NZW's?

[hippiechick]

We are putting up our cages this weekend and then next weekend getting a NZW doe (4 months old) and a NZW buck (3 months old) from the same farm, we will be getting another doe somewhere else. For those of you who've had or has experience with this breed how are their temperaments generally, are the good mothers, would you say they are ideal for meat and fur? I'm sorry I have so many questions! Lol

 

[JDWest]

I had them for a couple years. We purchased ours all from the same rabbitry. They were wonderful mothers. First time moms were perfect nestbuilders and kindlers. Good sized litters and the babies had fat tummies of milk. I found the does to be abit aloof which was fine. The bucks were more friendly. They were quiet in their hutch and not messy at all. I had more loose hair in the rabbitry when i had them though. But i think that was due to their fast growth and shedding into their adult coats quicker then my other guys.
They were a good meat rabbit. I always thought it would be so pretty to have New Zealand whites, blacks, and reds in the same rabbitry together

The kit in my advatar waving hello is one of my past NZWs.

 

[fuzzy9]

I think it will depend more on the individual line you have. The NZ's I have here are all very mellow, but I have culled hard to create that in my rabbitry. If I have an aggressive rabbit, they don't stay long here at all. All the rabbits I have are quite mellow, and enjoy being pet, my breeders anyway. I've also been very lucky with my first time moms, and have not had any problem does. They've all taken good care of their kits, and built nice nests. IMO, like I said, I believe it has more to do with the individual line the rabbit is from.

Good luck with the new buns!

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I raise NZ Whites, Blacks, and Reds. Temperment depends on the individual animal. Don't keep anyone that has a bad attitude. If your objective is producing meat for the table, then NZ is your breed. If you want pretty fur, then get some Rex rabbits. Best of luck to you!

 

[grumpy]

I've got a few and like everyone says,
you've got to cull for temperament.

I've got some does that are real *****-cats.
I've had does in the past that were tigers.
Excellent mothers and an excellent meat breed.

grumpy.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I have a young trio of NZs, so they haven't been bred yet. They are really sweet friendly rabbits, though. My Buck is a sweetheart. Much friendlier than my Calis, who aren't mean or anything, they are just more aloof.

I can't attest to mothering skills or litter size yet.

 

[hippiechick]

Thank you guys for your input I really appreciate it! We're happy to get started, I will definitely work for a mellower line if any of them are aggressive. At what age do you breed the NZW's?

 

[fuzzy9]

You will find some here that breed their NZ as early as 4 1/2 - 5 months old, and it's really a personal belief, as well as preference to do so. For the does I like to wait till mine grow a bit more, and increase size, so for me it's typically 7 months old. With the bucks, if they are ready to breed, and know their job, I'll breed them as early as 4 1/2 months if they know what they are doing. Some breeders have reported mothering instinct issues by waiting to long with the does, but I've been lucky, and have never had any issue with mine.