I am out

[SilverFox79]

I am getting out of raising meat rabbits after a semi-disastrous attempt. I have successfully raised 3 rabbits out of three attempted litters. I also just gave birth to a new baby and have a 2 year old and the time factor has been very difficult. I want to be able to enjoy the care of them which I was when it was just the two year old, but now it is a drag and difficult for me to make the time needed to get out there and take care of them properly.
Things that went wrong:
1. My Silver Fox female is really an awful mother. She gives birth to nice large litters, then two days after they are born she scatters the nest and stays away from them. The only successful litter I have had was born in early March and I had the nest box still winterized so I think she was in the box more for her own benefit than theirs but they were able to nurse.
2. I had built the traditional looking outdoor hutch with a wood frame and it absorbed smells and is gross after one season.
Things that went right:
1. Silver Foxes, love them and they are so easy to handle and the litter size is large.
2. Raising the kits on the lawn after 6 weeks old. They have done well on it and really seem to enjoy it.
Things I will do differently in the future:
1. Metal cages. I think this will make a world of difference in the clean up.
2. Try having two does so if I end up with another poor mother, I have a back up.
3. Though I love the Silver Foxes and plan to try them again, I may try a doe of a more common meat breed like a Californian or something of that nature.

Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[SilverFox79]

I will add that I plan to try again in a year or two.

 

[samssimonsays]

You have your hands full enough with human kids lol. No need to throw the added responsibility of rabbits on that. I think you are totally right with the Wire, and more than one doe for a backup.

It is nice to maybe find a brood doe that is a proven good mother, sometimes breeders will be selling older stock or may have one they are willing to sell to someone starting off. Cals are usually great moms but any rabbit can be as well as any rabbit can be a bad one. I had one doe that rotated litters for being a good mom. One she'd reject at 2 weeks and the next she would raise to 8 weeks, every other litter like that so I sold her big butt with full disclosure that she chose when she wanted to be a good mom. That lady has had ZERO issues with her... She never did like me.

The wood will not only hold smells and such but it also holds bacteria. I have nesting cages that are made of wood but they are not permanent cages. They are also wire bottomed though. I just found a really good disinfectant through a chemical free place and use that in them. It has kept the smell and anything else out of them amazingly.

 

[goatgurl]

don't beat yourself up, in my humble opinion you are doing the right thing for you right now. having a newborn and a two year old is enough to say grace over much less having to do outdoor chores too. there will always be another time and more rabbits. and you are right about the metal cages, they make worlds of difference in cleanup and smells. i started with wooden hutches that had a wire door and floor but everything else was wood. they stayed nasty but was blessed with some wire cages and like them so much better. i keep large plastic tubs under them to catch the poo and hay that falls out and add it to my garden. works like a charm. and i do keep two does and breed them at the same time. i have "meat mutts" new Zealand/California crosses and they have both been really good moms. dad is a broken black new zealand who does his job well. this is my first year to raise meat rabbits so i am by no means an expert but keeping them on wire has worked well for me.

 

[SilverFox79]

Today is the day they are all being processed. The only one I am hesiating on is the herd buck. He is z ood guy and always did as asked of him but I can't justify keeping him as a pet for a year and it doesn't help the situation of not having time for them.
Thank you all for your kind words and insight. I feel like, with these tips, my next attempt will be more successful.

 

[samssimonsays]

I totally understand where you are coming from! Its just always some sort of struggle with them. I wish you the best of luck for when you start them again. Take your time, there are lots of rabbits kids are only little once.

 

[goatgurl]

@SilverFox79 i hope everything went ok on Saturday, online for the first time in a few days and just saw your post about their trip to freezer camp.