How old before butchering?

[LadyKarli]

How old should a rabbit be before you butcher it? I raise New Zealands.

 

[A&BRabbitry]

I prefer to wait until they hit atleast 4.5 lbs which is around 10 weeks for my litters. Sometimes you can hold of that extra week more though and get that nice five pounder.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I agree with Ashton, I go more by weight. Mine hit 5lbs around 9-10 wks so that is usually when we do it.

 

[skysthelimit]

mine don't get 5lbs until 16 weeks. I usually can't wait that long so they go around 13 wks.

 

[Southbound_SF]

8-12 weeks, or whenever they hit 5 lbs (and you've got the time to butcher). Mine lean toward the later end of that range, due mostly to procrastination, and I definitely see more fat on them when they're older. 10 weeks is probably about right for my animals.

As for why, well, they get to fighting after that and need to be separated by sex anyway. Also, their feed conversion rate drops after they hit sexual maturity, at around 12 weeks, so you're paying more in feed for every ounce of meat you gain.

SB

 

[crittercountry]

I raise NZ so about 5 lbs or 10 weeks. Once they hit age of being sexed and eating on their own, they get separated in to appropriate "community" cages until Freezer Camp.

 

[wild1slilfarm]

I have been butchering 7-9 wks, my lil guys grow like weeds, i agree with the above statement on they get fatey around 10+wks.

 

[MaggieJ]

It varies a lot depending on how they are fed. We grow "slow" rabbits here... On natural feed, they take 14-16 weeks to hit butchering weight. Overall cost is less, however, and the flavour is worth the wait.

 

[fuzzy9]

I agree with Ashton, I go more by weight. Mine hit 5lbs around 9-10 wks so that is usually when we do it.

We do the same as OneAcreFarm. I don't like to wait any longer than 10 weeks either, otherwise they tend to start fighting amongst the grow out cage, and it's just wasted feed when they slow down their growth.

 

[MaggieJ]

8-12 weeks, or whenever they hit 5 lbs (and you've got the time to butcher). Mine lean toward the later end of that range, due mostly to procrastination, and I definitely see more fat on them when they're older. 10 weeks is probably about right for my animals.

As for why, well, they get to fighting after that and need to be separated by sex anyway. Also, their feed conversion rate drops after they hit sexual maturity, at around 12 weeks, so you're paying more in feed for every ounce of meat you gain.

SB

It sounds like you know your rabbits well, SB.

My experience is quite different. The rabbits never fight. They do take that extra time to reach butchering weight, but sexual maturity seems to be delayed as well. At 16 weeks you really have to look to see testicles on the males and I have never butchered a female and found her pregnant.

 

[skysthelimit]

So I flipped my 16 wk old REW over, and there are testicles, clear as day. No testicles on the 15 week old, different line. I had to separate him from his brother, very aggressive humping going on between the two of them. I put him in with the other litter, where no one is humping the other. Guess one line matures way faster than the other.

 

[MaggieJ]

Maybe its a case of finding a line that suits your husbandry style. Ha! Maybe I should be selling "Slow growing meat mutt rabbits, perfect for the backyard rabbitry. Thrive on natural (free) greens. Come complete with instructions for feeding."

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Or... "Perfect for Producers Prone to Procrastination! Wide butchering window."

No, Miss MaggieJ, I am not trying to start another "P word war"!

 

[MaggieJ]

Sure you are, MamaSheepdog. But it won't work. I wore out the P key on my keyboard.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You still have a P key? Mine is a pointy peg! Er- I mean a sharp stick!

 

[MaggieJ]

What the heck... Wear a thimble while you type. :razz: