Breeders: What do you do with your bun litters?

[jcl_24]

The thing I was wondering: Whatever your personal reasons for breeding rabbits, presumably you cannot keep every singlehealthybaby rabbitthat is born to your rabbit parents? Do you sell them to other breeders ordirectly topeople who want them as petsor even to pet shops (when they are old enough of course)?

Jo

 

[Erins Rabbits]

I usually keep one from every litter, unless none are better quality than the dam and sire. I sell the culls (if they have no crippling defects, like malclusion) to 4-h kids or other serious breeders. I NEVER sell pets. I would rather give away a rabbit to someone I know would care for it than sell a pet animal for endless sums of cash... I've had interesting experierces with people, and I figure the best way to keep out the fakers, the impulse buyers, the ones who decide to 'release flopkins into the wild' is to not sell pet animals. Period.

 

[BlueGiants]

I also usually keep one baby from a litter, as long as it is as good or better than the parents. But I do sell companion rabbits.

I am very careful about who I sell to, I spend a lot of time making sure they know what they are getting into. I also don't let my Flemish go until they are about 10 weeks old. The young rabbits come with food and a health care booklet, and a lifetime of help and advice. I also make it very clear that if they no longer can keep the rabbit, I will ALWAYS take it back, no questions asked. (And I have gone to great lengths to get back a rabbit if necessary.)

I've been very lucky so far. And a lot of my bunny owners keep in touch with me, years after they get a rabbit. I get Christmas cards, emails and photo's all the time!

 

[Blaze_Amita]

I typically sell to other showers and breeders. Some of my mismarked Dutch babies I either give away as pets or sell them as breeding stock. I've been very good at getting different bloodlines in so that THe bloodlines i have aren't as common among the other show people, so as breeding stock they're good.

 

[jcl_24]

Thankyou for your responses .

Jo xx

 

[wooly_queen]

I take the best ones to the fair and shows to sell to other showers and breeders. Then the others I sell as pets to people to call or if I need to get rid of them really quickly I have to sell them at Tractor Supply or Bosman's. Those are the closest to "pet stores" I get.

 

[clevername]

Every time I have a litter set to go I take a good look at everyone. If room wasn't an issue, who would I keep for breeding? These buns are my show and brood quality stock. I may keep one if it is better than mom or dad but the rest will go to breeders, 4Hers and so on.

Some of my not so showable angora go as spinners pets. And a lot of my Silver Fox (eventually Americans) will go to start home livestock programs as I'm pretty big on preserving and spreading the breed.

The rest go as pets, but I don't sell to petstores since I like to screen my buyers for weirdos.

 

[BlueGiants]

clevername wrote:

The rest go as pets, but I don't sell to petstores since I like to screen my buyers for weirdos.

Thats a nice way to put it!

 

[jcl_24]

Very sensible approach though ^^^

I know any rabbits I bred probably would be "pet quality" (Guy for example was bred by thebreeder I bought him from for his temprement at least as much as his colour). It seems unlikely serious breeders would be interested in that "stock" so they would be potential pets only.

A local pet shop owner has expressed interest in any mini-lops bred because they are "always popular", but it does seem a rather anonymous way to get baby bunnies to homes-once in the pet shop no clue available as to where they went or how they are getting on.

Think I've said in another post-nothing is set in stonere my breeding rabbits-don't even know if I'll be able to but these are things I need to consider hence my "obvious novice" posts in 'The Rabbitry'.

Jo x

 

[polly]

I either keep, pass on to breeders or advertise myself to sell the babies. If people look hard enough to find me (which is what I am finding)they are pretty serious for a nethie. or other breeders may pass my name on if someone is looking for a pet. I will only sell to one petshop IF I have any buns available but they are a small family owned shop and are good with the animals