Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: gcs]
#8430127
07/03/25 11:30 AM
07/03/25 11:30 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
k snow
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
east central WI
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I've often wondered if they'll thrive in a fenced yard, free rein on pasture.... supplement with pellets and let them do what rabbits do...
Had rabbits years ago in hutches... just generic cross breeds. Too many aerial predators here to get away with that.
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: KeithC]
#8430132
07/03/25 11:45 AM
07/03/25 11:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
MD
DaveP
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
MD
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: KeithC]
#8430195
07/03/25 02:23 PM
07/03/25 02:23 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon
"American Honey"
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"American Honey"
Joined: Mar 2011
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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Keith, what gorgeous rabbits you have. They look happy and healthy. Everyone's rabbit pics are so enjoyable. I have semi wild rabbits , who found my place from somewhere a distance from here, obviously. They are loose and I feed and care for them. And take out predators , as I've always done on my place anyway. They are fun for me. I love seeing them spaz out leaping when they feel good , and I pet them when I give them treats. They are still wild and are good at keeping safe. Don't know what breed they are, they don't get very large. I tell myself , if I get too many , I can choose which ones to put in my freezer. They are a fun hobby for me. I do love rabbit meat, it's among the best out there , to me. Thank you for the neat subject and pics. " Then I shall live in Montana. And drive a pickup truck. And raise rabbits...." ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-20139-262511-img_0280.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-20139-262512-img_1052.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-20139-262513-img_0276.jpg)
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: KeithC]
#8430442
07/03/25 08:59 PM
07/03/25 08:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
N. Carolina
Scout1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2012
N. Carolina
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What age do you all start culling your older rabbits? I am assuming to just make stew out of the older ones. I'm getting ready to rotate some younger does and a buck in place of my 3 1/2 year olds. I have new zealands now. I got a young rex buck I will start using.
------------------------------------- Paying Top Dollar for Alien Parts.
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: Scout1]
#8430529
07/03/25 11:41 PM
07/03/25 11:41 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
KeithC
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: May 2009
Champaign County, Ohio.
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What age do you all start culling your older rabbits? I am assuming to just make stew out of the older ones. I'm getting ready to rotate some younger does and a buck in place of my 3 1/2 year olds. I have new zealands now. I got a young rex buck I will start using. For breeders, I usually cull the does when they start having small litters and the bucks if the does they are bred to don't take a few times, in cool weather. That's usually around 2 1/2 to 3 years. It can vary a lot. Fat rabbits become less fertile early. Fatty ovaries on a doe will make her have small litters. If I have what I think is a better rabbit coming up and I'm short on cage space, I'll often cull an older, still productive rabbit. Most of the rabbits I raise or buy go into pet food. I sold a little over 29,000 of rabbit in 2022. I was moving so many rabbits I bought a refrigerated box truck to haul them in. I lost most of my market when I almost died from the adverse reaction. The best market for kits is for 4H meat pens. You can buy good quality rabbits, very cheaply, if you cull buy for a fair. I've bought rabbits from both the President and Vice President of the Ohio New Zealand Rabbit Club within the last month. I got the winning meat pen white New Zealands from the club picnic, which were raised by the VP. I kept them. Keith
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: KeithC]
#8430627
07/04/25 08:54 AM
07/04/25 08:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
So. IL
pintail_drake04
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
So. IL
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Dad and Grandpa raised rabbits commercially may decades ago. They had 500 breeding does at one time along with mink and chinchillas. I have raised New Zealand Whites, Californians, Champagne D'Argents, NZW x Calif cross, and Rex. I much prefer the rex for meat rabbits. They are very docile compared to the NZW and Califs. We raise Show stock, breeders, pets, emotional support animals, and for meat. Not to mention, the pelts and fertilizer are an added bonus. I put about 1 ton of rabbit berries on my garden/raised beds annually and sell the rest. I sold this one, she was a show rabbit. New owner told me she placed Best of Breed at a show in Nebraska. I kept this one, she was a show rabbit and produced big litters. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-665-262625-black_otter_buck_edited.jpg) Augustus was an absolute stud. We process several hundred annually. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-665-262626-butchered_rabbits_in_pot_8_21.jpg) I like to heat shrink the rabbits, they look professional. We process at 5lb live weight or 12 weeks of age for meat. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-665-262627-butchered_rabbits_8_21.jpg) I used to have a couple local buyers for the raw pelts before covid. After that, IDK what happened to them, they haven't been back. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-665-262629-pelts_1_23.jpg)
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: Bdaniel]
#8430744
07/04/25 01:11 PM
07/04/25 01:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Ohio
Cooncreek II
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2012
Ohio
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New Zealand whites and californians here That's a nice set up you have Bdaniel. Looks clean and easy access
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Re: Let's see your meat rabbits.
[Re: Sharon]
#8431011
07/05/25 07:19 AM
07/05/25 07:19 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
pa
hippie
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2010
pa
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Keith, what gorgeous rabbits you have. They look happy and healthy. Everyone's rabbit pics are so enjoyable. I have semi wild rabbits , who found my place from somewhere a distance from here, obviously. They are loose and I feed and care for them. And take out predators , as I've always done on my place anyway. They are fun for me. I love seeing them spaz out leaping when they feel good , and I pet them when I give them treats. They are still wild and are good at keeping safe. Don't know what breed they are, they don't get very large. I tell myself , if I get too many , I can choose which ones to put in my freezer. They are a fun hobby for me. I do love rabbit meat, it's among the best out there , to me. Thank you for the neat subject and pics. " Then I shall live in Montana. And drive a pickup truck. And raise rabbits...." ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-20139-262511-img_0280.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/07/full-20139-262512-img_1052.jpg)  You should let them into your chicken hotel Sharon! My older brothers raised them when I was just a little duffer and just barely remember it. We were into chickens after that for most of my childhood.
There comes a point liberalism has gone too far, we're past that point.
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