Allotments 4 All

Produce => Kept Animals => Topic started by: pol76 on February 28, 2007, 17:22:07

Title: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: pol76 on February 28, 2007, 17:22:07
Hello
I know that this subject will upset alot of folk (so sorry in advance)
but i am looking at breeding for food once or twice a year and freeze
i'm giving up shooting
i need info on the best type of rabbit to breed for food (not pets) that i can keep on my allotment

hope you can help
M

Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: teresa on March 01, 2007, 13:50:45
Try this link you may find it usefull,

http://forum.rivercottage.net/viewtopic.php?t=20751

Friend of mine had same idea but could not kill them, so she sold the young ones as pets to buy dead rabbits for the pot.
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: Roger Skilton on March 02, 2007, 18:05:32
Im just of out shooting now I use a 177 airgun I get quite a few there free range and it helps the farmer !
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: emmy1978 on March 02, 2007, 21:46:47
Hi, I'm not sure of the breed but my grandparents neighbours in france breed rabbits for the pot and they are huge gingery things (probably not their official name.
The dad of the family told us ( little city girls aged 10, 8 and 6) to pick one the first time our grandparents took us. We thought he meant as a pet... :'(
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: glow777 on March 09, 2007, 07:54:53
rabbit for the pot - £2.00 from the butcher
lop eared rabbit - £30+ as pet

as much as I like eating rabbit I kow what id breed (and you dont have to skin them!)
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: growmore on March 09, 2007, 10:10:23
I think  the best rabbit for breeding for pot are New Zealand white or Californian .Pellet fed, they will be ready at about 10 to 12 weeks old ...
I am breeding mini lops and dwarf lops for pets these are a different ball game to pot rabbits ..
I do breed pot rabbits as well... .Cheers Jim ...
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: Deb P on March 09, 2007, 10:38:31
My grandad bred "Blue Bevans" in central London when I was a kid, all for the pot..... :-\
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: cocopops on March 09, 2007, 20:44:08
Sorry I cannot offer a breed of rabbit for you, but you certainly shouldn't apologise for breeding, and then eating them.  The conditions that many animals bred for food live in leaves alot to be desired!

I was a bit of a bunny lover when I lived in the UK (until last August).  My six year old had little Schookles (fluffy bunny), whom we re-homed.  Having been completely devastated when the new owners took her, she now understands more about where food comes from.  She was totally un-phased when our farmer neighbours took her to see the rabbits that they breed to eat.  She also wanted to hold a chicken, which the neighbour let her, and she was not at all concerned knowing that one of them was soon 'for the pot'.

My grandad was very proud that he used to keep rabbits for food, I thought it was morose, but now I understand.  I hope you manage to get sorted.

Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: pol76 on March 10, 2007, 15:56:34
Thank you all for the advice
The Gun is gone so i'm just going to set up breeding for food.

Cheers
Marcus
Title: Re: Best Rabbits to breed for food
Post by: dingerbell on March 17, 2007, 16:54:55
Best Rabbit for food...A gurt Big'un.... ;D