How to convince my wife we need to get rabbits?

[JInSouthMS]

any suggestions on do's and don't would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kapfarm]

In my case it was the other way around, my wife had to convince me. why doesn't she want rabbits? will you be keeping them in the house? or does she simply not like animals?

 

[JInSouthMS]

they would be outside and she likes animals. she wants to get a few more bills paid off before we get more animals, i agree with her on this point. the other thing is i want meat rabbits but she has tried wild rabbit and didn't like it, are there any breeds that arn't so cute and taste like chicken?

 

[Goatzilla]

If you can afford it, try to buy a trio of the best quality, pedigreed New Zealand Whites that you can afford. They are excellent, efficient, meat producers. You can sell offspring as breed animals for good money. As far as cute and cuddly, they are big, and it seems that the better quality lines are skittish, and not the most appealing pets.

I have a small rabbitry that even helps pay the bills. I keep the best quality offspring to sell as breeding stock and send the lesser quality offspring to freezer camp as soon as they make the weight I desire. I run an ad on Craigslist when I have breeding stock available and usually sell out the first or second day. I get 40 to 50 bucks per rabbit as breeders, and they sell fast. Here's a pic of my herd buck. This rabbit has made me some really nice side income in the last year.

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[miss_thenorth]

It was the other way around here too, I wanted the meat rabbits, hubby didn't care for the idea. He had hunted rabbits and wasn't keen on cleaning them. So i got the rabbits, i raise them, and I dispatch and clean them.

While I like wild rabbit, --farm raised rabbit does taste different, milder, and becasue you control the age they go at, and how quickly they go) they will be tender. They are very cost effective to raise, they will fill your freezer very quickly with wonderful meat, and I have been successful selling my surplus. IMO, they will help you save money, b/c you won't need to buy as much meat.

 

[JInSouthMS]

thanks for the replies so far! I really love the idea of saving money on meat. we have 2 hens that are laying and havent had to buy eggs in weeks! can pedegreed rabbits be show rabbits? or do they have to be registered like dogs? can NZs be show quality. i wouldnt want to show them but my thought was if they coulld be then they might be more sellable. xtra cash is always a plus.

is rabbit manure good for worms?

there i go thinking about breeds and quality and worms and...
thanks again for all your advice.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I'm not sure about the whole pedigree thing. I just have mine for meat. I have two does that are 1/2 flemish giant, 1/2 new zealand. I have one doe who is pure californian, and my buck is californian. i simply raise for the meat.
Rabbit poo is desired by gardeners as it is a cold manure--you can add it directly to the garden without needing to compost it. There are many who raise worms in the droppings also. I use my droppings to fertilize my horse pasture, and garden.

 

[Goatzilla]

Rabbit pedigrees are actually quite easy to manage. They are basically a record going back 3 or more generations. They are usually just hand written by the owner on a blank rabbit pedigree form. Pedigrees are not absolutley necesary to sell quality breeding stock, but keeping pedigrees helps to keep good records and many potential buyers of breeding stock prefer to have them. Bottom line though, it's still just a piece of paper, and anyone can write whatever they want to on one. The best proof of good genetics is the real, live rabbit sitting in front of you.

Also, New Zealand rabbits are often show rabbits, and I have seen many win Best In Show at very large shows. Another thing to remember is that it costs just as much to feed and maintain inferior rabbits as it does to raise excellent ones. A quality line of purebred meat rabbits can easily provide you with a great source of excellent freezer meat as well as put a few bucks in your pocket by selling good show and breeding stock. Good luck to you if you decide to take the plunge!

thanks for the replies so far! I really love the idea of saving money on meat. we have 2 hens that are laying and havent had to buy eggs in weeks! can pedegreed rabbits be show rabbits? or do they have to be registered like dogs? can NZs be show quality. i wouldnt want to show them but my thought was if they coulld be then they might be more sellable. xtra cash is always a plus.

is rabbit manure good for worms?

there i go thinking about breeds and quality and worms and...
thanks again for all your advice.

 

[JInSouthMS]

I showed my wife the picture of the New Zealand white and she said they are too cute to raise for meat. are there any ugly rabbits?

 

[Fancypants4569]

LOL...are there any ugly rabbits,ummm in my experience with rabbits I dont think Ive ever seen an ugly one unless it was sick, and I dont think you want those kinda rabbits But on a wife's side of the story and this might be a great arrangment for you and your wife. I feed and water and am caregiver for our rabbits but when its time to butcher my DH takes over from there. As long as its in the freezer and Im lookin for something to cook for dinner and its there and ready for me to make something yummy with, Im happy. Its just an idea, might work as well with you?
Gaotzilla... that is an amazing looking New Zealand!!!! I actually drooled!!! Not because I want to eat him , but because he is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!Hehe!!!