Individual or group grow out?

[Secuono]

I'm finding mixed things about grow out. I would think that a group, with less space to waste energy, would equal faster growth. But some others say the opposite is true. Putting them in their own cage equals faster growth.

What have you found true?
If you separate them, what size cage do they go into, are feeders kept full?
If they stay in a group, I'd assume they are kept with a feeder always full, no?
Has anyone tried both? What were your results? Did individual cage size change results?

 

[ladysown]

my findings.
no more than three in a group if grouping, two is better (and is quite close to single).
single gives the fastest grow out ALL THINGS being equal (that being the important part).
anything more than three the grow-out is slower as I find they jockey for position even if they are still young.

NOW... in my current set up.
I get the fastest grow-out if I leave the kits in the main rabbitry even if I mix and match based on temperament/age.
Moving them to the hay/isolation/storage tent gives me the slower grow-out even if the groupings are the same or smaller.

 

[skysthelimit]

I would say the same. Since putting all the culls in the meat pen, they have lost weight.

 

[ladysown]

i should also add that if grouping divide by gender makes things easier. and that if you know their temperaments... put one dominant bun with two submissive rabbits. It keeps things on an even keel and they grow better.

 

[Secuono]

So small groups is better than a whole litter or single caging.
hmmm...


thanks

 

[Zab]

I'm curious about the dress out. Is there more or less fat in either rabbit? (single vs group)

I can imagine than sitting alone with nothing to do but eat would add weight faster.. but I'd imagine that weight being fat?

 

[skysthelimit]

Single cage the food would be rationed, but I have never seen my rabbits do anything but sit around no matter how many in the cage. In the meat pens, the dominant ones eat the most, I usually see an imbalance of a few larger ones and then the lean ones.