I want to raise meat rabbits, for our family to eat, which my 6 yo son vehemently opposes. Therefore I conceived the idea of buying some Netherland Dwarfs for him to raise and busy himself with so I can have some meat rabbits he won't bond with, if that makes sense! Well, I've been reading the archives and found that some people say Netherland Dwarfs have unpleasant personalities and don't make such great pets. Anyone with experience with Dwarfs? We visited a breeder today and the kits were so very cute! They'll be ready July 6th, so I have a week or so to make up my mind.

This same breeder also has Satins, which are absolutely gorgeous. I'd like to buy some for my meat rabbit breeding stock, but again, I know nothing of their personality/suitability as meat producers. I'd love to hear what you all think. I would like to buy from these people, as their place is neat and very clean, and the rabbits seem healthy, with shiny coats.

Thanks in advance--I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), June 25, 2001

Answers

Hi Elizabeth,

I have raised rabbits for may years in the past and am just know getting back into it. If I were you I would stick to the pure breds (which include satans and netherland dwarfs) because you can also show rabbits and that is a lot of fun.

However the major meat rabbits are not satans or netherland dwarfs. Most of the commerical growers raise new zealands and californians.

I raise champagne D'argents which were develope in France by monks as a meat rabbit. When the kits are born they are solid black in color and as they mature they turn into a silver color. This is one of the unique things about this breed.

You may want to check out rabbitweb.net where rabbit breeders go to chat.

Rabbits are very easy to buther and clean. Much simplier then chickens. I would also stick with a good rabbit breeder. Check out how the rabbits are raised. See how they are handled. And make sure you get papers with your rabbit if it is full breed.

Raiseing rabbits is fun and can be interesting passtime.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), June 25, 2001.

Elizabeth, I Raise Rabbits and pigeons for food. I have New Zealand white rabbits they are a medium sized breed. I would not recommend a small breed for meat and the larger breeds eat too much. I have found the med. sized dress out at about #5 in 3-4 months. I can them in my pressure canner half a rabbit in each jar. Follow directions in your canner book. I don't have a freezer so I can or dry everything. I've just started with the pigeons but enjoy it very much. haven't eaten any yet but will when I have my first batch of young raised I have two pairs sitting of two eggs each at this time. The Satin breed you mentioned is a med. breed rabbit. Sometimes a breeder will have rabbits that are not show quality and therefore are not as expensive. Cleaniness is important and with a relationship with a breeder you can ask questions if you run into something you're not familar with. The best book I have found about raising rabbits is "Raising rabbits the Modern Way." Check your library for it and then buy one if it suits your needs. We live lear a small livestock auction and I have bought breeding stock there. As long as you're breeding for food it doesn't really matter about pedigree you can usually get rabbits at auction for $2-$5 each. Hear's a tip I learned from a breeder. Put a tarp under the cages attach it at one end right under the cage as it follows under the other cages the next attachment is slightly downhill and so forth at the end you place a bucket for everything to drain into. I use a sheperds crook to gently scrape the manure down into the bucket. Empty into compost pile every day or so. This works well for me. I our area I would expect to pay less than $10.00 for good breeding stock. Don't let a breeder take advantage of you. These rabbits are for meat. Now about your child bonding. If they have there own rabbits that's fine. But you would need to care for your's . if they care for them the bonding will happen naturally. So keep them separate if possible and don't say hey would you feed all the rabbits for me tonight. Not always an easy they to not do. have fun and enjoy I love rasing our rabbits and eating them too. Linda in IN

-- Linda in IN (peacefulvalley3@juno.com), June 25, 2001.

Dear Elizabeth,

Good idea!!! I may try that with my niece and nephew when I've finally a another place.

A friend and I started a Dwarf rabbitry in the mid-80's, because we had a market for them. We built a two-tiered 3-sided hutch that housed all 12. Worked GREAT and was moved 3 times without problems.

We were very pleased with the Dwarfs, especially thier dispositions. They were always easy to handle and had a real layed back attitude. Like any livestock, Your mangement style will make the biggest difference. All the Dwarfs I've been around have been gentle and very friendly, and seem very curious about us. They're easy to housebreak, by the way and we had several who went for walks wearing a harness and leash. I had a pair while working at a MR/DD children's camp that made a weekly trip to entertain and stimulate the kids along with my Dwarf and 2 Pygmy goats. The children really enjoyed the rabbits and the Dwarfs would snuggle right up to them, just like the ones from the rabbitry back home. I've even toyed with getting one for a pet in my apartment!!

You should use Your best judgement, but the rabbitry You've found sounds like a good one. I would definately recommend trying the Dwarfs because they were always enjoyable for me!

Good Luck and please let us know Your decision!

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), June 25, 2001.

You guys, I think you misunderstood. Elizabeth doesn't want the cute little bunnies for meat. She wants the cute little bunnies to distract her kid from the meat rabbits. But she's heard that the particular cute little bunnies she's interested in (The Netherlands) are actually mean little bunnies. She wants a cute, NICE little bunny so her son can love on them and not on the ones she's raising for food.

(Not being meanly sarcastic, just feeling silly today :D )

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 25, 2001.

Hi and thanks so much to you guys for answering. These rabbits are pure bred; the Dwarfs cost $12.00 each and the Satins $10.00. I have to pay $3.00 more per rabbit for the papers: does that seem like too steep a price? The pet store has Netherland Dwarfs for $29.95; no papers. I really don't feel that I can try to get them cheaper, as I want these breeders to feel friendly toward me and help me if any problems come up. They gave me plans for a rabbit hutch and a Jeffers catalog, because I mentioned wanting to build my own cages. Maybe if I buy enough rabbits they'll give me a discount. He did say that the babies that hadn't sold in 10 days he'd take to the auction-- maybe I should go to the auction and try to get some cheap! I ordered a couple of rabbit books *cheap* at half.com, among them "Raising Rabbits the Modern Way" for just $1.50!! I am really excited about getting into rabbits! I love to watch my chickens but they are so nasty, if you know what I mean.

I'm pretty sure I'll get two does and a buck of each breed. I'm sure by then I'll have more questions.

Thanks again for the input and advice. It's so great to have this place, where I can ask a question late at night and wake up to several answers in the morning!!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), June 25, 2001.

$3.00 each for the papers is a RIP OFF! Is the rabbits are registered purebreds the papers should come with them. I would buy direct from the breeder and work out the paper issue with them- pet stores frequently wind up with bunnies that the breeders are culling, in addition to which they add their markup as well. You will probably get better stock at a lower price by buying direct.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), June 25, 2001.

I don't know, $13 to $15 for registered bunnies doesn't sound all that bad to me. (Elizabeth said they're $10 to $12 each without papers, and that IS from the breeer).

What sounds like a ripoff is $30 for a pet store rabbit (with no papers and not going to get any).

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 25, 2001.

I had easter bunnies as a child...they were cute and sweet little things, and the one that survived a dog attack grew up into a very very mean/tough rabbit that slashed other rabbits, various people, and German Shepherds. I have no idea what breed Fuzz, The Killer Rabbit was, but she was albino and weighed in close around 10 lbs.

I was just at the Humane Society, and they had tons of rabbits of all kinds and colours in need of rehoming. If you are truly worried about what their adult temperment will be, perhaps you should go and look at some of those rabbits -- they need homes, and you'll be assured of what their adult personalities will be like. My current Bun came to me as an adult,probably an ex-Easter bunny, and is a total affection-sponge.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), June 25, 2001.

Julie, Most shelters make you neuter a rabbit before you can adopt it. (by the way, how's Buns doing?)

Elizabeth, I raise Dwarfs, Mini Rex and Holland Lop mixes. I found the Mini Rexes are the most intelligent, the lops the most lovable and the female dwarfs nasty. I tried to get out of the dwarfs but everyone wants them in the pet store I work at.

A few things I want to add. First, make sure the bunnies you are buying are not brother, sister relations. The does can be sisters, but the buck should be a seperate line altogether. Sometimes, there are two litters by seperate does but out of the same buck. Second, you usually can get the animals alot cheaper at the aution but remember, other animals have been in those cages, some sick, most stressed. Last, it is good to have a knowledgable person handy to help you in a pinch, although since I've been here, I've gotten most help I'd ever need.

PS Rabbit breeding is addicting.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), June 25, 2001.

I think the price is very good. Even if you pay a little more for the papers. When you breed your rabbits you can sell them at a higher price because they have papers. I don't know where Elizabeth lives but it sounds like stock there is very inexpensive. I know of people who have paid $80 and more for good breeding stock. (It depends on the line.) Satins that I've seen here at shows start at around $20. I guess it depends on what part of the country your in.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), June 25, 2001.

Yes, it is true that the Humane Society requires neutering for any animals they have that aren't already neutered, but since Elizabeth was looking for good temperment on pet rabbits rather than on her meat animals, I mentioned it as a source of reliably tempered animals for her son.

As pet rabbits go, two seem happier together than one, and neutered pairs don't get into fighting to the same extent, nor population explosions (especially if you can't peddle the baby bunnies that are the pet's 'children' -- and it would be counter productive to then have to butcher the child's pet's babies), nor things like dealing with deaths through pyrometria (sp?), etc. I don't have opinions on the meat rabbits, since I've never raised them for such. (My roadside Bun is doing fine, he follows me around the yard and tugs on my pants leg for attention and petting)

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), June 26, 2001.

Hello Elixabeth,

Satin rabbits are great meat rabbits, good tempered and great mothers. I raised and showed them for nearly 3 years before my divorce. I would say that you will be happy with their production and taste. I was having young meat stock ready for processing at 6 to 8 weeks and they were averaging 5 lbs. I have a few californias right now and I am not overly impressed with them, no offence to any california breeders just my observations with the rabbits I have.

I have paid as much as $75 for a good show stock animal but the least I have paid is $25. So if your getting a good papered rabbit for under $15 you are getting a good price.

I haave never had Neatherlands, as I do not really care for little rabbits. I do have a friend that raised them for 20 years and loves them. She always said they were great for kids. As with any rabbit handeling and work will make a difference in personality. As will lines some lines are just more flighty then others. See how the doe reacts to handeling and how the owner handles the kits.

Good luck....and happy rabbit raising. Suzanne

-- Suzanne Wilson (mtsuz@hotmail.com), June 26, 2001.

My first rabbit was a male dwarf. He was MEAN! We got rid of him. He also whizzed outside of his cage. The rabbit I have now is a Mini Rex. She is very tame and loveable. Lies in my arms on her back, likes to be scratched under her chin and ears, and likes her tummy rubbed. I've had her for over a year.

-- Robin from Illinois (snorburg@cis.net), June 26, 2001.

Elizabeth, I used to work at a petting farm where we had quite a few rabbits of every variety under the sun. We had to pay particular attention to which breeds of rabbits would be better for taking out for demonstrations, when the public would be handling the animals (including many children who hadn't a clue how to do so). I tend to agree with Dee concerning the miniature breeds for your kids. The mini rex and holland lop rabbits were the best with children. My meat animal experience was simply buying all the leftover "Easter bunnies" from a pet shop chain one year for $4 each, fattening and butchering. I didn't get their pedigrees, but they were quite tasty!!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), June 29, 2001.

Elizabeth, I'm raise satin rabbits and my dad used to breed netherlands and both breeds are great! I meat my satin culls and that works well too! The price you paid is not bad at all! Expecially if they are from good stock and are nice healthy rabbits. I have had many pet rabbits over the years (all growing up even though I'm not done I'm only 15) and two of my best rabbits were netherlands. I love my satins too! I think your getting a steal with those rabbits if they are nice show quality! And if they are nice you should look into showing its a blast!

-- Marie Simoneau (maries_menagerie@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001.

Oh my God, can you freaks eat vegetables? Are do you hoosiers insist on eating your pets? Get a life, losers!Or maybe a job away from the farm.

-- cindy (Gigetta1@go.com), April 08, 2002.