[Clansman]

Last time round my three New Zealand White does had 8 kits each.

This time I have one with 8 and this one with what I think is at least 11 

Bloomer has my third doe now and I think he had at least 6 with that one.

Anyone for rabbit? 

[bloomer]

Me, oh woops I already have them doh...

[nutterly_uts]

I've been reading Tim Tyne's articles on rabbits in country smallholder and it does look like a good source of meat BUT the vet nurse side of me still thinks in terms of pampered pet  so I just can't make up my mind

[Clansman]

pampered pets?

Why ever would you think such a thing? 

[Steph Hen]

 

[Bionic]

Love that picture 

[Clansman]

I'll get a better one soon, I have about 50 here now!

[Kimbo]

OMG!!!! Just TOO cute! 

[shygirl]

can I ask how you kill them as we used to breed rabbits and found the culling quite difficult.

[Caroline1]

Very cute bunnies. Are they for meat or pets?

[Clansman]

Air pistol through the top of the head.

[Clarebelle]

For various reasons, mostly because a lot of folk nearby wanted to buy pet rabbits from us, we only recently culled some of ours. We had one in a casserole at the weekend and it was by far the best rabbit I've ever had. You didn't have to worry about it being tough like some wild rabbits but it was still full of flavour. Well worth it I think! 

[shygirl]

ta

[Clansman]

Very cute bunnies. Are they for meat or pets?

Mixture of both Caroline.

Originally I started with them for meat but prior to Christmas the first year I kept them I was asked for a couple as pets.

I stuck about 2 dozen up for sale on the local pet pages and got £20 each for them.

Now I do like eating rabbit but I'd rather have £20! 

So yes they are for meat, I usually maintain a breeding group of two bucks and four does which breed pretty much non stop through the warmer months, mainly so I can feed them on grass and vegetation, the smaller ones are great lawnmowers.

Big ones like to dig! 

[Clansman]

Shygirl, I tried the fixed hoop for dislocating their necks just by pulling but didn't like it.

You can buy rabbit stunners but expensive at around £100.

I didn't fancy hitting them with a blunt object etc so the air pistol seems the perfect solution.

No holding the rabbit at weird angles or distressing it with the air pistol, i just pick them up and place them on the grass, wait till they start eating and shoot it in the head from about 2 inches away.

best way i've found to do it, dead instantly