lol new Rabbits make me happy.

I’m trying to learn but keep getting mixed info on if it’s doable or safe for them because of our heat.

The following is a long, and probably ranty post, so the TLDR is, how do you deal with shame over your hobby/lifestyle?

A couple of months ago I accidentally stumbled upon meat rabbitry videos. Not knowing this was a thing, I was curious. It went from curiosity to "Oh, i can do this!". I have been wanting to farm my own meat, due to my dislike of supporting factory farms, the relaxed FDA regulations these days, and I generally think it would be a useful skill. I live in the suburbs, and seeing that rabbits are a great option for me, I got into it.

I got super into the idea for the last month, doing research, planning everything out, buying stuff, etc. I was serious about doing this and I made sure I knew everything I needed to know before starting. I also was excited to share the journey, as this is something people dont really see too often.

I travel for work and issues started when I was asking friends and coworkers if they were willing to take care of the rabbits for me while im gone. It obviously made them uncomfortable.

But the issue really started when my best friend pulled me aside and told me straight up that this is wrong, weird, and I shouldn't do it. He wasnt so blunt, and tried to be supportive of my ultimate decision. But I could tell what he was saying. He said that it makes my friends uncomfortable, he said it would prevent me from ever getting a girlfriend, and he hinted it was wrong to kill a cute bunny.

Now I know from my research and being in forums and groups that many people dont understand meat rabbits. That is fine with me, but when its your friends shaming you it feels different.

I put away the idea for now and returned everything i bought. But it truly broke my heart. Not only for giving up something I truly put so much time and effort into doing, but also being shamed, like I relished on killing the rabbit, when in reality, the thing I looked forward to most was breeding and raising kits. The processing is just part of the process, even if its unfortunate.

How does one deal with this lifestlye/hobby that is judged so harshly, even my meat eaters? While I know that the judgement is ill conceived and unnecessarily malicious, especially from meat eaters, I still dont want to take up this hobby only to hide it. Because then it feels like im doing something wrong. But I also dont want to make my friends uncomfortable.

How did you deal with it if you did deal with this? Not sure if ill actually get back into rabbits but I really would.

I want to put together a heated system. We have a cup and tubing system right now but it froze last winter. I also don’t love the tubing because they can chew it so easily.

Ideally we would do a full upgrade to a closed loop PVC system with a heater, a pump, and cups or nipples. We run it out of a large cooler right now which I like a lot for insulation (cooler did not freeze last winter) and I can drill into it if needed.

Now I’m having trouble finding good machines and hardware.
I thought it would be easy to find an in line heater with a pump in it, or a submersible heater and a cheap pump. Submersible or in line would be fine.

I can’t find shit.

If I type “water heater and pump” I just get recirculation pumps (that don’t heat the water) for over $100 to $300. The heaters are all $50 or more also. I can’t even find a cheap aquarium pump for less than $50. And these are not even the ideal which would be an in line heater and pump in one. All the in line heaters heat to really hot rather than just de-icing, they require pressure from the sewers so no pump, and they’re clearly not made for outdoor. I just need a de-icer with a pump surprised it’s so difficult.

Anybody have recommendations for some specific stuff that has worked for you?

I am looking to do my first dispatch in November. Any recommendations for what type and brand of knife to use to skin it? I plan on doing broomstick method.

Does anyone know of any breeders in the uk? The only one I have been able to find so far is Oakstream Pastures and they don’t currently have any available. Is there anywhere specific I should look? Google is failing me. Thanks!

I’d love to oven roast a rabbit with some carrots, potatoes, onions etc in a roasting pan tonight but I’m having a hard time determining oven temp and timing for a whole rabbit.

Thank you 🐇

Does anyone out there know of someone in the Northern Kentucky area that is breeding American blue rabbits? We had two does and a buck for breeding meat rabbits and we lost one of our does. I've read you should always breed two does at the same time... Just in case. I'd very much like to get another doe but I'm having a horrible time finding good breeders less than 6 hours away from me. I've messaged everyone in the ARBA breeder directory (which was 4 people and not all are breeding blues) and asked around on FB (which led to at least one scammer trying to get me). Please someone help!

Feeling good, does anyone have any advice or tips they knew when they were starting out? TIA 😁

I’m knew to meat rabbits, but one of my girls escaped into her sisters cage so I had to catch grab her a noticed a huge lump on her nose it just got there within the week does anyone know what it could be?

I like the idea of raising colony style because it gives the rabbits opportunities to be social, interact, explore, etc. (I don't mind wire floor.) The worry I have about colonies is disease and not being able to clean things well when on the ground.

Is there anyone out there who has done colonies, but somehow raised things off the ground? I guess in some ways this would just be a really big hutch? Or a shed colony with a false floor made out of wire that could be moved for shoveling poop?

I could reinforce rabbit cage floor with cattle panel and run joists every so often to support the weight of the rabbits. Maybe make it so those sections could hinge/swing up at the joists so I could shovel between them? I just don't know how I could set it up to be able to support my weight to walk around in there when I need to.

Where/how did you find your starter pair/group. Did you start with a few 4H rabbits from some kids first to get your sea legs?

I have had indoor rabbits as pets my entire childhood and showed them in 4H. This will be my first time doing outdoor rabbits via rotational grazing.

I’m interested in Rex rabbits for both meat and pelts.

Thank you!🙏

Just acquired my first breeding trio of Champagne d’Argents. Aside from Critical Care, what do you all suggest I have on hand for first aid/in case of emergencies? Thanks in advance!

Hello! I need advice concerning my young doe (about 6 months old Flemish New Zealand mix. My rabbit was currently housed in a cage at my parents house until I am done building her hutch, however my parents switched her with their own doe and her kits since they kept dying and she has only one left (her cage was off the ground in a chicken coop). The big problem is that they didn’t close the cage and my rabbit jumped out, and spent the night with a buck, when I went to see her this morning I saw that and took her out immediately. She has patches of disturbed fur on her hips and her vulva was pink-red with what looked like semen possibly on it. How worried should I be and what should be my next step (she has now been moved into her hutch).

Processing is going to be tough! Kits are 15 days old

I'm positive I've been lied to about age. I think these rexes are closer to 3 years. One has given birth before but the other.... Not so much.

I've heard that they become unbreakable at a certain age. Am I at risk with this doe? Would it be better to cull or to attempt just ONCE? I don't want to risk anything dangerous though. Please just let me know if I'm in the wrong for feeling like she's a waste of resources

The champagne D’Argent doe has never been bred and she’s almost 2 years old. Our buck is proven and 1.5 years old. Is it worth trying to breed her?

Hello.

Making my farm plan for my my meat rabbits in a very cold and snowy climate. My plan is to rotational graze in warmer months and then do cages with wind protection/ good ventilation in winter. This is more for me so I can have easier access to monitor and care for them in the snow and cold. I’ll have other animals on pasture all year round so I want to create a farm plan that is realistic for me to manage- I hope that makes sense.

My question is: what about the rain? I’m worried about rotational grazing in wet conditions. My area has more high intensity rain in between drought like conditions. I feel confident to help them through the winter snow and wind and summer heat but I feel unprepared for the rain and wet conditions.

Would love any feedback or experience you may have.

Im in central Fl, it’s cooling off and I have tamuk rabbits, 10 months old about. Buck is ready to go, he’s trying his best and my does have pale genitals and are not interested. They just lay there. One is proven and the other is not. I have fed only hay the last week and it didn’t work… anything else I can try?

Hi gang. Besides the obvious seeing a vet, any thoughts on what’s going on here? New to meat rabbitry, and I just got home to find my Bucky’s eye looking like this. Didn’t see any issues this morning. He’s not showing any signs of it affecting him so far.

Thanks in advance!

I posted a week ago with kit colors. I believe I have two black harlequins and the other two I’m not sure. Blue fawn? Chocolate fawn?