A new journey into homesteading "pic heavy"

[baymule]

Cut the meat off the bone and run it through a meat grinder. Make chili meat!

That is some dark rich garden gold you got there!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'd hate to have to go buy me some rabbits just to get some of that poop/compost. But it's tempting!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Meat rabbits are on my "maybe" bucket list after hubby and I retire.

 

[baymule]

My husband doesn't like the meat. Or else I would have bunnies.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

One of the big things holding me back from raising rabbits: I have a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around processing them. Yeah, I know... once the head is off, it is just meat. But, somehow, if it's furry, and has velvety soft ears... I have a harder time going down that road than I do culling a chicken.

 

[NH Homesteader]

So the same way I feel. But it's a bunny! They're so fluffy and cute!

 

[baymule]

One of the big things holding me back from raising rabbits: I have a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around processing them. Yeah, I know... once the head is off, it is just meat. But, somehow, if it's furry, and has velvety soft ears... I have a harder time going down that road than I do culling a chicken.

At one time I had roughly 300 of them, counting litters. I got over the cute bunny thing.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Yep, I hear you. And... I've heard that their feed conversion rate is very good. And, their manure would be a great bonus in the garden and green house. And... they would bring increased variety to the dinner plate. How long does it take to raise a rabbit, from birth to dinner plate? And what would one breeding trio produce in the course of a year? How many litters/year without over stressing the does?

 

[baymule]

Because of the heat, I didn't breed until September or October, through March or April. Fryers are ready in 6-8 weeks. If I remember correctly, gestation is 30 days? Wean at 4-5 weeks, let the doe rest a couple of weeks, breed again.

 

[Mini Horses]

Basically, 3-4 litters a yr...depending on weather, of course.
Plan 6 kits per litter? 18-20 per doe, per yr. 4# per kit at harvest X 18...like 50-75 # per doe per year. Not bad but work. I don't raise them, just putting this together based on what I read, so far as the figures. Thinking it's fairly close.

I can clean it but, not the deed. Yeah, soft ears and wiggly nose! Now, if I HAD to feed me, I would do it. HAD to!

Like Bay says -- you get used to it. Heck, I even hate to do chickens. But once I get going, they better run!!!