Raising Meat Rabbits: The Ultimate Guide! 

I've been raising rabbits since 1969 and i like watching your videos, your very informative for the people and you have a dandy setup. Keep up the great videos. Rex here in North eastern Indiana

New Sub Here. Long video so long comment... Please read my breeder's options at the end because it's 2 dream scenario (and they both completely blew my mind!). But first: To me this is a PERFECT video! I love the no BS approach that comes from experience! BRAVO! As a teen, living in the country. We had a few meat rabbits (American Sables from this breeder). Now in my fifties, I am getting back into it. I am moving from the suburbs of Montreal up in the north country... northern Quebec Canada (like Zone 2 - Alaska). I am presently building a 10 x 16 lean-to luxury rabbit shed. It will be set up like you but with a max of 14 large cages. It's insulated with electricity so I can heat for winter (5 months with a few days at -60F). I LOVE your watering system, the J Feeder insert is brilliant and I didn't know about those plastic pads. So I am all doing it! Thanks! This video helped me finalize my rabbit shed! Before all of this, I found my BREEDER. I want pure bread perfect genes and wasn't sure what would be best up north. OMG did I luck out! He turns out to be 30 minutes away from the house I grew up. I befriended this 66 y.o. farmer who's been in industrie 51 years. He's got +/- 500 rabbits. He's a walking encyclopedia! He likes my general knowledge / attitude and he's been helping me at every stage of my build. I am so lucky!!!. He's got breeds (pure) galore... NZ all colors, California, mini-Rex, American Chinchilla and American Sable (he as the sables breeding history going back 45 years!!!). He also as a few Crème d'argent as his personal rabbits. I want rabbits for meat and pelts. I had a rabbit blanket when I was a kid. I am dreaming of making a few of those. Not planning on selling any rabbits apart from friends and family. So my needs are a max of 4/5 does with 4/5 litters a year. My breeder wants to pass-on his knowledge and he told me that I was a perfect candidate. Also helps that he knew my dad and that the Sables that we had when I was a kid came from his Dad's farm. So here are the 2 scenarios he thinks would be great! I don't know what to do???? 1) The pure bread crème d'argent scenario: 3 does and 2 bucks from different bloodlines. WOW! But I am not planning to sell them. The litter size he says is 5 to 8. So breeding them 4-5 times a year would not me too much meat for me. He says they are the easiest rabbit for beginners and to the breeders knowledge he is the only one who has them in Canada. He got them from a reputable breeder in Minnesota. 2) The sable / California scenario: Now this comes from one of the most experienced breeders of Sables in Canada. he mostly sells these as pets. Few are propagating the Sable breed and he can see that I know that breed. This BLEW my mind! So, 3 American Sable does and 2 California Bucks. The correct way to conserve the Pure Breed Sables is by NOT breeding them together. If you breed two Purebloods together. You will get a small litter and you will get Award winning rabbits but the second generation will be like Hybrids with bad genetics (that's why most abandon this breed). So you breed California Bucks with Sable does. The kits will be +/- 50-50%. MEANING half will be California and half will be Sables. Both are Pure Breeds from the same doe. He was saying that the California's get to Fryer weight about 3 weeks quicker than the sable kits even if from the same doe. I know it sounds crazy but I saw litters myself. The Sable pelts are my preferred ones. I would get a great meat rabbit in the California's. He also said, that in the future, Breeding Sables with Chinchilla's is a great option for pelts but those 2 breeds mix. Nicer pelts from the mixed genetics. Gives a lot of options. So I am completely torn on both options. I like option 2. But Crème d'argent are rare and I don't think this opportunity will be there in the future since my breeder is retiring in a few years. His kids won't pick up after him. As he scales down, He will keep the crème d'argent but probably not the Sables. As an experience breeder do you have any thoughts? Do I keep the perfect Sable genetics that he developed over so many years or do I go for the prize that Crème d'argent seems to be? Sorry this was so long... You know your stuff and you are the only one that is set-up the way that I will be. I can't find anyone to give me a second advice. Here is a link to the breeders website. It's in french but it's a simple website. At the top next to the Facebook logo click on ''nos Lapin'' (our rabbits) or ''nos poules'' (our chickens) and you will see photos. BTW, Zibeline Americaine is the American Sable (His wife does the 15 Species of chicken and he doesn't show the Crème d'argent rabbits): www.manonpoule.com/

Paul does a lot of videos. Don’t just watch. Like and subscribe too … that’s it . 80% of some people’s fans don’t even subscribe. Help out the guy who’s helping you. Thanks, Paul.

I shopping for NZ. Finding mutts at the pure breed price. Knowledge is power. So one can choose a mutt or a pure. So like a NZ with brown eyes. Is a mutt. I can get the price down if i really want her and put the effort into breeding her to NZ to get the gene of NZ pure. Which can take a long time. Your channel friend is a great, resorce of knowledge. I appreciate your channel. Thank you

Thanks for the information

Thank you for making this compilation! Do you offer hay, or pellets only? How much do you feed your bucks and when do you switch them from free-feed to measured amount, if you do.

I just got my first pair. The buck is a Dutch, the doe is a jet black mini-Rex. Should I just breed that line for size and pelt? Or try and get a New Zealand doe to throw in the mix? It’s meat I’m interested in primarily. I live in Thailand. No Californians. NZ is rare here. Thanks.

Nice rabbit forming

Where is the best/cheapest place to get the 1/2" x 1" wire. I have been looking and it is hard to find a reasonable supplier

I have some rabbits that are really rough on the drinking nipples. They will leak after 3 or so weeks. Have you found drinking nipples you would recommend?

Hello I was wondering if you sale rabbits and would you be able to ship them i am looking for California rabbits a breeding pair thanks Gary if so please let me know and the price

With your outcrosses do the offspring get bigger than the purebreds of each breed?

8 to 10

What breeds of meat rabbits are you raising or looking into raising?

Do not use cardboard boxes yes people will tell u that you can but I’m not going to loose out on 160 dollars again

I won't feed a doe that don't have 8 are more baby

She ain't died