Rabbitry Ready, but NO RABBITS!

[BakingNana]

I live in Eastern NE and we are building our first meat rabbitry. Only problem is...I cannot for the life of me find rabbits! No way can I afford to have any shipped. I've checked Craig's List for months and Googled everything I can think of. Every breeder within 4 hours of us for whom information can be found on the Internet either is out of business, has none for sale, or doesn't even answer my calls or e-mails. I'm about at my wits end! Please...does anyone have any suggestions, or should we just forget the whole thing.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

okay, sounds like we need to get an underground bunny railroad out to Omaha!!! geesh, you are in FARM country-- no rabbits? what do people do--HUNT?

 

[dangerbunny]

Have you looked for rabbit shows? that's how I found my breeding stock.

 

[wsmoak]

Have you posted a 'wanted' ad on Craiglist? I have some nice rabbits that are producing well for me, but I very rarely advertise to the general public.

However, if I see a wanted ad that seems to come from someone who knows what they're doing and is willing to pay for quality animals, I'll work with them to select and hold back some breeding stock.

(That said... my 'wanted' ad for Californians produced *nothing*. I ended up checking every Craigslist area along the way to my parents' house in Florida, and finally found some hundreds of miles away!)

-Wendy

 

[Dood]

Have you checked this list? You can search nearby states as well.

http://rabbitbreeders.us/nebraska-rabbit-breeders

 

[LauraNJ]

What are your plans for the rabbits- meat, showing?

If it is meat then you could probably pick up some decent young stock at a farm auction. I would stick to young bunnies, not adults that are being dumped.

Have you checked ebay classifieds? What about ARBA website and find a breeder (under member resources).

I like the suggestion to do a wanted ad. I'd also go talk to your local feed stores and see if anyone ahs fliers up on a board there or perhaps the store knows who breeds rabbits. You'll find some. Keep us updated!

 

[AmysMacdog]

Have you asked at the feed stores? If somebody is buying rabbit feed, they are likely to remember who.

 

[Marinea]

You've gotten some good advice here, so I really have nothing to add.

Just wanted to welcome you to RT!

(I feel your pain. I have one of my new cage setups ready to go, and no rabbits here yet either. I hope to change that this weekend)

Umm...Boris asked me to state that he does live here and he is a rabbit.

 

[phillinley]

Tower on the Plains Rabbits Breeders or Council Bluffs Rabbit Breeders associations are your local are rabbit groups. You would have a better idea who your local breeders are by giving either of their president's an e-mail.

Don't go on craigslist and buy junk. If you want something nice and can't find the breed you want in your area after talking to the local clubs, keep looking throughout the rest of Iowa. I can tell you who has what. If you find something you like, you can have the rabbit get to you eventually through a transport group, there are plenty on facebook.


Heck I'd probably drive them out myself. Anything for the chance to eat at King Kong Burger

 

[BakingNana]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!! Philliney, thank you so much for that info. I feel some hope now! BTW, meat is our goal, although we do have two rescued (Humane Society) bucks that our grandkids keep here as pets. We've had them since February. They are now around 20 weeks old. I have no idea what breeds they are; they may be mutts. I'll have to get a picture of them and post it and see what people think they are.

Again, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help.

 

[Fire-Man]

I live in Eastern NE and we are building our first meat rabbitry. Only problem is...I cannot for the life of me find rabbits! No way can I afford to have any shipped. I've checked Craig's List for months and Googled everything I can think of. Every breeder within 4 hours of us for whom information can be found on the Internet either is out of business, has none for sale, or doesn't even answer my calls or e-mails. I'm about at my wits end! Please...does anyone have any suggestions, or should we just forget the whole thing.

I just did a search in your town and found several different rabbits adds for sale including flemish giants on Craigslist, and I did several other locations within a couple hours and found alot of rabbits.

You do realize there is a Pets Section under Comminuty that will not show up with a search unless you go to that section and search. Also you need to search by typing in this in the search sections. rabbit|rabbits|bunny|bunnies if you search for rabbit and someone post a bunny it will not come up in your search. The thing in between these 4 words is on the same key as this \ just have to hold down shift | . Run search. Again You need to search the top left when you get on the craigslist page where it says "search craigslist" then you also need to open the "pets" section under Community and type in those 4 words OR any other name someone might call a rabbit. Let us know what you find!! Good Luck

__________ Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:26 pm __________

I do not know if you know about http://www.searchtempest.com or not but if not you can go to it and search every craigslist with in every how many miles you want to search from your town. Just do the search with atleast those 4 words I mentioned above.I still do not think it will search the pets section in that search-------not sure.

 

[BakingNana]

Well...we would have saved ourselves a lot of angst if I had joined RabbitTalk sooner! We have already located a breeder; just a few hours after asking for advice. This forum ROCKS!!

 

[grumpy]

If you're ever down around Saint Joe. Missouri, holler at me. I'm not far from there.

grumpy.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Well...we would have saved ourselves a lot of angst if I had joined RabbitTalk sooner! We have already located a breeder;

We-e-e-ell...

RabbitTalk is filled to overflowing with "Rabbit Enablers"! :mrgreen:

:hi: to our addiction.

Ahem!

Hobby, I mean. Yes... just a hobby. :roll:

Oh- and welcome to RabbitTalk, too!

:welcomewagon:

If you're ever down around Saint Joe. Missouri, holler at me. I'm not far from there.

grumpy.

And even if you aren't, make a special trip! You will be starting out with optimal meat production rabbits if you can make your way there!

 

[Miss M]

Welcome to RabbitTalk, BakingNana! :welcomewagon:

Wonderful to hear that you've found a breeder so quickly! Here's hoping they have wonderful stock that will serve you admirably!

We live on coffee and pictures here. I don't know if anybody ever actually eats. :thinking:

 

[Demamma]

Welcome to RabbitTalk, BakingNana! :welcomewagon:

Wonderful to hear that you've found a breeder so quickly! Here's hoping they have wonderful stock that will serve you admirably!

We live on coffee and pictures here. I don't know if anybody ever actually eats. :thinking:

We eat rabbit. :dinner: just don't tell the AR people.
Welcome to rabbit talk and the wonderful addiction to rabbits.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Welcome! I'm a big believer in buying from local breeders whenever possible. The closer the better...but I understand that sometimes "local" becomes "regional". (I've been known to drive more than a hundred miles for a rabbit I couldn't find anywhere else!) Good to hear you found somebody close.

If ever you get the chance, check out Grumpy's operation. Quality stock and a wealth of experience. (I'm a little further down the road in KC.) Check out some of his postings and photos - you'll quickly see that he knows his stuff!

Anyway, glad you found Rabbit Talk - as you have questions or need help, know that you'll find many people here willing to share their experience. An invaluable resource!

 

[3mina]

Welcome to RabbitTalk, BakingNana! :welcomewagon:

Wonderful to hear that you've found a breeder so quickly! Here's hoping they have wonderful stock that will serve you admirably!

We live on coffee and pictures here. I don't know if anybody ever actually eats. :thinking:

Of course we eat! That's why we have a recipes section and this ancake:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Welcome BakingNana! So glad to have you with us....and equally glad that you have been enabled, erm, assisted... with finding rabbits!

 

[camanojim]

:welcome: