Lots of questions from a newbie!!

[Nachoqtpie]

So, hubs and I are thinking of making our journey into meat rabbits. I want to do American Chinchillas because they're some of the better meat rabbits (or so we've read) and they're an endangered American breed. So... we found a place that sells pedigreed rabbits $125 for a trio. Not that we will foray into showing rabbits any time soon, but you never know! Kids might want to do some for 4H or something. Not only that... my book says that their fur is very soft and collectible, so they're actually a dual purpose rabbit.

So... my questions are:

When would be the best time to get these rabbits? (Meaning season wise, we know they can't breed until after they're 6 months old)

Since we have "mild" winters, would they need to be covered in the winter?

Would it be better to put them up next to the house so we can run a fan for them in the summer, but they will be in direct sunlight for about half the day, or behind the ducks and chickens where there's no electricity, but shade for most the day and we can put in frozen bottles? (I can take pictures of all of these places if you would like them)

Should we separate the hutches completely, or can we build a large divided hutch and put the buck between the 2 does with the sides touching?

These will PRIMARILY be meat rabbits, what sort of feed should we get them? Is it like chickens and have different levels of protein for different ages?

They say that a mature AC will weigh between 9-12 pounds... is "mature" age when you butcher? (10-12 weeks?)

Should we think about getting another buck from a different breeder so we have very distinct lines and can extend our breeding if we would like to?

I'm sure that I'll think if more questions... and you can feel free to tell me to get a book and read... but please at least suggest a book! I'll also be doing quite a bit of reading on here, since I registered I haven't really spent any time on here because we don't have any "livestock" yet other than our dogs, ducks, and chickens! Thanks for taking the time to help a newbie out. I'm excited about getting into rabbits. (Not as excited about processing time tho... LOL)

 

[Oakroot]

I would keep your rabbits where they can have shade in the summer and they need to be dry all winter long. Getting wet kills rabbits pretty quick. That is about the limit of my memory from the old 4H days.

 

[Nachoqtpie]

Thank you!! That's a start!

Do they need to be dry in the summer too??

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

Hi!
I raised a lot of rabbits quite a few yrs. ago as a teen, and have just gotten back into them again! I have Standard Rex so probably not quite as big as the ones you are going to get.
- I would think that mature weight is probably not butcher weight. mine weigh about 10lbs mature( breeding buck and does). At 12 weeks, (butcher time) they average 7lbs.
- My choice would be to put you rabbits behind the duck where it is mostly shady! Also, they would do better covered (or have a covered shelter) to keep out the elements summer and winter, as well as predators! Lol, rabbits are good escape artists!!
-Large divided hutches work wonderful for me! I think is is what ever works the best for you concerning your hutch set up!
-If you have mild winters, you could get your breeding stock at any time of the yr! If the winters were pretty cold, I would suggest in the spring so you didn't have to deal with the new kits and the cold.
-Just asked the breeders you are getting the rabbits from is the buck is from the same line as the does. if not, you are good to go! If they tell you he isnt close, but is a way back in the line, you could still use him for the two does, but, once you keep back a few does from your litters for breeding stock,I would definatly look for a new buck!
- There are many different kinds of feeds/protien levels for the rabbits! I usually cheat. I feed my feeders the 14% Grower pellet and good hay. My breeding stock and does with litters, I still feed the 14% Grower, but mix it with Dairy Ration with Corn, and Alfalfa pellets, as well as free choice good quality hay! Free choice water is very important for rabbits, and they like it clean!!

I hope this will help you a bit!
It is just some ideas to go by! Everyone does things different, whatever works the best for them, depending where you live too.
You will find once you get started, there will be things you come accross that you will decide to change for your convenience and the rabbits!
Good luck! They are a lot of fun to raise!!!

 

[Nachoqtpie]

Thank you so very much! I'm trying to get as much info as possible before we get our rabbits or even do any final planning. I'm actually kind of excited!

 

[DianeS]

Tee-hee-hee! I just told you to come over to this forum, and now I see you're already here! That's great, you're off to a good start on your research.

 

[Nachoqtpie]

Thank you so much for all the help Diane. I really appreciate it! (and I'm sure our future rabbits do too!

 

[that's*satyrical]

We raise Am Chins our climate is also mild. They are in hanging all wire cages under the porch for shelter. The all wire is good because it stays clean everything just falls through into a very convenient compost pile under the rabbit cages. They get coastal hay, manna pro rabbit pellets & sometimes calf manna as a treat. Occasionally they get fruit/veggie treats but not too often. They have the hanging water bottles. We find it's not great to breed them in the summer, spring & fall is best for kindling. We have not tried winter yet but we may. We lost a litter of 9 in the summer because it was so hot this year the mom did not eat enough to make milk for them. Hand feeding rabbit kits is next to impossible. Sometimes the bucks shoot blanks if it's too hot as well. They are sweet bunnies for the most part. One of our momma bunnies gets mean sometimes but the other 2 rabbits & the kits are always sweet. We will be building rabbit tractors hopefully in the near future to let them out to "graze".

 

[UpHillRabbitry]

When would be the best time to get these rabbits? (Meaning season wise, we know they can't breed until after they're 6 months old)

I got my rabbit sin the spring, like someone else suggested, it's easier when first starting out to work with pregnant does, and kits when it is cooler.

Since we have "mild" winters, would they need to be covered in the winter?
I would cover the rabbits all year round. Also, like someone else mentioned, they don't do well after being wet. Great way to lose them.

Would it be better to put them up next to the house so we can run a fan for them in the summer, but they will be in direct sunlight for about half the day, or behind the ducks and chickens where there's no electricity, but shade for most the day and we can put in frozen bottles? (I can take pictures of all of these places if you would like them)
I would put them where they have shade most of the day. One thing about rabbits. They will thrive in cold temps. They will die in a heart beat in the heat. I was lucky this year and didn't lose a single rabbit due to the heat... though I had one run into the side of the cage and break it's neck.

Should we separate the hutches completely, or can we build a large divided hutch and put the buck between the 2 does with the sides touching?
The one thing that I would suggest, is putting your buck somewhere he can't urinate all over the other rabbits, if you put him in the three hole hutch, put him in one end, and put a divider between him and the doe next to him. I just recently purchased a new buck and he has been peeing all over everything. He is now isolated by himself. Maybe he will learn.. maybe not.

These will PRIMARILY be meat rabbits, what sort of feed should we get them? Is it like chickens and have different levels of protein for different ages?
I like Manna Pro for all of my rabbits. The only difference that I make in the feed is that the does with litters, or expecting get free choice feed. I add hay as well, but not much. I don't usually give treats other than some time in a "rabbit tractor".

They say that a mature AC will weigh between 9-12 pounds... is "mature" age when you butcher? (10-12 weeks?)
Usually mature weight is much more than butcher weight... well not MUCH more but you know what I mean. We raise californians here, and they are about 5lbs at about 10-12 weeks.

Should we think about getting another buck from a different breeder so we have very distinct lines and can extend our breeding if we would like to?
It never hurts having more than one "option" for breeding in case for one reason or another one buck isn't up to the task of breeding your does. A lot of people like to "linebreed"(to focus on one trait or another) though I am finding the rabbit folks have a different definition of line breeding than what I am used to with dogs. They call a half sibling breeding(same mother different father) to be alright, and they call it linebreeding, where as in the dog breeders I associate with would call that inbreeding. A line breeing to me is cousins, uncle niece, aunt nephew type breeding. I know way off topic, but maybe the breeder where you plan to purchase has a buck that is "somewhat" related, or even not related at all. You don't necessarily need to find a different breeder, just a different "line" within their rabbitry.

I hope that I have helped more than I have confused you... I tend to have that talent.

UHR