Moving rabbits out of breeding program

[Pepperoni]

I'm curious how you all decide when to move a rabbit out of your breeding program. I'm not talking about culling bucks that aren't producing or poor mothers. I mean proven breeders that you may have kept offspring from. How many litters or how many offspring do you keep before it's redundant to hang on to their parents? At what point do you decide that a proven rabbit has done a good job for you and maybe it's time for him or her to move on to someone else and help them? Or maybe to retire them and just keep or sell them as a pet.

When I had meat rabbits this wasn't an issue because the more we had the better. It didn't matter if my herd sires and dams were out producing themselves because I always had room for more growouts and a use for lots of meat. Now that we're just raising one exhibition breed and our space is limited I have to consider when we should let the older rabbits go. I'm not at that point yet, but it's something to consider for the future.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Not being in that line of rabbit breeding, but first instinct would be to retire them when the offspring were surpassing them. Breeding for better. If that main brood doe is still the best representation for what you want, then keep her! If her offspring are starting to show better traits that you can use to further your lines, then pass her on so she can help someone else's rabbitry.

 

[imajpm]

I keep them until I get what I need out of them. Then they are culled, usually in the form of retirement, since I have plenty of room.

An exception is, if they produce kits who sell well, then they stay in production. This is for my NZW , my angoras can be rehomed as woolers and are a bit more versatile. NZW sell pretty well here but no one knows what a Satin is, nor do they care to learn about them. I ended up eating most of the Satins, which is a shame since they have very nice type. They are retired now except for test breeding rew from time to time.

But I think you may find, that running out of room is a great motivator, and helps you make your mind about what to do with them :lol:

 

[wamplercathy]

I plan to dispatch as a form of retirement. My rabbits aren't cuddle bunnies, well with the exception of my buck Cumin, he loves to sit on my lap are snuggle. So when his retirement comes I'll try to find him a home. So it would have to depend on their personality.

Hope this helps,
Cathy

 

[Tiny Buns]

Can you eat the ones that are two or three years old or are they all tough and leathery? Serious question.

 

[Rainey]

Can you eat the ones that are two or three years old or are they all tough and leathery? Serious question.

Yes, the only one that age we've done i cooked in the crockpot and the meat was tender, not tough at all.

 

[Ramjet]

Not being in that line of rabbit breeding, but first instinct would be to retire them when the offspring were surpassing them. Breeding for better. If that main brood doe is still the best representation for what you want, then keep her! If her offspring are starting to show better traits that you can use to further your lines, then pass her on so she can help someone else's rabbitry.

I tend to agree with Heritage .... if the rabbit in question is still one of your best , I'd hang onto it until it wasn't .... If it has been surpassed by others in the herd on whatever qualities that particular breed requires in the show arena .... then there is no sense keeping it in production (unless you are breeding for meat) and its time to retire that critter.

Foe me , being small with only 11 holes and not having any extra space , I'm forced to make this decision pretty much on a litter by litter basis. Because of this , I've made some solid progress in fixing some of the faults in my herd in a relatively short amount of time.

 

[JJCRabbitry]

I've officially been raising rabbits for about a year, and most of my stock was proven. I went to a small animal auction to look for cages, and a Dutch doe came up to the auction block. She had the same tattoo as my old FFA rabbit, that i had sold, 4 YEARS BEFORE. She came back to me after all those years, and 30 days later, she gave me a litter of 3 adorable little Dutchies. I kept one, as I was planning to retire her momma, as she is at least 6. Mom doesn't want to be retired yet, and she keeps making beautiful nests. She was an awesome mom when I had her in my vet science class, and she still is. She's due to have another litter for me in a few days. I think as long as they are HEALTHY, and have a good personality, have a good temperament with their kits, etc, I feel they can be here with me, as long as they want to. She came back to me after all those years, and she's staying regardless.

I also have another doe, that when I was walking around PASRBA last year, she was in the meat pen. The lady had no use for her, as she raised Checkered Giants, and this poor girl was dropped at her farm. She told me she was a "brat" and that I could have her. I thanked her, and still gave her $20 for her, and pulled this poor little 2 pound rabbit out from underneath 4 other rabbits, all being giants. She is the SWEETEST bun we have, and she is also a permanent resident here. She lifts very easily, and literally every 18 days, she builds the prettiest nest you'd ever want to see. She has yet to produce a litter for us, but as long as she is willing and healthy, we'll keep trying.
I guess it's just a matter of breeder preference. I feel as long as they are healthy, and of sound mind, and you have the space, keep them. Even if it's only one litter a year. I'd rather have a healthy litter of 3, than no buns at all.... Just a thought from a "newbie"
d

 

[Prisma]

Once a rabbit's offspring is out producing parents...the rabbit moves on either by selling to another for their use or used for other purpose here.

 

[wamplercathy]

For older rabbits it's best to slow cook them. Crock pot, pressure cooker, or Roaster, allow to cook for several hours in-till tender.

 

[3mina]

I sell very little and I never sell anything I wouldn't breed, so retirement around here means freezer camp. If I don't eat it the dogs do

 

[hotzcatz]

We have wool rabbits, so when they're not part of the breeding herd, they go into the wooler herd. Unless they are a buck, then they move on or go to freezer camp. I can keep a doe herd of up to a dozen in one big space. Unfortunately, generally, that can't be done with bucks without fights.