raising rabbits

[user 6493]

well I have been kicking this around for some time now and up until yesterday I had not found the type of rabbits I wanted

you see I raise a few rabbit dogs and wanted rabbits for getting the pups going so not just any old rabbit would do,,I found someone raising and selling Swamp Rabbits,,,I ordered 12 at $10.00 each,I will pick them up the first week of July,,,

I will be breeding and selling the little hoppers next spring,,,,there is a good market for them,they sell over 100 every month at $10 each so I figure I can sell a few here and there

 

[Brent S]

I did a thread here about my experience with raising rabbits, from raising to breeding and cleaning them for dinner. The only thing I never got to was trying to preserve the pelts. I had a few bags of them frozen in the big freezer but ended up throwing them out after a while. I felt guilty about wasting them. I did discover one thing from it all though. I’m really not very fond of rabbit meat. Which is why I’m not still raising any,

 

[user 6493]

I did a thread here about my experience with raising rabbits, from raising to breeding and cleaning them for dinner. The only thing I never got to was trying to preserve the pelts. I had a few bags of them frozen in the big freezer but ended up throwing them out after a while. I felt guilty about wasting them. I did discover one thing from it all though. I’m really not very fond of rabbit meat. Which is why I’m not still raising any,

I am not doing this for the meat,,I want to have rabbits for training my dogs and to sell to other to train theirs,there is a bit of a demand for this type of rabbit and they are hard to find,so I look to take advantage of this for some profit

if and it is a big if I could clear $400 a month off them I would be happy with that,it would make the winter months when I can't do yards easier to deal with

 

[user 6493]

I am just looking to supplement my SSI check,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[jimLE]

plus their manure makes great fertilizer

 

[Kevin L]

Just keep them in a clean environment, and check them for ticks and fleas.

Leptospirosis, brucellosis, and Q fever are not cool to mess with.

I always keep rubber gloves, rubber apron, and eye protection in my BOB, in case I have to dress any wild game.....especially rabbits.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Just keep them in a clean environment, and check them for ticks and fleas.

Leptospirosis, brucellosis, and Q fever are not cool to mess with.

I always keep rubber gloves, rubber apron, and eye protection in my BOB, in case I have to dress any wild game.....especially rabbits.

Good idea. Years ago I caught a disease from skinning an infected coyote when I cut my hand open. I don't remember the name of the disease now, but it was similar to bubonic plague. It wasn't fun. Now days I use nitrile gloves and an apron when skinning. I never thought about wearing safety glasses while skinning before, I will now.

 

[TexasFreedom]

AD,

Same here for feral pigs. Always wear gloves, and I double up if they are thin nitrile gloves. Their blood can carry some nasty diseases.

 

[Kevin L]

AD,

Same here for feral pigs. Always wear gloves, and I double up if they are thin nitrile gloves. Their blood can carry some nasty diseases.

Quite correct.

There's a reason why pigs are ritually unclean in many religions.

Me, I've always wondered about contracting rabies from processing wild game, as not all rabid animals act rabid--especially in the early stages of the disease.

I know that one can go overboard with disease paranoia and making onself crazy with "what if?"......so the question becomes--instead--where does one draw the line between intelligent, conservative prudence.....and utter paranoia when it comes to processing wild game in an unstable world post SHTF, where medical care may be rudimentary, or even non-existant?

 

[Mountain trapper]

Quite correct.

There's a reason why pigs are ritually unclean in many religions.

Me, I've always wondered about contracting rabies from processing wild game, as not all rabid animals act rabid--especially in the early stages of the disease.

I know that one can go overboard with disease paranoia and making onself crazy with "what if?"......so the question becomes--instead--where does one draw the line between intelligent, conservative prudence.....and utter paranoia when it comes to processing wild game in an unstable world post SHTF, where medical care may be rudimentary, or even non-existant?

That's a good question. But for me I've been trapping and skinning wild animals for over 50 years now. Apart from that one problem with an infected coyote I've never had a problem, and until this year I never wore gloves. I could have been incredibly lucky all these years, or maybe it's not that big of a concern. I'll still use gloves, an apron and safety glasses from now on though.

 

[user 6493]

Quite correct.

There's a reason why pigs are ritually unclean in many religions.

Me, I've always wondered about contracting rabies from processing wild game, as not all rabid animals act rabid--especially in the early stages of the disease.

I know that one can go overboard with disease paranoia and making onself crazy with "what if?"......so the question becomes--instead--where does one draw the line between intelligent, conservative prudence.....and utter paranoia when it comes to processing wild game in an unstable world post SHTF, where medical care may be rudimentary, or even non-existant?

the concern for disease in wild game is not without concern but these diseases have been around forever and had they been a prevalent problem we most likely would not be here today,,I have never used rubber gloves to clean game,I don't know anyone who does use gloves,and have never heard of anyone becoming sick from wild game and I am 62 years old,,,, I am not going to worry about it

 

[Kevin L]

the concern for disease in wild game is not without concern but these diseases have been around forever and had they been a prevalent problem we most likely would not be here today,,I have never used rubber gloves to clean game,I don't know anyone who does use gloves,and have never heard of anyone becoming sick from wild game and I am 62 years old,,,, I am not going to worry about it

Thank you for letting me know this.

Part of my issue is that I work in the medical field, and I really do believe in prevention over cure.

As a paramedic (I started working in EMS in the 1980s), we were always drilled about using gloves and other barriers to body fluids, as AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (formerly non-A/non-B hepatitis) were real possibilities that could screw up one's life.

I have the (perhaps unjustified) concern that--post SHTF--people will be malnourished, under considerable stress, lacking in hygiene, and emotionally traumatized. These conditions weaken the immune system, so people--in my mind--will be more likely to catch disease from processing wild game.

I also think people will be more vulnerable to these illnesses because a lot of people (such as myself, who is an on-and-off again vegetarian) will be new to hunting, and will make mistakes with the learning curve as we become adjusted to our new lifestyle.

Of course all of this reasoning means nothing if it doesn't mirror real life, so perhaps my concerns are (like our lack of understanding in the 80s of how difficult it really is to catch AIDS) drastically overstated.

 

[user 6493]

As a paramedic (I started working in EMS in the 1980s), we were always drilled about using gloves and other barriers to body fluids, as AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (formerly non-A/non-B hepatitis) were real possibilities that could screw up one's life.



.

the worry about bodily fluids are primarily because of AIDS AND HEPATITIS not all but most animal born diseases are due to poorly cooked game,,,,,well done will kill most bacteria ,,,

 

[Kevin L]

the worry about bodily fluids are primarily because of AIDS AND HEPATITIS not all but most animal born diseases are due to poorly cooked game,,,,,well done will kill most bacteria ,,,

Thank you.

 

[Mountain trapper]

There are disease's and plagues that can be passed to Man through infected animals and from flea bites. When I'm trapping land animals (fox, coyote, coon, bobcat, etc) I carry a plastic garbage bag and a can of Raid. I put the dead critter in the bag and give it a shot of Raid. That kills all fleas on the animal making them much safer to handle and skin. Proper cooking does kill most bacteria, but I think most risk, for me anyway, is in the handling of infected animals. In the 50+ years that I've been trapping I've skinned thousands of animals and only had one incident. So I think the odds of catching something is pretty slim.

 

[Dani]

GG is going to be raising these little critters to sell, but as the saying goes, they do breed like rabbits so he maybe getting some meat from his little ones too which is an added bonus. As long as his breeders are not infected with whatever too pass along, chances are he will not get sick with something. Private breeding verses wild is totally different.

 

[Kevin L]

GG is going to be raising these little critters to sell, but as the saying goes, they do breed like rabbits so he maybe getting some meat from his little ones too which is an added bonus. As long as his breeders are not infected with whatever too pass along, chances are he will not get sick with something. Private breeding verses wild is totally different.

Thank you.

 

[user 6493]

road trip,,,going to pick up the rabbits tomorrow,,,,,

 

[user 6493]

well they are all here,I did not lose a single one on the way home,,,,225 mile trip,,,not to bad

 

[tmttactical]

Good Start, I hope it all pans out for you.

 

[DrHenley]

We had pet rabbits for years. I was amazed at how different they all were. We had one rabbit that would eat venison, climb trees and growl at you if you stuck your hand in her cage. One was always nervous around people. Another one acted more like a puppy than a rabbit. Most of them didn't really like being petted, but that one did. My daughter was able to teach it tricks and to kennel on command and come when called.

 

[Brent S]

One great side benefit of rabbits is worms magically appear under their droppings. Great for the garden and fishing?

 

[user 6493]

it is all a gamble,,,it will take almost 8 months to get the first litter,,,if they will feed the dogs chickens and their self's it will be a win

 

[user 6493]

One great side benefit of rabbits is worms magically appear under their droppings. Great for the garden and fishing?

I should have a really good garden spot next year,,,,that will be a big plus for me

 

[user 6493]

I have checked them this morning and they all look good,,I always keep a close eye on newbies the first week if they are going to die that is when you will lose them

 

[JackDW]

A few years back, we had a cat that loved to chase rabbits, outdoors. We open the door and let him out and he takes off chasing a wild rabbit. Don't think he ever caught one. My daughters had pet rabbits. One day I heard a loud racket coming down the hallway towards the bedroom and here come that cat. One of the pet rabbits was chasing him. I had to laugh...... PAY BACK.

 

[Brent S]

A few years back, we had a cat that loved to chase rabbits, outdoors. We open the door and let him out and he takes off chasing a wild rabbit. Don't think he ever caught one. My daughters had pet rabbits. One day I heard a loud racket coming down the hallway towards the bedroom and here come that cat. One of the pet rabbits was chasing him. I had to laugh...... PAY BACK.

Anyone remember the scene in the Johnny depp movie The Lone Ranger where the rabbits flashed their teeth and fought over a piece of roasted rabbit! Never underestimate anything with teeth like a rabbit!

 

[DrHenley]

Or the Jimmy Carter killer rabbit incident...

 

[user 6493]

I lost one,,,,heat and it had diarrhea,little rabbits can't take dehydration

 

[user 6493]

Anyone remember the scene in the Johnny depp movie The Lone Ranger where the rabbits flashed their teeth and fought over a piece of roasted rabbit! Never underestimate anything with teeth like a rabbit!

have you ever seen what Game Chickens will do to a rat if caught out in the open,,,,,,,

when I was still in school I was passing by my Grand Fathers chicken coop and they were out in the run,,,,a rat popped out of a corner and made a run to the other side 12 to 15 feet away,one of the hens nailed him before he had gone 5 feet tossed it up in the air it never landed on the ground again,,,,they tore it to pieces