I appreciate everyones responses to my earlier posts. I have decided to go for it. I just came back from the sellers house and I offered him $1000.00. We went back and forth a bit and came up with $1300.00 but he will also include not only the does and bucks, half the does have litters with them but also 40 weanlings. I told him I want to move everything slowly so I can get all the cages set up and disenfected. He agreed. What would be the best way to move the does with the litters. I dont want to upset them and have them kill their young? I also called the proccessing plant back and found out they have been in business since 1968. I told her my oppertunity and asked if they would be able to purchase 100 rabbits a week from me. She said yes, to call 2 weeks before I have my first shipment. I have signed up for a business course and will utilize that also. I have 6 months of unemployment to be able to get this up and running. Any more tips? P.S. If this doesnt work[which it will] I lost $1300.00 but atleast I tried. Tracy

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), December 13, 2001

Answers

Best of luck to you, Tracy! Sounds like you have a great opportunity there!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), December 13, 2001.

Hi Tracy, I would like to correspond with you. I went directly into the business of raising rabbits when I quit work. I also bought out an existing rabbitry. I also knew very, very little. I made it work and so will you. When it comes moving time, if at all possible, I would leave the does and their litters in the cage. Fasten the nest box so it won't slide around, using either wire or baleing twine. Email me, and we'll talk.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), December 13, 2001.

Yeah! You go girl. Sounds great. Where are you located? Maybe I'd like to buy some of those weanlings from you!

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 13, 2001.

Tracy, Best of luck to you. Best jobs are one that you enjoy.

Now a questions. What does the processing plant do with the rabbits? Are the rabbits being used primary for the fur or meat? When is rabbit meat used. I have had rabbit a number of times, but its not first on my list at BBQ time.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), December 13, 2001.

Cindy, I am in PA, Gary, they use the meat. They are fda approved and sell to grocery stores. The woman told me to stay competitive they have a 500 mile delivery radius. I am sure they must utilize the fur and such but dont really know.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), December 13, 2001.

Tracy, Good luck with your business! If you have questions post them and I'll try to help answer them also! Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), December 13, 2001.

YOU GO, GIRL!!!!!!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), December 13, 2001.

Tracy- Best of luck to oyu in your new venture. I hope that you will succeed, and it sounds as if you are doing all the right things and you certainly seem to have the determination to succeed. I also just started a business, though mine is not homestead-related. After working sporadically since 9-11 I purchased some lighting and power distribution equipment, which I know a bit about since that is the field I work in. Hopefully I will be able to keep it rented and eventually see a profit on my investment. Here are a couple of very general business tips which might also apply to your endeavor- 1. Don't put all your eggs (er, in your case, bunnies) in one basket- try to develop a secondary market in your area in case you a) exceed your qouta during peak breeding times, b) lose your primary outlet for some reason 2. Don't COUNT on the primary buyer- spend some time every day developing other outlets (I spend the first 2 hours of my day, every day, sending emails to potential customers. Most will not respond, but I only need a few of them to do so). Try to develop a market in your own neighorhood. Offer to sell the rabbits live, then process for free, but make the price high enough to compensate yourself for your labor and time. With chickens, this is a sneaky way to get around the inspection requirement- should work for rabbits as well, especially if you are selling on a small scale.

Please keep us posted as to your progress- I too am interested in eventually raising rabbits, so would benefit from your experiences.

Good luck!!!

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), December 13, 2001.

Good Luck. What breed of rabbits did you buy?

-- David R In TN. (srimmer@earthlink.net), December 13, 2001.

Tracy, Good luck with your rabbit business. I've thought about starting a small rabbit business myself. It sounds like you've thought this through very well. That's always one of the keys to success in any venture. The only suggestion I have is to check out the book Raising Rabbits the Modern Way by Bob Bennett. It is a Garden Way Publishing book and is very informative and does a good job of not only explaining how to do things but also why. It is the best book I've read yet about raising rabbits (granted, I've only read a few rabbit books). I hope you do really well.

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), December 13, 2001.

Hey Tracy, even if it doesn't work out, you won't be out the $1300. You would get something for your assets (rabbits and equipment) plus all the great business lessons as you learned your way along. It sounds like you have really thought about this. Best of luck!

-- Anne (Healthytouch101@wildmail.com), December 13, 2001.

Tracy, good luck! And if you *do* fall flat on your face you are not out $1300. You can eat the rabbits and resell the cages. I really can't see how you can come out too badly any way you look at it.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 13, 2001.

Way to go Tracy! We are all behind you! Let us know what you name your new business.

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

I didnt think of a name.. Any suggestions?

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), December 13, 2001.

Tracy...I am so glad you are going for it. We have to really shoot for our dreams!! You will do great!!! Tell us what happens!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), December 13, 2001.

I wish you the best. For a name how about: "Tracy's Trail Hoppers"?

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), December 13, 2001.

Good luck Tracy! It will be hard work and you will have to economize and be efficient with your time AND your money. How about we start another thread asking folks for their favorite rabbit links so you will have many places to go with questions besides little old Countryside (which is very good!).

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), December 13, 2001.

Tracy- here's something else you might consider doing to supplement your meat rabbit sales- See if you can package and sell the manure for fertilizer. This is not hard to do, especially if you are near (or your buyer is near) a sizeable town with high end garden centers. Someone at your business course, SBA, or extension service can help with sources for packing materials, etc. You could also check with organic gardening clubs and organizations to see if their members might be interested, and other plant societies as well. Might also put up a flyer at area health food stores, as many of their patrons are probably organic growers. And, if you set up worm bins under your cages you can raise worms on the side to sell for composting and/or fishing bait. Wow, then you could also market worm castings as fertilizer along with the rabbit manure. Also keep an eye out for rat snakes- yes, you might attract rats when the rabbits drop food under their cages. I knew a rabbit breeder who used to catch rat snakes in his rabbitry and sell them for $5-10 each. Don't sell them all, though, cause you will want them to help keep down the rat population!

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), December 13, 2001.

Tracy good luck on your new venture. ill bet you do good at it. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), December 13, 2001.

Have you considered not mating the does until grown litters would fit into your buyer's quota schedule? As I mentioned in another thread, consider becoming a buyer in your local area. If you can net out, say $1.00, each on these, it could add up.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 13, 2001.

If you DO become a buyer in your area, you can collect them whenever those half grown bunnies you bought are ready to go and add to your income that way. No waiting. That will also increase your winter sales, which should increase your summer quota. Of course, the problem then is how will you FIND all these people who have bunnies to sell!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), December 13, 2001.

Tracy Hi its me. Glad you went for it! Just remember to keep your does bred. When your babies are 4 weeks old you will breed doe again. If you want 100 a week you will need to have many, many more does. Also some does miss so you will need to learn to palpate does around 2 weeks to feel for those little pea shaped forms that are babies! Also yes Bob Benetts book is good plus the worms although I haven't got that far yet. You won't be a success overnite. But I'm sure you know that! It takes time to build up your herd & contantly appraising & replacing breeding stock, especially the does. Remember you can stretch your feed by mixing 1 part oats with 3 parts pellets. It may take them awhile to get used to it but they will! Also lots of hay & beware of dusty hay! Will watch for more posts from you. Your Friend Judi PS Does your son like the baby Holland?

-- Judi Amon (peacelane@stargate.net), December 13, 2001.

Whatever you do, don't let the kids name the rabbits! A farm animal with a name becomes a pet - very hard to butcher & eat. When we lived in Oregon I was told that rabbit manure couldn't be sold there. I don't know why, since it makes the best fertilizer. If your state has the same law just sell it to individuals. I've been told that the best fur comes from older rabbits - meat rabbits are butchered too young. My parents raised rabbits while I was growing up. It's a great deal of fun! Best of luck.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), December 13, 2001.

also don't forget about pet shops,especially around easter!

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), December 14, 2001.

Good luck with your rabbit business. We use to raise New Zealands but now concentrate our hobby rabbitry on pet Holland Lops, Mini Lops and Netherland Dwarfs. I would suggest you join the American Rabbit Breeders Association (http://www.arba.net). You get many useful publications and directories, including the Domestic Rabbit magazine which lists all of the meat processors and what they pay per lb. for rabbits. Also check out this commercial rabbit link with many great pages about meat rabbit setups. Mauers page is excellent. Commercial Rabbit Links: http://www.esinc.net/reynolds/links-commercial.htm

-- Trish-Pine Valley Rabbitry (Misty_Mare@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

It would be cool if you could write an article for Countryside mag. on how you started up, all the decisions that went into it and any problems or successes.

-- buffy (buffyannjones@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

Although I read Countryside and have for years, when I can find it (The exchange rate makes ordering it prohibbitive) I just discovered your web site. Not too computer savvy. On rabbits-CLEANLINESS. Keep cages and rabbitry clean. No rodent or even cute little birds feeding out of your feeders. They carry disease and rats can eat babys feet or cause mum to eat babies. If mum kills 2 litters, eat her. If she has 2 false pregnancies, produces less than 6 is nasty or doesnt feed babies well, cull her. I raised meat and show rabbits. Selling purebred stock to others for show or meat stock could be a sideline. I was working on a good meat cross but shift work and lack of local market caused me to give it up. A flemish giant buck x with new zealand x californian doe is good. Buck is calm and easy to handle, makes big litters, they grow big, but bony. The mums give meatyness. Kaopectate for diarea, preperation-H rubbed on sore hocks, especially the large breeds, dried papiya for hairballs(rabbits cant vomit). Hope some of this helps. And join your local rabbit club, they will be a wealth of answers eh. karen

-- karen grandmaison (karengrandmaison@hotmail.com), December 18, 2001.

Miss. State Has a Great Rabbit Center. http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/rabbits.htm Try this site for helpful hints. Good Luck! Bart

-- Bart (Dominickwb@dot.state.sc.us), December 20, 2001.