advise on who to keep, if any

[JessicaR]

I decided today to go and weigh all my rabbits. I need to decide who we should keep and/or if we should start over with new stock. I will list all the meat rabbits, their age/weight/breed.

#1 NZW-doe- born, 4/06/2010, 9 pounds, 7 ounces. Currently nursing a litter of 3 kits (4.5 weeks old) She has consistently, (for the 2 years we have had her) only had 3-4 kits each litter. Which would be ok if I could get the other doe to breed, then I could foster kits to her

#2 NZW-doe - born, 10/04/2009, 9 pounds 3 ounces. Last litter was born May 19th, has large litters of 9-10. but only 7-8 kits live. She has had a missed pregnancy since I tried breeding her in August, hasn't lifted for the buck since then.

#3 NZR-doe- born, 6/12/2013, 4 pounds 11 ounces. Never been her she bred, going to breed in April??? When I first got her she didn't eat for over a week, and didnt drink much. So I don't know if she is ever going to get very big.

#4 NZR-buck- born 11/23/12 7 pounds 12 ounces. My only buck (besides the kits) not a very enthusiastic breeder, a bit lazy, looses interest fast. Has sired 1 litter of kits. Not very big, but I think that is because he is a red.

#5 NZW-buck- born 10/10/2013, 1 pound 1 ounce. kit of doe #1 and buck #4. Started out nice and sturdy but now seems a bit thin can feel the spine easily.

#6 NZW-doe- born 10/10/2013, 11 ounces. kit of doe #1 and buck #4. has always been the smallest, thin and had nest box eye. Definitely not keeping!

#7 NZB-doe- born 10/10/2013, 1 pound 10 ounces. Kit of doe #1 and buck #4. healthier not thin, but still seems a bit small to me for a 4.5 week old kit.

So what should I do!! My son needs to breed them in April so he can have rabbits for his meat pen, so I don't know if we have time to replace them, and be able to breed the new rabbits, unless we get older ones. Plus money is a bit tight at this time to be buying new rabbits. I had planned on keeping the largest doe kit from this last litter to replace mom, but they aren't very big, so I don't know if I should keep her. I also have limited cage space so I cant keep a lot of rabbits, the ones I do keep it would be nice to get some litters from them :roll:

I know the 2 NZW are getting older, so they don't have much time left for breeding, and was going to be replaced soon I thought with one of their kits. I like the reds but I don't like their weights, I am hoping to be able to breed for kits that reach butcher weight by 8-10 weeks old, that have meat on them! I would like to be able to keep my freezer stocked with rabbit! I am currently out thanks to doe #2 not being pregnant

 

[skysthelimit]

you have a tough situation.

 

[TwoAcreDream]

Well being you have a tight budget, you probably will have to work with what you have for awhile. Hopefully you can get some better young rabbits to replace the older animals. I wouldn't be too hasty to replace a older doe unless you have a younger doe with a litter already growing so you can judge the babies growth.

I have 3 mixed young does that I was going to meat out, 2 of them. One has a litter and she is taking good care of them. I have decided to keep all 3 of them for awhile, and get them bred in the spring. I will use their babies to sell for animal food.

I got back into rabbits on the cheap and I want to continue that. I did break down and buy 3 purebred californians 10 weeks old. I got them for a more than fair price, and they are quality. They have some growing to do before I even think about breeding them. I am done buying rabbits for now. Any new breeding animals will have to be the babies I get from what I have.

My question I have for you....
What are you feeding your rabbits ? Maybe you need a little more protein to get faster growth ?

 

[ladysown]

keep what is decent enough.

#1 is producing, not great...but she's producing.
#7 is smaller than you'd like, but the best of the three.

use the buck you have... but if you have a kijiji or craigslist look for the free buns and work with what you can find.

#3 I'd keep just to breed her in April

If you have the space, keep #2 and keep trying to breed her...
you could supplement her with flax, wheat germ, and/or apple cider vinegar.

 

[dayna]

I like #1, I'd keep her. Great to have a consistent doe with small litters to use as a foster.

#2 I would eat unless you are attached.

#3 I would up feed and give her a chance at breeding to see what she produces and what kind of mother she is.

#4 keep for now till you can find better.

#5, dunno. Torn here.

#6 CULL

#7 Keep an eye on and see how she does.

I'd look for more stock on craigslist. I'm in the same boat you are in right now. My stock is either small or not producing how I would like. Tough situation to be in.

 

[JessicaR]

Thanks for the input!

Right now I am so frustrated with the rabbits, the last litter I have had was the Holland lops, the 1 remaining kit, out of 4 is now 10 weeks old. All the other kits died. Which is why I am worried about the NZ babies, since 2 of the kits are starting to loose weight. With the HL's they all looked fine one day, but then 1-2 days later they were dead, so I am not really holding out for the 2 white kits to make it.

I am not going to make any decisions now, I will wait and try to breed everyone in April, hopefully he will have something to take to the fair. Last year we had a hard time getting the does to breed, so his kits was born 2 weeks later than they should have, and didn't make weight, so he wasn't allowed to sell them.

I think I will get some boss, and oats this weekend to see if I can boost the weight of the kits and the red doe.

Another question, do you think I should remove the kits from moms cage this weekend? Normally I will them in until they are 6-7 weeks old (since there are only 3 of them) But I can separate them now if that would be better for them.

 

[skysthelimit]

I'm thinking leaving them in might give them and extra boost.

I discovered leaving mines in longer is what kept them from falling ill, so no one is leaving mom until 10-12 weeks.

 

[JessiL]

Keep them breeding on a regular schedule, don't wait until April to try again. Once does go out of rotation it is hard to get them back in.

I would keep both your senior does and the one senior buck, and probably your large-ish black junior doe. The red junior doe seems much too small. I have a Champagne d'Argent and two American Blues who were kindled in July and are over 7 pounds.

I second the idea of watching on Craigslist for new decent-sized stock. If you could just get a larger herd sire and then one or two more litters out of your old does (and save a few good replacements), you'd be set.

Good luck!

 

[JessicaR]

I have been trying to get the oldest doe to breed, which so far she either didn't take when she did lift, or now she just isn't lifting. :x But I will keep trying. Problem is right now it is starting to get COLD, and dark early. I do not have anyway to add lights to where she is. I should probably go ahead and breed the other doe since her kits are 5 weeks old now.

I am still not sure if the smallest kit I have is going to make it, she is thin and I have to keep reopening her 1 eye. I have thought about going ahead and culling her now, but then again she does cuddle with everyone else, and would help keep them warm. Plus if she does live she will be put in the freezer for us.

__________ Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:18 am __________

I have been trying to get the oldest doe to breed, which so far she either didn't take when she did lift, or now she just isn't lifting. :x But I will keep trying. Problem is right now it is starting to get COLD, and dark early. I do not have anyway to add lights to where she is. I should probably go ahead and breed the other doe since her kits are 5 weeks old now.

I am still not sure if the smallest kit I have is going to make it, she is thin and I have to keep reopening her 1 eye. I have thought about going ahead and culling her now, but then again she does cuddle with everyone else, and would help keep them warm. Plus if she does live she will be put in the freezer for us.<br /><br />__________ Sun Nov 17, 2013 10:15 am __________<br /><br />:explode: lost the white buck kit yesterday, the small white doe is still hanging on. The black doe is actually gaining weight and looks good. I think I will keep her! I have tried all week to get the 2 older white does to breed, with no success. the doe with kits wont lift, the other doe will lift, but my buck wont make contact :x He keeps going to far to the side of the does, near her leg. He does this a couple of times then gives up on breeding. I am getting so frustrated with these meat rabbits!!

 

[ladysown]

if you need, to just get them started, use any buck that will make contact. Once you've got them going, then use the buck that you have. I've used holland lops on meat rabbits if that's the buck they'll finally accept. I don't much care, meat is meat. But once they are well started, rebreed at 2 weeks post kindle and keep them going.

 

[JessicaR]

Maybe I'll try that. I do have a Holland lop buck.<br /><br />__________ Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:25 pm __________<br /><br />tried both does today with the HL buck... NOTHING!!! And not from the lack of him trying, neither doe will cooperate.