pen confusion

[ptjeff]

I'm starting to get confused, the more i read. Here's my senario: i want to raise rabbits for meat. i expect to buy one buck and 2 does. breed one doe and expect 7 kits. stagger the litters as well.
My confusion is the pen size and number.
How long can i leave the doe and litter in the 30 x 24 cage?
And once i wean them do they each get a cage or can I combine them in one or more cage?
and till how big?

any thoughts would be appreciated

ptjeff

 

[ZRabbits]

Your breeding does and buck should be in a bigger crate. After the babies are weaned you really don't have to give them separate cages because they will go, as meat people call it "freezer camp".

Here's some info you might find helpful for your project.

http://www.rudolphsrabbitranch.com/rrr.htm

Wishing you all the luck. Let me know how it goes.

K

 

[majorv]

What breed of rabbits are you looking at? Californians or New Zealands won't fit in a 24x30 cage very well and certainly not with 6-7 kits. When my daughter had them for her FFA project we had the doe and kits in a 36x36 hutch.

You probably don't have to worry about separating the kits until their 3 months of age and that's the best time to harvest them anyway.

 

[woahlookitsme]

I second the above.

Our Californians were really laid back and we were able to keep them with mom until 70-80 days. If you do have to separate babies make sure you have a backup plan and backup cages. Cals can have a many as 10-11 babies so expect that also. My does had one of 6 and one of 7.

I really hope this post doesn't get unwanted attention. . .But I hope we helped

 

[ZRabbits]

If you are looking for a medium size rabbit, Florida Whites are very good meat rabbits. I know someone who is successfully raising her Florida Whites with her chickens. Putting food on the table for her family and knowing that that food is raised with loving care. Has a really nice set up to provide their love ones and friends with food.

Let us know what breed you decide. NZ's and Cali's are the main breeds that people us. But a medium rabbit does wonders too.

K

 

[ZRabbits]

Really good book to get is Bob Bennett's "Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits"

It gives you all types of information on breeds, housing, feeding, breeding. Also recipes.

Champaigne D'Argents are superb meat rabbits. Also Palomino's With a Rex you can use them for meat and their fur.

This book has gone through 11 printings, that's how popular it is.

Mr. Bennett raised rabbits for meat and show. He's been doing it forever. At 12 years old Mr. Bennett earned his Boy Scout merit badge for raising rabbits.

Hope this helps. It did help me, even with my Pet rabbits.

K

 

[ptjeff]

Karen,
thanks for the input!
Sarah: I know this topic may be out of the normal boundries of discussion, but thanks.
I am reading Mr. Bennetts book, i think the latest printing. I was looking at Fla Whites and NZ's, but i'll check the Cali's and the others. I am partial to the fur of the chinchilla, i guess because at age 12 I thought i would make it rich selling chinchillas.
I too am considering the chicken coop as well for meat and eggs with no antibiotic overload and hormone suppliments. Ever heard of aquaponics? This is how i'll get fish and veggies.

 

[ZRabbits]

ptjeff wrote:

Karen,
thanks for the input!
Sarah: I know this topic may be out of the normal boundries of discussion, but thanks.
I am reading Mr. Bennetts book, i think the latest printing. I was looking at Fla Whites and NZ's, but i'll check the Cali's and the others. I am partial to the fur of the chinchilla, i guess because at age 12 I thought i would make it rich selling chinchillas.
I too am considering the chicken coop as well for meat and eggs with no antibiotic overload and hormone suppliments. Ever heard of aquaponics? This is how i'll get fish and veggies.

I haven't heard of aquaponics, but we do hydropontics. Maybe the same thing? We have a hydroponics set up for our bunnies wheat grass. We found a true benefit of having the wheat grass around yearly. The hydroponics works really good and we have a really good harvest of wheat grass.

K

 

[Samara]

I've read Bob Bennett's book a couple of times...2 different prints I think. It is very informative and has a lot of visual aids that will help.

I don't think my friend's would mind me posting their website for you; they raise meat rabbits and also sell those to pet homes that they are able. Their Cals have fantastic peds, and they also mix in Creme and Satin for color variations. Shoot them an email, I'm sure they'd be glad to help! They have an amazing cage set up in their barn.

http://songawayfarm.weebly.com/