I currently have two rabbits but they are ornamental just selling their babies for pets. I do want to add meat rabbits and I have been watching your videos and you do have a lot of info and its proven to be useful to me and our homestead.
I didn't know that rabbits shouldn't be bred over a certain temp. So I'll be keeping that in mind as I plan to have my homestead in the South. I was wondering when you're supposed to rest does from breeding and I guess the answer is to rest them during the hight of summer.
For we southerners, yes the summer is a good time to rest your does. I watch each of my does closely though as they raise their litters. If they don't keep their conditioning well (get thin while nursing) I'll let them have a break between litters. If they are healthy and seem ready to breed, I'll rebreed when the litter is about four weeks old. Since we wean at six weeks that give the doe two weeks to be on her own and recover a bit before starting over. Then, of course, they have the whole summer off. 😁
I live in southwest Texas so heat is a huge deal for us. I’m just getting started and I would be interested in hearing about your experience with shelving 🤠
For one of our does, it worked perfectly. She didn't lose a single baby. The other two litters lost several however. They litters were born a litter later so it was warmer and I was less consistent, if I'm being honest. Aside from shelving, I won't breed that late in the year again because of how much harder pregnancy was on the does. They seemed much more uncomfortable and I don't want to risk losing a doe like that.
What about using Allies babies as the ones you sell so that she can stay on the farm and be productive In case of using her for fostering as well as being able to make money back by selling the babies. Plus, smaller bunnies are cuter pests!
So we have actually already sold Allie. She was a GREAT mom and is going to do great things for the farm she went to. I’ve come to find out that it’s actually pretty normal for does to foster babies if added to the nest young enough. We have also done our best to weed out does that aren’t as good moms so there shouldn’t be a need for a foster mama at all times. When we had her we did sell her babies, but with COVID and the meat shortages, a lot of people were looking for breeding quality animals, and she couldn’t provide that. So at one point we actually had a really hard time selling her babies while we were sold out of the others. The better quality ones also bring in more money, so while I am very grateful for the work she did here, it was time she blessed another family.
I am new and enjoying your content so much. I am looking at moving in the next year to my own homestead. This info is amazing. Can you also share maybe some of your favorite recipes? Also, how do you deal with bones with small children?
Thank you and welcome! That's so exciting about the prospect of starting up a homestead. As for recipes I cook rabbit the same way I would cook any chicken dish. As for the bones I wither give my son (he's nearly 2) a leg so the bones are big enough for him to avoid, or I'll shred the meat and take that time to pick out any bones. 😊
Big fan of shelving!
Lots of great info
I currently have two rabbits but they are ornamental just selling their babies for pets. I do want to add meat rabbits and I have been watching your videos and you do have a lot of info and its proven to be useful to me and our homestead.
That is awesome! I'm so glad I can be helpful. 😊
Great Video! Thank you for this very informative!
Omg those little baby bunnies are so cute
We are gonna get rabbits after the summer. I’m a bit nervous but excited. Taking in all the info I can
I didn't know that rabbits shouldn't be bred over a certain temp. So I'll be keeping that in mind as I plan to have my homestead in the South. I was wondering when you're supposed to rest does from breeding and I guess the answer is to rest them during the hight of summer.
For we southerners, yes the summer is a good time to rest your does. I watch each of my does closely though as they raise their litters. If they don't keep their conditioning well (get thin while nursing) I'll let them have a break between litters. If they are healthy and seem ready to breed, I'll rebreed when the litter is about four weeks old. Since we wean at six weeks that give the doe two weeks to be on her own and recover a bit before starting over. Then, of course, they have the whole summer off. 😁
Love your videos 💕
I live in southwest Texas so heat is a huge deal for us.
I’m just getting started and I would be interested in hearing about your experience with shelving 🤠
For one of our does, it worked perfectly. She didn't lose a single baby. The other two litters lost several however. They litters were born a litter later so it was warmer and I was less consistent, if I'm being honest. Aside from shelving, I won't breed that late in the year again because of how much harder pregnancy was on the does. They seemed much more uncomfortable and I don't want to risk losing a doe like that.
I appreciate your honesty!
Thank you for responding!
Of course!
What about using Allies babies as the ones you sell so that she can stay on the farm and be productive In case of using her for fostering as well as being able to make money back by selling the babies. Plus, smaller bunnies are cuter pests!
So we have actually already sold Allie. She was a GREAT mom and is going to do great things for the farm she went to. I’ve come to find out that it’s actually pretty normal for does to foster babies if added to the nest young enough. We have also done our best to weed out does that aren’t as good moms so there shouldn’t be a need for a foster mama at all times. When we had her we did sell her babies, but with COVID and the meat shortages, a lot of people were looking for breeding quality animals, and she couldn’t provide that. So at one point we actually had a really hard time selling her babies while we were sold out of the others. The better quality ones also bring in more money, so while I am very grateful for the work she did here, it was time she blessed another family.
@@Harrowfarms Oh wow. Such good points. Clearly comes from experience. Thanks for sharing.
I am new and enjoying your content so much. I am looking at moving in the next year to my own homestead. This info is amazing. Can you also share maybe some of your favorite recipes? Also, how do you deal with bones with small children?
Thank you and welcome! That's so exciting about the prospect of starting up a homestead. As for recipes I cook rabbit the same way I would cook any chicken dish. As for the bones I wither give my son (he's nearly 2) a leg so the bones are big enough for him to avoid, or I'll shred the meat and take that time to pick out any bones. 😊
❤️❤️
Hi