I'm just starting out; what are some good breeds for meat and fur? Where can i learn about butchering? Web sights with plans for building hutches?

-- Anne Ballou (anlaba@aol.com), March 03, 2000

Answers

Response to Starting out

Um, are you looking for information on Rabbits? If you are, lots of the rabbit care books have hutch plans in them. Some will have information on butchering also. The book, Build it Better Yourself by the Editors of Organic Gardening and Farming, editor William H Hylton. ISBN 0-87857-133-7. has some plans for hutches. Check your nearest library for rabbit and pet books. Even if they don't mention butchering, they'll have the basic care and some hutch and equipment plans in them.

http://member.aol.com/arbanet/arba/web/index.htm http://www.concentric.net/~Alden/care.html

you can try these two websites. Gerbil

-- Anne (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), March 03, 2000.

Response to Starting out

The best way to get started raising rabbits is to talk to a breeder. The arba (American Rabbit Breeders Association) at www.arba.net can help you find some breeders in your area. To pick a breed you need to decide if you want better meat or better fur, for the best meat with less work you should pick two different breeds of the same body type and size category and raise a barn of mutts. The mutts tend to have less genetic problems and are more resistent to disease, however their pelts won't have the nice markings a straight breed does which can lower the value. Talk to several breeders if possible and check out the reputation of the breeder you wish to buy from. If you buy animals that have already been infected with a chronic disease (such as snuffles) you could end up losing your entire breeding population before you even get started. As for hutches you will need plans that reflect both the size of the rabbits you choose and the climate you live in. If the hutches are going to be outside you need to make sure that the wind can't blow rain or snow into the hutch and that there is adequete shade for the hutch during the hot months of the year. Indoor hutches are much more simple but you must make sure that there is adequete ventalation for the rabbits. The biggest question with indoor hutches is wire or wood. Wood is cheaper and easier to build for most people but it is harder to sanitize as the rabbit urine containing potential infectious diseases will soak into the walls and floor. Wire is generally easier to clean and keep the smell down (especially if you can afford the plastic trays) but can cause sore hocks if the wire gets dirty.

Okay I have rambled on long enough. If you have anymore questions feel free to e-mail me directly. If I can't answer your question I know people who can.

-- Adam Roberts (aer4529@cs.rit.edu), March 03, 2000.

Response to Starting out

Okay what am I doing wrong??? NONE of my carrige returns are showing up in my responses!!!

-- Adam Roberts (aer4529@cs.rit.edu), March 03, 2000.

Response to Starting out

Adam, have to double space. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), March 03, 2000.

Response to Starting out

Anne, We got back into rabbits this past year, we found the nicest rabbits at a local fair. The kids were very knowledgeable and knew everything about rabbits and who had good animals. Everyone had extra pens with them with animals for sale. It was great! We got 2 does and a buck, got the breed we wanted (California's) and they are beautiful, tatooed and well behaved. We paid more than we would have had we just bought babies, but I think it was well worth having proven stock (Both does had kindled before) Good luck! Vicki McGaugh

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 03, 2000.