New to Rabbits

[ccheek]

Saturday we were given a very unexpected gift of two rabbits by a friend. We have raised pretty much everything under the sun.... except rabbits. They are both bucks, which we were told have been together for a while and get along good. They are set up in an old chicken coop right now, but we are planning to build them their own little hutch with separate "rooms" so they can have their space. These were also a gift to the lady that gave them to us so we don't know anything about them. They are as sweet as they can be, but definitely a little stressed from all the moving. Breed (probably a barnyard mix, but maybe at least a little something to go on)? Age? Can anyone help? P.S. My daughter has been begging for rabbits for some time now and is definitely going to take full advantage of these little guys. So.... if we're gonna do it, we might as well do it right (or as right as possible) from the start. Any advice would be appreciated.


As you can see they did not like my idea for a feed bowl, so we have since replaced it with a hanging chicken feeder temporarily. They will soon have their very own bunny feeder.

More pictures of the bigger rabbit.

Another picture of the smaller rabbit.

 

[samssimonsays]

They look like some New Zealand mix rabbits?

Very beautiful rabbits! If they have been together for a long while then they "should" be ok with adequate space. Most males will fight and brutally at that. Be prepared with the stress to moving that they could start to fight.

The smaller one looks younger (6 months maybe 8 depending?)... Do you know how long the person had them for?

 

[LukeMeister]

Congrats on the new bunnies!
I had two bucks that lived together peacefully for about 5ish months, then they started fighting and had to be separated. Try to get them their own hutches attached to their own runs as soon as possible.
As for the breeds, I have no idea, but I think they look to be about 5 to 7 months old (I could be off by a lot though).

 

[ccheek]

The lady that gave them to me had them for a day.... but the lady that gave them to her has had them since birth as far as I could tell by the conversation. But, she didn't seem to be able to give a lot of information about them. There was originally three, supposedly all bucks, but the other "buck" had a litter yesterday so she decided to keep her to see how they turned out. She said she just didn't really have a need for anymore bucks but didn't want to feed them out just to put them in the freezer when they were just given to her.

 

[samssimonsays]

Do you know about how heavy they are?

 

[ccheek]

The big one is probably about eight pounds (I'm comparing to about the weight of a gallon of milk). The little one, probably only a few.

 

[samssimonsays]

I am leaning towards New Zealand or Thriantha cross for the bigger one but I have no clue how popular Thrianthas are in your area. THe little one looks like it could be Flemish Giant cross with the face and ears but he is so little that I just don't know.

I had a Netherland Dwarf crossed with a mini lop and they had super similar faces... So the little one could be part Netherland Dwarf... SO many possibilities running through my head... Sorry I am typing out loud to get all of them out as I guess. Definitely Heinz57's but adorable as ever!

Do y'all plan on just having them for pets? starting to raise for meat or 4H?

 

[ccheek]

You're typing out loud helps more than you know. At least it getting breeds in my head to research. My daughter shows poultry with 4H, so we'll probably add these as another 4H project. She is going in knowing that they will probably end up in the freezer unless we get a doe and start breeding. I would like to make sure we get some knowledge and experience under our belts before we go that far though.

 

[samssimonsays]

the common ones in my area, every area is different, are New Zealand, Flemish Giant, Californian, Rex, Mini Rex, Satin, Thriantha, Florida Whites, Netherland Dwarfs, Any kind of Lops and crosses of all of the above. If they make it to 10 pounds within 4 months time, There is a very good chance they are at least part Flemish. If they stop around the 8 pound marker, Most likely the New Zealand cross. The head on the red one though... I swear it looks thriantha... (*Pic in not mine, it was found on google*)

BUT it also looks like a NZ Red... (*photo found on google*)

Baby Flemish Giant (*photo found on google*)

 

[Pastor Dave]

The tips of the ears remind me of Calis.
Did you say they were from the same litter?
The red reminds me iof a NZR and Cali mix.
The other one has the dark ear tips too, and looks like a Satin cross. Idk. Like Samantha says could be any cross. Look like intermediate aged bucks, like Luke said.