anyone raising rabbits????

[dave2]

Used to have a few but, like with eggs, was feast or famine.... Got tired of the cleaning (no wire bottomed cages) and the hot weather fly/parasite issues... Getting some things caught up now and came across some good solid cages (folding animal crates without the pans)that'll be easy to modify for rabbits... and I earmarked an area for a roof/windbreak instead of the barn so it should be a little more pleasant (for all) now. Thinking about hitting it again with a few.
What breeds have/has anyone found were the best choice (ease of keeping and productivity)?
Had in the past a couple of the giant breeds that would go 20-25 pounds but they just ate too much and took too long to hit butcher size on the downside but brought a good price on the + side when selling at 10 bucks a kg live weight (that's where the feast or famine came in tho)....

Any ideas/tips????

Thanks.
 

[GordoSD]

I raised some California Checkered Giants. Fast growing and pretty also from pure white to black and white to black. You can save for breeders the colors you like best.
 

[johndeerefan]

Not sure if this is the proper name, but we raise Louisiana swamp rabbits (big rabbits). We take the young ones and turn them loose in an fenced in area when they are weining size. Then, after a month or so, we release them around the farm. We use them to train our beagle pups and prep our hunting dogs for season. The swamp rabbits make for a great race and will take the dogs out of hearing distance and back.
 

[Rick Kr]

Around here people don't raise the giants for meat, the cost of feed vs. slaughter weight is not good. You would do better on a smaller breed.

Raised them for a few years until the kids got bored of taking care of them. Funny thing I cant tell you the breed. But I can tell you they do BREED! Seems every 30 days or so another litter arrived. This all started with two $5 rabbits. Kids were doing ok selling them as pets, some as feed to large snake owners, the rest as meat for us or sale.

I built wire bottom cages with drop in plywood to keep them warmer in the winter.

Rick
 

[Rick Kr]

This is a pic at 2 months old. Maybe they would hit 10lbs as adults, rough guess.
Rick

 

[samn40]

Not hard to get baby rabbits for free all you need to do it buy the
mummy and daddy.........?
Sam
 

[Nate V. IA]

We quit a couple years ago, but we had New Zealand and Californian, they are both commercial production breeds. If you want rabbits on a consistent basis you need to keep the doe turnover fairly regular. Buy from a reputable breeder with production records.

Nate-not an expert by any means.

 

[37chief]

With the price of feed now days I don't think it will pay.I raised rabbits. I guess I turned into a softy, I had a hard time killing them. Also my kids realized they were eating thumper, and his brothers, and sisters. When Dad was farming rabbits were having a good time eating his lima beans, and getting fat. He would shoot them, and bring a few home to eat. Just had to watch out for the shot, Mom may have missed taking out of the meat. Stan
 

[dave2]

[RayP(MI)]

Dave, I asked my wife to respond to your post. Her response follows. We are long time rabbit raisers and 4-H leaders in MIchigan. We raise a lot of Angoras for their wool, and some other breeds for sale and show. She doesn't realize that you are not nearby!

Her response:

The number one market breed is the New Zealand, white if you are selling commercially. They like the white pelt to be able to color it. We prefer the Californian. Our son made the market headlines at the fair for selling a 5# fryer for $100/#. That was the year of the rabbit. Silver Marten or Champagne D'Argent are the 3rd and 4th choices. We can put you in contact with breeders for any of these breeds.
 

[dave2]

[Hal/Eastern WA]

Not on purpose! Some fool in this close to suburban neighborhood released some domestic rabbits a few years ago. And rabbits, being rabbits have survived and multiplied.

Without loose dogs in the area, the rabbits really don"t have much in the way of predators. When I see them in my yard or garden, I blast them with my shotgun. Got about 20 this summer, but there are more around.

Releasing the rabbits was a very lousy thing for someone to do. I wish I was sure who did it...maybe the same folks that feed the deer. GRRR!