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Processing Rabbits #7152351
01/24/21 02:15 PM
01/24/21 02:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline OP
trapper
pintail_drake04  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
I sold most of the litters for breeders and a few pets, so I didn't have that many to butcher. I had a buyer lined up for the pelts, but they backed out. Time for some rabbit and dumplings!
Some Prime young rex rabbits
[Linked Image]
5 rex (2 castors, 3 white) and 1 NZW
[Linked Image]
They fill the pot nicely.
[Linked Image]
Ready for pickup.
[Linked Image]

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7152360
01/24/21 02:26 PM
01/24/21 02:26 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 98
Metro Minnesota
M
MNSouthPaw Offline
trapper
MNSouthPaw  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 98
Metro Minnesota
Yum, rabbit is delicious. I am curious about raising them. Did chickens and the wife hated them, too loud and smelly. How often are domestic rabbits bred, what is avg litter size, and how long to butcher size?

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7152387
01/24/21 02:42 PM
01/24/21 02:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline OP
trapper
pintail_drake04  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
I was raising New Zealand Whites (NZW) for years for strictly meat rabbits. I don't care what people say/read, getting a NZW to hit target weight 5# in 8 weeks is darn near impossible. I have selectively bred my NZWs for large litters and quick grow outs. Mine hit target weight on average 9 weeks 3 days. Rex grow out a bit slower, taking 12 weeks to hit weight. However, they sell better for pets, service animals, etc. I prefer litters of 8 or more, and breed heavily toward large litters. I have one rex doe that consistently throws 12-14 kits. I shoot for 4 litters per year from each doe. 2 in the spring and 2 in the fall. I do not breed over the summer as So. IL gets to 100* with 100% humidity for 4 months. I'm switching over to an all Rex herd. Yes, they take 2.5 extra weeks to grow out. But, the sell so much better on the pet market. I butcher what doesn't sell.

I still raise a couple hundred meat chickens a year. Each have their place on my farm. The rabbits are quiet, and they produce awesome fertilizer.

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7152413
01/24/21 03:13 PM
01/24/21 03:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
Beautiful pelts^^^


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153042
01/24/21 09:29 PM
01/24/21 09:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,972
MD
D
DaveP Online content
trapper
DaveP  Online Content
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,972
MD
Nice, used to have hundreds when the kids were younger.
Ate a LOT of culls.
Sold a lot to " snake people" too.
They just wanted them dead then frozen!

How are those wrapped, look great!

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153356
01/25/21 01:09 AM
01/25/21 01:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline OP
trapper
pintail_drake04  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
heat shrink bags.

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153391
01/25/21 04:16 AM
01/25/21 04:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 540
Ohio
C
Cooncreek II Offline
trapper
Cooncreek II  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 540
Ohio
Just got a few breeders last fall looking forward to some fine eatin here soon wink

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153400
01/25/21 05:57 AM
01/25/21 05:57 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
they look great , smile

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153431
01/25/21 07:38 AM
01/25/21 07:38 AM
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 433
ontario canada
K
Knappett Offline
trapper
Knappett  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: May 2016
Posts: 433
ontario canada
Nice! I'm getting some to breed in the spring, I was planning on nzw but now im thinking I should look at the rex. Any chance we could get a picture of you hutch set up?

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153477
01/25/21 08:29 AM
01/25/21 08:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
trapper
Pawnee  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Interesting. Thanks


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153484
01/25/21 08:45 AM
01/25/21 08:45 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 98
Metro Minnesota
M
MNSouthPaw Offline
trapper
MNSouthPaw  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 98
Metro Minnesota
Thanks for answer my questions. Hopefully I can get my landscape work done early enough this year to put up a hutch and finally get some rabbits.

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153489
01/25/21 08:49 AM
01/25/21 08:49 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
Was into the Standard Rex for quite a while. Just got more then we could consume and not many buyers around here. Went to Coturnix Quail and they sold for a year then that market dried up. So to freezer camp most went. A "friend" brought me 5 New Zealand Red' another breeder introduced me to Silkies which grow large and fast also. So back to a meat heard now. Nice crosses that have great pelts ...still have a buyer for them....and the meat is starting to sell again. Got 3 pens of quail breeders and egg layers, and a grow out container that usually has 16 in it. the rest of the cages have rabbits too many males that are ready now for freezer camp and breeding will start up again.

Re: Processing Rabbits [Re: pintail_drake04] #7153726
01/25/21 01:04 PM
01/25/21 01:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,687
S Illinois, former cheesehead
K
Kelly Offline
trapper
Kelly  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,687
S Illinois, former cheesehead
Originally Posted by pintail_drake04
I was raising New Zealand Whites (NZW) for years for strictly meat rabbits. I don't care what people say/read, getting a NZW to hit target weight 5# in 8 weeks is darn near impossible. I have selectively bred my NZWs for large litters and quick grow outs. Mine hit target weight on average 9 weeks 3 days. Rex grow out a bit slower, taking 12 weeks to hit weight. However, they sell better for pets, service animals, etc. I prefer litters of 8 or more, and breed heavily toward large litters. I have one rex doe that consistently throws 12-14 kits. I shoot for 4 litters per year from each doe. 2 in the spring and 2 in the fall. I do not breed over the summer as So. IL gets to 100* with 100% humidity for 4 months. I'm switching over to an all Rex herd. Yes, they take 2.5 extra weeks to grow out. But, the sell so much better on the pet market. I butcher what doesn't sell.

I still raise a couple hundred meat chickens a year. Each have their place on my farm. The rabbits are quiet, and they produce awesome fertilizer.


Sent you a pm, would like to buy some butchered rabbits, thanks


Enjoy Mother Nature's Glory, everyday!

Once one opens the mind to the plausible, the unbelievable becomes possible!

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