baymule
Sustainability Master
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!
That is some dark rich garden gold you got there!
A new journey into homesteading "pic heavy"
- Thread starter Chic Rustler
- Start date
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
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
Super Self-Sufficient
Meat rabbits are on my "maybe" bucket list after hubby and I retire.
baymule
Sustainability Master
My husband doesn't like the meat. 
Or else I would have bunnies.
Or else I would have bunnies.Lazy Gardener
Super Self-Sufficient
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
Sustainability Master
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So the same way I feel. But it's a bunny! They're so fluffy and cute!
baymule
Sustainability Master
At one time I had roughly 300 of them, counting litters. I got over the cute bunny thing.
Lazy Gardener
Super Self-Sufficient
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
Sustainability Master
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
Sustainability Master
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!!!
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!!!
