save quite a bit if I bought from a chain and had separate feeds for growers, show rabbits, and breeders. But its easier for me to just buy 1 type. :dunno:
Yes, jackelope, I undersell them. But I'm not in it for profit. My main buck got best of breed last fall and my does are good quality. I just want to enable people to raise the best rabbits they can if I have extras. The rest of what's left from my kits will be heading to the freezer though. The girls get the summer off.
What do you raise?
Post by: jennabug on May 01, 2020, 06:32:07 AM
Also forgot to add that I pay more for feed supporting a small business. I would probably save quite a bit if I bought from a chain and had separate feeds for growers, show rabbits, and breeders. But its easier for me to just buy 1 type. :dunno:
Yes, jackelope, I undersell them. But I'm not in it for profit. My main buck got best of breed last fall and my does are good quality. I just want to enable people to raise the best rabbits they can if I have extras. The rest of what's left from my kits will be heading to the freezer though. The girls get the summer off.
What do you raise?
Champagne D'argents
I started with New Zealands until I found the Champagnes
Post by: Machias on May 01, 2020, 09:56:02 AM
Post by: jennabug on May 01, 2020, 11:24:46 AM
Post by: Mark Brenckle on May 01, 2020, 03:15:16 PM
Post by: jennabug on May 01, 2020, 07:39:07 PM
Something that cute shouldn't be so delicious!:chuckle:
Post by: Machias on May 01, 2020, 10:10:28 PM
Happy to help fellow HW get set up. :tup:
:tup: :tup: :tup:
Post by: jackelope on May 09, 2020, 10:23:13 AM
Post by: jennabug on May 09, 2020, 07:49:58 PM
My kid’s 4 day old litter of black Dutch weren’t getting fed by their mother and her other doe she bred didn’t take so my wife and her made a run to a friends house last night and put the 4 survivors in with a litter of 5 champagne d’argents. Hoping their momma is a milk cow and can get the Dutch babies back to healthy.If she accepts them she will have plenty of milk. Mine have raised litters of 9 easily, and I've heard of larger litters of champagnes
Post by: jackelope on May 10, 2020, 03:03:02 PM
Post by: Machias on May 10, 2020, 04:24:47 PM
3 out of 4 died so far. I think they were too far gone. Not enough strength to survive.
Bummer, sorry to hear that.
Post by: jennabug on May 11, 2020, 04:02:06 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 11, 2020, 04:57:16 PM
That's rough. I haven't had success trying to help a litter/kit yet. But it's better to do something than nothing.
We foster all the time. Even if there aren't issues. Kiddo will have a litter of 3 and a litter of 7 and we'll take 2 from the litter of 7 and put them with the small litter. Sometimes if there's a well marked baby with a new mother we'll take that baby and put it with a proven mother rabbit just for a little extra insurance. She had bred 2 this time, just the other doe who has had several litters didn't take. I think the problem with these was they were too far gone and we didn't realizr it in time. We try and mostly leave them alone for the first few days.
The 4th baby is now missing...lol. Our friend can't find it. Great. Presumably dead. Maybe foster mom ate it.
Post by: jennabug on May 11, 2020, 07:57:31 PM
Post by: nwwanderer on May 12, 2020, 07:08:04 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 12, 2020, 07:17:34 AM
Is cross fostering only successful at birth like pigs or do you have more time with rabbits?
I've only ever seen it done in the first few days to maybe a week, but the babies have to mostly be the same age. There's a big difference functionally between a day old baby and a 5 day old baby. The older babies would not cooperate with the littles.
Post by: Machias on May 12, 2020, 09:36:27 AM
Post by: Jingles on June 09, 2020, 07:20:14 AM
Post by: jackelope on June 09, 2020, 07:47:25 AM
Ok rabbit breeders I went from 2 rabbits on Saturday to 12 on Monday, on visually checking Sunday night there were 6 kits and Monday there were 10 when I did an actual hands on count. Talk about a surprise. Now just hope the doe can support them all. Feeding quality pellets and supplementing with home grown alfalfa.
The alfalfa is really rich and very high in protein. Might want to pull it when the kits are out of the nest box as it will mess with their gut heatlh as they transition to solid feed. Calf Manna is a good supplement for nursing does. Maybe 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per day. You can get it in 10lb bags at feed stores. The doe should be ok with 10 babies.
Post by: Jingles on June 09, 2020, 08:16:41 AM
Post by: jennabug on June 20, 2020, 11:33:49 AM
Post by: jackelope on June 22, 2020, 09:37:34 AM
Post by: Jingles on June 28, 2020, 10:31:04 AM
Post by: Machias on July 19, 2020, 10:04:29 PM
Working on the new hutches, gotta get a roof built. In the meantime I have a metal roof panel over the hutches while I build a three sided shelter.
Post by: KFhunter on July 19, 2020, 10:07:54 PM
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Post by: Machias on July 19, 2020, 10:10:55 PM
Post by: nwwanderer on July 20, 2020, 05:03:42 AM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2020, 07:06:21 AM
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Post by: Machias on July 20, 2020, 08:32:16 AM
Set up a cam, we need a coyote peering through the wire on his tippy toes
They are set up pretty close to the dog's kennel, but we plan on fencing them, the chickens and the ducks in and running a hotwire to hopefully keep them and the bears out.
Post by: Machias on July 20, 2020, 08:32:54 AM
Might toss in a resting board, give those feet a break from the wire
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Always do
Post by: jennabug on July 20, 2020, 03:26:44 PM
Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 03:30:15 PM
Might toss in a resting board, give those feet a break from the wire
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Always do
Get yourself a few of these. Or a few dozen. They clip into the wire floor and will allow the poop to fall through. Also, the rabbits won't chew them. They're pretty much guaranteed to chew wood, and/or they become pee soaked. Wood and rabbits don't mix.
https://www.woodyswabbits.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=48&zenid=d09adce19dec5fdceb71d479d1b0ae25
Every one of my kid's rabbits has one or 2 of these in their cages.
Post by: jennabug on July 20, 2020, 03:32:02 PM
Might toss in a resting board, give those feet a break from the wire
Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Always do
Get yourself a few of these. Or a few dozen. They clip into the wire floor and will allow the poop to fall through. Also, the rabbits won't chew them. They're pretty much guaranteed to chew wood, and/or they become pee soaked. Wood and rabbits don't mix.
https://www.woodyswabbits.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=48&zenid=d09adce19dec5fdceb71d479d1b0ae25
Every one of my kid's rabbits has one or 2 of these in their cages.
Good suggestion. :tup: :tup: And Great Northern in Spokane has them as well.
https://greatnortherncageco.com/
Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 03:38:15 PM
Post by: jennabug on July 20, 2020, 03:46:11 PM
Post by: Jingles on July 20, 2020, 04:31:58 PM
Sorry about photos laying on their sides
Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 05:35:47 PM
But they're not earning their living making meat either :chuckle:
They're all freeloading show rabbits. They wouldn't know what to do with themselves if they had to live outside.
She's getting an oversized rabbit shed hopefully by the end of the summer. Time for me to get my garage back.
Post by: Machias on July 20, 2020, 06:45:09 PM
Nice hutches Jingles, I'm just not a fan of any wood in a hutch. At one time my Dad had 1600 does, all NZ Whites for the meat market in Rogers, Arkansas. Like Jackelope said above, typically wood and rabbits are a bad combo. Keep an eye out for ear mites down the road. My guys will be all enclosed in a 3 sided shed before this fall.
Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 06:53:26 PM
If you have room for hanging cages, they’re the way to go. You have to have a place for the poop to fall though. It can be collected at that point and sold or used in gardens, flowerbeds, whatever. We don’t have the right place for hanging cages though so the condos and trays are what she uses.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200721/70edd0209d1a5bfc272044b57787f64f.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200721/d3fd01916ac7f786a5f906d99c3c2b2d.jpg)
I figured out at some point that the 2’x4’ fluorescent light covers work well to keep the bucks from pissing on each other, and the dudes all live in the lower cages. Zero wood.
Post by: Machias on July 20, 2020, 07:03:08 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2020, 09:12:44 PM
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Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2020, 09:33:22 PM
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Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 09:56:16 PM
I wanted to make round top hutches you can put hay in between themThey have a name. Can’t remember what they’re called. They’re cool. Used without trays with a manure pit under them. A dutch breeder we know in Michigan has a top notch rabbit barn with manure pits. She goes so far as to have worms in the pits.
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Post by: jackelope on July 20, 2020, 09:57:54 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200721/51bf94dd1072685640895ad261c11fd2.jpg)
Post by: KFhunter on July 20, 2020, 10:03:26 PM
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Post by: Airnip on July 21, 2020, 08:39:28 AM
Post by: Machias on July 21, 2020, 09:18:15 AM
Post by: jackelope on July 22, 2020, 07:49:59 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200723/cbb5bdc392327b5086d4dcb02e49e9d9.jpg)
There are at least 4 meat pens going up for auction.
Post by: KFhunter on January 20, 2022, 12:16:58 PM
https://www.newsweek.com/deadly-hemorrhagic-disease-that-kills-80-percent-rabbits-spreading-across-us-1670688#:~:text=A%20deadly%20disease%20fatal%20to%20rabbits%20in%20around,fatality%20rate%20of%20between%2080%20and%20100%20percent
Post by: Jpmiller on January 20, 2022, 12:49:37 PM
Post by: jackelope on January 20, 2022, 07:12:05 PM
Thinking about getting into this mainly to expose my boys to killing and butchering. I love eating rabbit but not looking to have a freezer full of them, nor to have a whole bunch on hand. If I want just a small scale operation would a single doe and buck suffice? If I understand correctly a doe will put out several litters a year and if we butcher all of them and just keep the two adults that would be my ideal. Is that a bad idea or? I don't know how long they produce for before we would need to acquire new blood for breeding.
This might take a while
It’s not a bad thing at all. My kid breeds does twice a year. She shows them. She doesn’t eat them. A good commercial breed rabbit will kindle 6-12 babies per litter. Harvest them at 70 days old, they’ll be 3.5-5.5 pounds a piece. That’s prime rabbit meat age. No fat yet. A healthy doe is a doe that has babies consistently. Don’t breed her once a year and expect much. 2-3 times a year is great. Mother Mature put rabbits on this earth to reproduce. Figure 8-10 3-5 pound carcasses every 4-6 months. It’s not that much. It’s super good meat. People will buy them too. I’ve sold them for $15 a piece to people for meat. Killed, skinned, gutted. That money goes back to the feed bill. Your doe will produce good for 3 years or so. Take one of the offspring and move her into the breeding lineup. Line breeding is fine. There will come a time where you’ll need to get a new buck once the line is too tightly bred. You’ll need new blood.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 20, 2022, 08:43:18 PM
What's a typical meat yield on a 3.5-5.5 pound rabbit?
The more I look into rabbits the more I like so far. The barn needs some work before pigs would be an option, we don't have room for bigger animals right now and I'm never going back to chickens or turkeys if I can help it.
Post by: jackelope on January 20, 2022, 09:30:04 PM
I think they say 60% meat. A commercial breed rabbit is built to yield more meat than bone. They’ll eat to put meat on, not build bone. You don’t want big boned rabbits.
Once they get to 12 weeks or so, they’ll start forming fat. That will degrade the quality of the meat, and they won’t get too much bigger than they are at 12 weeks either.
Set your cages up so the kids can harvest the poop too. People will buy it off of Craigslist or your local dahlia club or something like that for a few bucks per 5 or 10 pound bag. My kid has buyers for that too.
Post by: jackelope on January 20, 2022, 09:35:12 PM
Post by: mountainman on January 20, 2022, 10:12:22 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on January 21, 2022, 06:42:04 AM
Post by: jackelope on January 21, 2022, 07:20:22 AM
Thanks! I'm hoping either this spring or fall to get our mini operation up and running. Slaughter and butcher was a common occurrence growing up and I hated it at the time but now I see it's value. Really would like to get the kids normalized to it before they're too old.
Processing a rabbit is a lot different than processing a pig or a cow. I can have one alive to skinned and gutted and ready to package in probably 5-10 minutes. It's a good gateway to the bigger stuff. Take a look at the hopper popper setup. You can likely make your own, but you'll get the idea.
Post by: huntingfool7 on January 21, 2022, 11:47:02 AM
Thinking about getting into this mainly to expose my boys to killing and butchering. I love eating rabbit but not looking to have a freezer full of them, nor to have a whole bunch on hand. If I want just a small scale operation would a single doe and buck suffice? If I understand correctly a doe will put out several litters a year and if we butcher all of them and just keep the two adults that would be my ideal. Is that a bad idea or? I don't know how long they produce for before we would need to acquire new blood for breeding.I'm really new to meat rabbits but this is what I'm planning. Our line of Silver Fox are producing both Black and Blue color variations.
I started with a young pair that are on their third litter. The first litter will be ready to process this weekend. We are not separating the buck from the doe. Once the little ones are out of the brooder, the doe puts the next batch in.
Post by: jackelope on January 21, 2022, 01:11:42 PM
Thinking about getting into this mainly to expose my boys to killing and butchering. I love eating rabbit but not looking to have a freezer full of them, nor to have a whole bunch on hand. If I want just a small scale operation would a single doe and buck suffice? If I understand correctly a doe will put out several litters a year and if we butcher all of them and just keep the two adults that would be my ideal. Is that a bad idea or? I don't know how long they produce for before we would need to acquire new blood for breeding.I'm really new to meat rabbits but this is what I'm planning. Our line of Silver Fox are producing both Black and Blue color variations.
I started with a young pair of that are on their third litter. The first litter will be ready to process this weekend. We are not separating the buck from the doe. Once the little ones are out of the brooder, the doe puts the next batch in.
This would freak me out because I’m a little OCD about the rabbits.
I’d worry the doe would kill the buck. Mentally I also have to keep track of how much the adults are all eating.
What do you mean by brooder? What’s your setup?
I can’t do the colony thing :chuckle:
Post by: huntingfool7 on January 21, 2022, 01:42:03 PM
Post by: jackelope on January 21, 2022, 02:18:54 PM
@jackalope I'm doing the colony thing. Brooder was the wrong term, it is just the nest box.
10-4.
Post by: Birdguy on January 21, 2022, 09:26:02 PM
Thinking about getting into this mainly to expose my boys to killing and butchering. I love eating rabbit but not looking to have a freezer full of them, nor to have a whole bunch on hand. If I want just a small scale operation would a single doe and buck suffice? If I understand correctly a doe will put out several litters a year and if we butcher all of them and just keep the two adults that would be my ideal. Is that a bad idea or? I don't know how long they produce for before we would need to acquire new blood for breeding.I'm really new to meat rabbits but this is what I'm planning. Our line of Silver Fox are producing both Black and Blue color variations.
I started with a young pair of that are on their third litter. The first litter will be ready to process this weekend. We are not separating the buck from the doe. Once the little ones are out of the brooder, the doe puts the next batch in.
This would freak me out because I’m a little OCD about the rabbits.
I’d worry the doe would kill the buck. Mentally I also have to keep track of how much the adults are all eating.
What do you mean by brooder? What’s your setup?
I can’t do the colony thing :chuckle:
I am right there with you Jackelope! Having raised thousands of rabbits growing up there is no way I could leave the buck in with the doe. All the "old guys" from my youth beat it into me that the doe will harm/kill the buck if I ever put him in her cage! I will never forget some of those early farming notes....even if not totally true I could never do it.
Post by: Jpmiller on January 22, 2022, 07:33:51 PM
Post by: jackelope on January 22, 2022, 07:35:51 PM
Anyone have any favorite hutch designs? Things that did or didn't work? I know there's been some stuff already on the thread here but nothing in a while.
All wire. No wood.
Post by: KFhunter on January 22, 2022, 07:43:01 PM
Post by: jackelope on January 22, 2022, 08:22:17 PM
Drop down nests if you canNever really thought about this. What do you think is the benefit?
Not possible with our setup either way.
Post by: jackelope on January 22, 2022, 08:32:30 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220123/3863d9a9ba6da37a027e630226594466.jpg)
The kid says she’s going to keep up her hobby for a while so we built her a shed this fall. There’s a 650cfm exhaust fan in that right corner, windows on both ends and up top there on the left. I used green board sheet rock and gloss paint to make cleaning a little easier. It’s cheap vinyl floor. I’ll do the ceiling in the spring. Ran out of time and had to move them in there.
Post by: KFhunter on January 23, 2022, 01:01:20 PM
Drop down nests if you canNever really thought about this. What do you think is the benefit?
Not possible with our setup either way.
It's not a big deal if you keep your rabbits in a climate controlled Taj Mahal :chuckle:
Seriously, the kits born outside of a nest box can't climb in, but can fall down into a nest. When it's cold you don't have a lot of time to gather them up and warm them.
The saying is: " they're not dead until they're warm and dead"
Lot's of kits have been saved in a woman's bra :chuckle:
Not my woman though
Post by: jackelope on January 23, 2022, 02:51:46 PM
Drop down nests if you canNever really thought about this. What do you think is the benefit?
Not possible with our setup either way.
It's not a big deal if you keep your rabbits in a climate controlled Taj Mahal :chuckle:
Seriously, the kits born outside of a nest box can't climb in, but can fall down into a nest. When it's cold you don't have a lot of time to gather them up and warm them.
The saying is: " they're not dead until they're warm and dead"
Lot's of kits have been saved in a woman's bra :chuckle:
Not my woman though
If does don’t give birth in nest boxes here, they don’t stay.
There’s no climate control in the rabbit Taj Mahal other than the insulation and the exhaust fan. It’ll be an experiment when it starts warming up. In theory with the exhaust fan, it’ll stay cool enough. I put windows that size on purpose so we can put a small window ac if needed. The 106 degree days here this past summer might have been too much I guess. If it stays under 90, it’s a win. The ac constantly running in the garage was $$$.
Post by: KFhunter on January 23, 2022, 03:07:17 PM
Hard to find rabbits at the time in the desired breed
Post by: jackelope on January 23, 2022, 03:26:32 PM
Agree, I didn't cull enough
Hard to find rabbits at the time in the desired breed
Let me know what you’re looking for whenever the time comes. I probably know a guy.
Bred 4 does and weaned 2 litters this morning.
Post by: KFhunter on January 23, 2022, 03:39:44 PM
(She was so cute when she begged for those chicks
:chuckle: :chuckle: )
Post by: Jpmiller on February 02, 2022, 07:00:39 PM
Do you guys have a general rule of thumb? Bigger is better? Too much room is a bad thing? Growing up we didn't breed ours they were pets and I'd get they were in 18"x30" cages.
Post by: jackelope on February 02, 2022, 09:45:13 PM
My kid’s 5 pound rabbits live in 24x24’s and 24x30’s for the does. Grow outs go in 18x24 for a couple weeks then if they’re staying they go into the bigger cages. She rotates the breeding does into the bigger cages when they’re bred. She’s got 8 big breeding cages.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 04, 2022, 07:24:22 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 04, 2022, 07:45:31 AM
These are them. These ones even have nest boxes in the floors.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200721/51bf94dd1072685640895ad261c11fd2.jpg)
Can these be bought, or does one have to make them themselves?
Post by: jackelope on February 04, 2022, 02:21:49 PM
These are them. These ones even have nest boxes in the floors.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200721/51bf94dd1072685640895ad261c11fd2.jpg)
Can these be bought, or does one have to make them themselves?
There used to be a guy on Craigslist that built and sold cages like that before, and I believe he was up north in wooley or concrete or something like that. He also sold New Zealand rabbits too.
Post by: Jpmiller on February 04, 2022, 02:50:07 PM
Post by: jackelope on February 04, 2022, 02:53:48 PM
What's the draw of hanging the cages? I keep running across plans for that.Poop harvest.
Worm bins.
Less maintenance.
Cleanliness.
The situation has to be right to use them. It’ll ruin a concrete floor and the smell can build up. Ventilation is more important with this setup if you’re doing it for less maintenance.
Post by: Jpmiller on December 01, 2022, 04:19:57 PM
Also can I put them back to back so I can access off either side? My idea is to not shed water where I'm trying to access the doors, but I don't know of having another rabbit right behind it and on either side matters? Should I build the smaller buck cages on opposite ends?
It's a pretty protected site from everything but wind, we get the occasional heavy winds here, should I build w wind screen or put it in the more protected but uncovered side of the barn? Itll keep them out of the sun and dry but I don't know how they deal with wind, I'd imagine they'd want something?
And finally, what about predatots? Barn cats? Coons? Bobcats? Losing chickens growing up seemed to be part of the game, is that something that comes along with rabbits too? Will a hanging wire hutch protect them enough or do critters find a way in?
Thanks for all the help so far folks. Looking forward to getting into it and the kids are actually too. Theyve loved killing and cleaning and then ultimately eating the geese and chickens I've had them be a part of so I think this will be both a good and fun experience for them.
Post by: jackelope on December 01, 2022, 04:39:58 PM
2 does and a buck will provide plenty of meat. You can line breed your buck to his offspring for a few generations and be fine if you want to add another doe. The buck will handle as many does as you can throw at him. Eventually you’ll need some new blood.
Keep the wind off of them. They’re totally fine in the coldest weather we get but wind and wet will kill them.
Post by: jackelope on December 01, 2022, 07:39:24 PM
Buy quality foundation stock for your rabbit herd and it will produce quality meat. Don’t feed them a bunch of crap they don’t need.
Once your kids get hooked, get them into 4-H. Last year WA state 4-H adopted a new market rabbit project. I’m the only Snohomish county market rabbit project leader at this point. Hoping it grows and becomes a thing.
Post by: Birdguy on December 01, 2022, 08:45:06 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on December 24, 2022, 06:34:58 PM
Any one close to Everett have any cages for sale?
PM me.
Post by: Norman89 on June 12, 2023, 12:57:55 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on June 12, 2023, 12:59:41 PM
What breed are you going with?
Post by: jackelope on June 12, 2023, 04:41:01 PM
Got my hutch built out this weekend, still have to make nesting boxes and gets some waterers and I'll be set to start. Cages were a gift from my dad he used then for chicken quarentine years ago, I will build more but having trouble finding 1x 1/2" floor material in 14 or 16 gauge
Floors should be 14 gauge. 16 gauge will tear up their feet and it's flimsy.
You can order it from Klubertanz. Get their floor supports for those bigger cages too.
http://www.klubertanz.com/
Post by: Norman89 on June 13, 2023, 07:40:33 AM
Post by: jackelope on June 13, 2023, 12:10:04 PM
Planning to start with new zealands just for meat production, maybe branch out later for different breeds. My wife is not a fan of the red eyes, but been watching a guy on youtube that through selective breeding came up with a blue eye white that's what I would really like
Start by breeding your NZ with blue eyed white rabbit then breed the offspring back to the blue eyed parents.
The problem you’ll run into is a quality rabbit that’s properly built that’s also big enough to be able to breed to a New Zealand. Most BEW’s that people have developed are smaller rabbits. You might be able to get a blue eyed buck bred to a NZ doe. Don’t do it the other way around. The babies will be too big and the Doe won’t be able to deliver them.
Post by: Norman89 on June 16, 2024, 11:12:57 AM
Post by: jackelope on June 16, 2024, 12:26:51 PM
Id maybe take a look at how much pellets you’re feeding them too. We feed feed the same Haystack feed. We’re feeding 4-5 pound rabbits 1/2 a cup a day. We feed no hay.
One of my 4-H kids raises very nice Rex, shows them snd wins at 4-H shows, fair, ARBA shows and shows meat pens with them and she’s also feeding Haystack. She’s giving them a cup of pellets a day. She feeds them no hay at all unless they’re about to give birth.
The other thing I was going to mention is that doe you bred in the video is not an otter. The buck looks like a black otter. Doe looks just plain black. Didn’t see the other doe so not sure what color that one is. Blue, black, chocolate otters all exist. The otter variety is identified by the tan markings on their undersides, inside their ears, behind their ears and under their noses.
Post by: Norman89 on June 16, 2024, 12:55:22 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 16, 2024, 01:23:22 PM
Post by: Norman89 on June 16, 2024, 07:37:56 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240617/848c916ad9938bb3f27058a60b4c3a9c.jpg)
Post by: Norman89 on June 16, 2024, 07:38:31 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 16, 2024, 09:35:40 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240617/dc18589a509da63f3d229cf3fa9baf3e.jpg)
Post by: lhrbull on July 04, 2024, 07:47:39 AM
Post by: Norman89 on September 14, 2024, 08:29:28 AM
Post by: HighlandLofts on December 17, 2024, 04:47:06 PM
I want to make it big enough to include some rabbit cages to get back into breeding meat rabbits again.
It will have a small room for feed storage and the rabbit pens.
And suggestions of what types of cages to build for the rabbits?
Size & height.
Size of wire-1/2x1 for the floor
1x1 for the sides & top.
Should they hade dividers so they can't see each other.
What gauge of wire?
Post by: jackelope on December 21, 2024, 02:22:51 PM
This spring I will building a new pigeon loft for my white homing pigeons for doing dove releases for weddings and funerals.
I want to make it big enough to include some rabbit cages to get back into breeding meat rabbits again.
It will have a small room for feed storage and the rabbit pens.
And suggestions of what types of cages to build for the rabbits?
Size & height.
Size of wire-1/2x1 for the floor
1x1 for the sides & top.
Should they hade dividers so they can't see each other.
What gauge of wire?
14 gauge 1/2x1" for the floors. 16 gauge 1x2 for the sides and tops. 18-20" tall so they can get in and out of the nest boxes. I'd get baby saver wire for your breeding doe's coops so the babies can't squirm through the wire if they end up out of the box somehow. I can verify that it definitely happens. I'd put solid dividers so they can't bite each other, pee on each other, or breed each other. Wouldn't worry about them seeing each other. I'd put a support across the floor to prevent the floor from sagging because I assume you're cages will be on the larger side. I'd go 24x30 or 24x36 for the breeding does. 24x30 or for your bucks and then you can do smaller ones to maximize space for your growouts. We kept growouts in 18x24's but they were a smaller breed.
Used to be able to get all this stuff from Klubertanz but I think they shut down. It's pretty easy to find 16 gauge wire but not so easy to find 14 gauge floor wire at the hardware store. You'll probably have to order it.
Are you going to do hanging cages without trays or going to use trays?
Post by: HighlandLofts on December 21, 2024, 02:31:15 PM
Maybe two high for easy reach.
With the price of food these days, I'd like to start up with three or four does.
I still have my Rex - New Zealand buck.
I'll look for flooring wire and get some cages built here shortly.
What do you think of Flemish Giant cross does?
I was happy with my cross buck on New Zealand does.
Post by: jackelope on December 21, 2024, 03:13:24 PM
I'd like to use trays for easier clean up.
Maybe two high for easy reach.
With the price of food these days, I'd like to start up with three or four does.
I still have my Rex - New Zealand buck.
I'll look for flooring wire and get some cages built here shortly.
What do you think of Flemish Giant cross does?
I was happy with my cross buck on New Zealand does.
The problem with flemish giants is they're all bone. You're feeding a rabbit that's going to spend a bunch of time and fuel growing bones and not meat. I'd stay away from any flemish giant anything cross. We had trouble connecting last fall due to it being crazy busy fair time but I can probably connect you with some NZ or satin does or something like that that is more a meat breed.
Put the 2 high condos up on a table or something so you're not killing yourself bending over to feed them. 3 high condos aren't too tall. Woody's 3 hole condos are a little over 5' tall. Easy peasy. We have 4 hole condos from him where each hole is shorter so 4 holes are only slightly over 5' tall. Good for your grow outs, but not good for breeding cages.
Don't build them too deep or you wont be able to reach the back of the cage to catch them.
Post by: HighlandLofts on December 21, 2024, 03:18:45 PM
Color isn't important to me. I have a few wire cages I can get by with until I build what I want.
Post by: HighlandLofts on January 02, 2025, 09:08:00 AM
I'll let it breed in a couple of months.
I will probably breed it one maybe two more times with my New Zealand/Rex buck then swap over to a new buck.
I'll keep a few of the young does for breeding stock out if these young kits.
I'll probably replace it with a New Zealand buck.
Post by: HighlandLofts on February 21, 2025, 02:03:19 PM
Post by: Norman89 on February 28, 2025, 06:49:40 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on March 03, 2025, 05:52:29 PM
Post by: Norman89 on March 09, 2025, 09:42:12 PM
Post by: Norman89 on March 09, 2025, 09:44:33 PM
Post by: jackelope on March 09, 2025, 09:47:22 PM
Post by: Norman89 on March 10, 2025, 02:51:39 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on April 17, 2025, 09:02:40 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on April 21, 2025, 01:50:12 AM
Post by: hunter399 on April 21, 2025, 03:16:02 AM
Next modification to further the rabbits being hands off is these automatic watering cups from rentacoop. I already use there poultry cups for the quail and they work great, these will be rigged into five gallon reserve buckets so hopefully watering will be a weekly activity instead of dailyWe used to just screw the normal water thing.
Onto a 2 liter soda pop bottle.
Make a new wire for bigger bottle.
Post by: HighlandLofts on April 25, 2025, 01:57:11 AM
They last almost a week.
Post by: hunter399 on April 25, 2025, 08:33:37 AM
I use the little smaller soda bottles with the screw in nipple from the Coop.I don't have rabbits any more.
They last almost a week.
We would use smaller bottles,fill with water,freeze,then put them in there. While it was hot in the summer,so they could lay next to a frozen water bottle.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 15, 2025, 08:31:28 PM
She should be dropping the little ones in a few days. I have to look at the calender.
Post by: jackelope on May 16, 2025, 01:54:50 PM
I put the nest box in with my doe this afternoon and put some pine shavings in it. Then i grabed a feed bag full of hay for bedding ftom a friend.
She should be dropping the little ones in a few days. I have to look at the calender.
Should be 5/22. I'd usually wait till 3 days before that to put the box in.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 17, 2025, 08:37:40 AM
How long after she has the liter do you rebreed?
Post by: jackelope on May 17, 2025, 09:13:20 AM
She is due tuesday the 20th.31 days from the day you bred her would be the 22nd based on your post. If the box is in there now, no worries unless she starts using it as a couch or as a toilet.
How long after she has the liter do you rebreed?
Stuff that box full of hay and see if she nests in it. A lot of times they’ll go to nesting right away. We do 2-3” of shavings then stuffed full of Timothy hay.
I’d probably re-breed her when the babies are 6 weeks old.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 17, 2025, 11:31:16 AM
Yesterday i put some nice soft grass hay in.
She went right to building up the nest box, full mouth fulls of the hay.
I will be picking up a tripple deck rabbit cage set up.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 22, 2025, 05:22:40 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 22, 2025, 07:10:40 PM
The doe had her litter yesterday, they were born before I got home from work.
Nice. She had them in the box like she’s supposed to and everybody is doing well?
Post by: Angry Perch on May 23, 2025, 08:17:07 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on May 23, 2025, 08:17:37 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 23, 2025, 07:21:41 PM
For harvesting will you use something like a Hopper popper or?Hopper popper works well but it’s 10x easier to just use a broomstick or a piece of rebar. Cervical dislocation either way.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 23, 2025, 09:20:23 PM
She had 10 little ones.
Should i eliminte a couple?
1st litter.
Also i need to get stuff in order here, anyone have rabbit cages for sale?
Post by: jackelope on May 23, 2025, 09:22:04 PM
I have some 24x24 4 hole condos for sale cheap. They’d be good for your growouts but not big enough for your adult rabbits.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 24, 2025, 08:25:26 AM
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2025, 06:43:56 PM
What would you want for them?Probably $50 a piece. I only have 1 right now. I’ll have another 2 once the rabbits are gone. My daughter is done with rabbits for now. Full time volleyball player now and going to college in August. No time for rabbits anymore. She only has 7 left I think. Her high point she had 30 ish and was showing nationally.
Post by: Jpmiller on May 24, 2025, 08:48:15 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2025, 08:54:26 PM
Oh man, what’re you going to put in that fancy rabbit shed?I knew it would happen as soon as I built the frikkin shed.
Pretty sure it’s going to be my hunting and fishing dude room.
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 25, 2025, 03:44:48 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on May 29, 2025, 08:36:13 PM
The doe is a californian and the buck is from a litter i raised a few years ago.
He is a brownish color.
He is halh Black New Zealand and half dark gray Rex.
These babies and black.
I will keep a doe out ot this litter. I will keep this buck for a while then replace him with a New Zealand buck.
I had a friend make a HOPPER POPPER for me.
I always held them by the back feet and used a thick wood dowel to the back of the head.
I have butchers quite a few rabbits, lots of deer, several cows.
I have been watching a few videos of butchering rabnits on yourtube.
Some people use a wood dowel or a steel rod, put the rabnit on the ground with the dowel or steel rod over their neck
Stand on the rod and pull op.on the back feet.
About the same an the hopper popper.
On one video they dipped the rabbit in water before skinning it .
Supose to keep hair off of the meat.
A couple of them suggested soaking the rabbit in water in the refridg over night to relax the musle whis is supose to make the meat more tender.
One of the guys placed the meat in ziploc bags and put then directly in the freezer.
I vacum seal everything that goes in our freezer.
I take a whole month off of work every year to go back to New York for a month of deer hunting.
We generally shoot from five to ten deer a year and butcher all of them.
Ladt year we shot nine deer.
I this when we have dead time this year we will cut deer up for other peope. The butcher shops are charging from $100 to $135.
Id like to cut up four or five deer a week.
Post by: jackelope on May 29, 2025, 10:02:50 PM
The key is to harvest them at 70 days old before they start growing a bunch of fat. At that age you also don’t have to worry about the flavor either. Just take care of the meat like you do everything else. They’re a ton easier to skin at that age too.
Hopper popper works fine, as does the broomstick method you described. I’ve probably used the broomstick more, but have killed probably 30-40 with the popper too.
We’re busy the next couple weeks with high school graduation and stuff. I’ll get ahold of you when I have some time and we’ll get you a condo cage.
Post by: HighlandLofts on June 01, 2025, 07:35:02 AM
I am gping to go look at a couple of does this afternoon and will ptobably buy one of them.
I will be picking up another doe here shortly.
I texted you my number.
Post by: HighlandLofts on June 07, 2025, 12:01:17 PM
The new zealand does didnt work out so i'll wait on getting a new Zealand doe.
The doe I bought is a harliquin cross.
Post by: HighlandLofts on June 21, 2025, 04:05:00 PM
Post by: HighlandLofts on July 26, 2025, 09:30:13 PM
Post by: jackelope on July 26, 2025, 10:50:28 PM
The first liter out of the California doe will be ready to butcher in a few weeks. Then the harlequin mixed does liter will be ready to wean, then shortly after the cali liter will be ready yo wean.
Sounds like you’re on the right track!!
Post by: HighlandLofts on July 27, 2025, 02:36:05 AM
Three does will supply all we will need.
How many time should a doe be bred a year?
And should they get a break after reaising two liters back to back?
Post by: jackelope on July 29, 2025, 06:09:07 PM
I will probably keep a couple of does from the Cali mix and butcher the harlequin cross doe.
Three does will supply all we will need.
How many time should a doe be bred a year?
And should they get a break after reaising two liters back to back?
We never bred them very much. Some people breedthem back to back to back. I like to give him a break. We were never in the big production though either.