All theory and no practise...yet. Any (and all) advice?

[Honorine]

I've seen 8lb false dwarf Mini Rex, so depending on the lines I would consider using a non-dwarf MR buck. Even with dwarfed Mini Rex the growth rates can be decent, and they do have meaty bodies. Bigger is not always better, bigger means more food, more room, more urine, more feces. Best meat breed I've ever raised was Florida Whites, thrifty efficient and prolific, top weight is 6 lbs. Take into consideration how many people your going to feed, how many lbs of meat your going to produce, and if you even like rabbit meat. I've come to the realization that I prefer chicken.

 

[loopylander]

I am loving all this info that I'm getting. Thanks to everyone. Sorry that I've been absent all weekend but my only computer access is at work during breaks. To clarify my situation, I'll only be feeding myself, two small dogs, a cat, and the occasional guest depending on their bravery. Maximum efficiency is not that critical at least until I have an idea what I'm doing. Where I am a dressed 2lb chicken is over $10.00 so I hope not to lose too much money and I don't intend to eat just rabbit. I've heard tales of a single doe putting 100lbs of dressed meat in the freezer per year. That's almost 2lbs per week of just rabbit! I am way too addicted to pork chops to give them up entirely. About the cat... I use softwood wood stove pellets for her litter box. The odor absorbtion is astounding! And no pine smell from them should mean no pine oils. Could I use that in a drop tray to catch urine?

 

[mountainrabbits]

I have my doe in a Ferret Nation cage inside, they have wire to and sides and a plastic tray for the floors and I agree they need cleaned every day or other day even with her being litter box trained and I would suggest a rug on the floor to make anything getting on your carpet easier to clean up if you put them on carpet and go to a dollar store and get shower curtains to pin to your walls behind the cages to combat any urine spray that might happen and just pin it tightly all around so your walls are good
I had forgotten about using apple cider vinegar in the water to cut down on the heavy urine smell rabbits can get so I will start that immediately myself Let us know how it goes for you!

 

[Miss M]

Yes, wood stove pellets, as long as they do not contain accelerants, can be used in drop pans or in litter boxes.

 

[loopylander]

Shower curtains! Brilliant! I'll do that. And yes, the pellets have no added accelerants. Now I just have to figure out how to build a floor with a drop tray that is cleanable around the edges. Do I need to support the floor across the middle or just let it sag? Anyway, I'll do some scheming for sure, but I will be on holidays for the next 2 weeks so I won't be able to respond to anymore of your fabulous ideas and advice. Thanks for all the help so far. Bye for now.<br /><br />__________ Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:21 am __________<br /><br />Final post on this topic. Thanks again for all the advice. I think I've figured out what to try. A) Line walls with shower curtains, B) Build simple shelving out of 2 x 4, C) Buy used wire dog kennels for huge dogs. The kind that open on the end and the side, D) suspend wire kennel from underside of upper shelf and remove the bottom pan, exposing the wire bottom, E) Line kennel bottom with appropriate sized wire mesh and put a large, wood pellet filled tray on the next shelf down to catch the raisins and raindrops falling from the rabbits above. This just might work! See you all in the next thread!