Nov 11
22
Interesting Ideas For Rabbit Breeding
For many years rabbit breeding in the United States was simply for pets especially around Easter time. But there are actually many reasons to breed rabbits. They can be bred for hobbyists, or for pets, or to be resold to other breeders, for wool, pelts, meat, or for clinical subjects. Each area of breeding has its own specifications and the person doing the breeding should decide what they are going to do with the rabbits before they breed them, rather than the other way around.
Many family breeders run into a problem because the children form attachments to the rabbits, especially the new babies, and some people are simply repulsed at the thought of eating rabbits because of their status of being a pet. Unless the rabbits are being bred for uses that do not involve killing them, or they are slaughtered off site, the entire family must be aware of the entire process and be comfortable with that if the home farm is to be successful.
A very common mistake is trying to start with too many rabbits. A buck (male) and two does (females) or two pairs should be sufficient to start in whichever breed is chosen depending on the desired end product. A journal should be started recording where the original stock came from and a tagging system and/or photographs can be used to help identify and separate the different animals as the farm grows.
Do not attempt to breed too soon as the rabbits should be comfortable in their new surroundings, and don’t try to rush the farm until you are comfortable with the breeding concepts and keeping accurate records. Any rules or ordinances regarding the ownership of animals for private use, pets, or resale, should be investigated prior to starting the rabbit farm.
There are two schools of thought about the approach to breeding rabbits. The colony approach allows for all of the rabbits to be in one general area with separations for the new mothers and their kits. The downfall to this approach is not being able to properly track the exact breeding pairs and young may be in danger if they are born where a male might harm them. Caging is preferred because breeding pairs can be more easily documented, females can better protect and care for their young, and if there is an outbreak of any type of disease, it can be contained without destroying the whole farm.
rabbit breeding can be fun and successful, but there are rules that need to be followed.
