Poor growth .... again

[Rabbitdog]

Here's the outcome from today's chore:


Just look at how long it took for those rabbits to average around 4 lbs. live weight. :x
I expected the low weights from the rex X rex. The parents are not much over 6 pounds to begin with and I've really only bred them for the fur. I've been looking at Crossroads Rabbitry on their website and their stock looks really impressive. 5 lbs. at 8 - 10 weeks, averaging 9 kits per litter and 7 litters per year ... WOW! Anybody down Alabama way heading to Virginia anytime soon??? I'll pay gas and throw in some 2015 honey. :?

 

[FourRingCircus]

I just processed a batch and was surprised at how small they were. At just over 12 weeks 4 were 4-4.5 lbs, 2 were not even 4. They finished out (just the bone in carcass, no kidneys or liver included in the weight) between 1.71 and 2.13 lbs.

 

[Ramjet]

Well , I don't know if its fair to judge litters that grow out over the summer when growth rates are much slower than the rest of the year. The heat really does a number on rabbits.

How do they compare to litters from other seasons ?! I see a pretty big difference between summer & the rest of the year ..... just goes with being on the gulf coast.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Well , I don't know if its fair to judge litters that grow out over the summer when growth rates are much slower than the rest of the year. The heat really does a number on rabbits.

How do they compare to litters from other seasons ?! I see a pretty big difference between summer & the rest of the year ..... just goes with being on the gulf coast.

I am curious to see how much difference the heat makes... this was my first NZW litter that I have processed (the others were some runty mixes). I have 6 more in the nest that are a couple weeks old with a couple more does bred so I hope to see some increases through fall and winter!

 

[DBA]

I have a litter of 9 californians right now that are 13 to 14 weeks old and only a couple are approaching my normal 12 week weight of my grow outs.
When it is hot and humid the rabbits don't eat much, thusfor their weight gain is slower.
Also you are comparing your growth rate against that of a company who has many many years of selective breeding to produce big, fast growing, meat rabbits. Not a 100% fair comparison.