Rabbits as food

[wokka]

As many would know I use rabbits for food for my Olives and BHPs and some Morellia. Its hard to use sufficient numbers to justify producing them so last year I tried to get a few others using them to make it worthwhile for the grower. I only use about 2000 ayear which is not wothwhile setting up a breeding facility for.
I believe rabbits are generally a better food scource because they are leaner than a rat of an equivelent size, particularly once you use food items over say 400 grams. Sure you can use two or three smaller rats but that is time consuming on large collections.At $20 per kilo they compare favourably with rats.
I am a gutten for punishment and considering giving them another run if there is sufficient demand. On the production side rats are less economic to grow beyond say 100 grams as food conversion falls. If any one interested in regular supplies could register their interest I'd appreciate the feedback. I can freight by AAE if required. Email is preferable as I dont know how to file aps pms.

 

[Lozza]

I have been trying to find rabbits for my BHPs but they are so hard to get. I know what you mean about it being not worth it for the breeders. Apparently the regulations in NSW are really strict for rabbit farmers.

 

[dee4]

That's exactly the way we look at, if you compare rabbits as new borns to rats you have a rabbit around 70g compared to a pinky rat at at what, say 20g for a largish pinky.
And then by the time they are ready to ween off mum they are nearly 200 odd grams in roughly 2 weeks. Whats a rat at 2weeks? Nearly 100g...

 

[wokka]

Its just a question of haveing the critical mass to justify the commitment. I am talking about someone growing them as a business not a hobby. You need numbers to pay wages, biuld shed and freezer space apart from rule and regulations.

 

[Noongato]

I bought a pair of purebred Netherland Dwarf rabbits, there hard to come by but there perfect sizes. There the smallest species of rabbit in the world, i plan to beed them for snake food for my BHP, as I dont want to deal with rats, and there so small as babies i can go straight from adult mice to baby rabbits.

 

[waruikazi]

I did rabbits for a while, it ended up too hot for them up here and wouldn't breed. And when they did the blue tonges in my backyard would eat them. So we had rabbit stew instead.

 

[licky]

does anyone sell rabbits as food in QLD?
if i am feeding adult rats to my morelias, what size rabbits would be the equivelent?
btw how big do rabbits get to, would a adult bredli and coastal be able to take fully grown rabbits?

licky

 

[andyscott]

Rabbits are by far the number one food source for any large python.
Less fat, greater bone density, so your python gets more nutrients.

Id hope more people use rabbits as a food source.

 

[salebrosus]

I would be interested in rabbits for me and for my Dads collection in Sydney.

 

[jeda]

Brendli

Hi, i use mainly rabbits for my larger brendl's, my female which is about 6-8kilo gives a very unsatisfied look, and is back at the glass after 2 large rats, where as 1 netherland keeps her satisfied, definately the go for large adults of bigger species, and don't bite or look for opportunities

 

[CodeRed]

What sizes do you plan to offer? Is the $20 per kilo the price?

 

[pythons73]

Hi,i no a bloke up here that breeds and sells bunnies,i will find out how much and how many he can do.Cheers

 

[taylor111]

does anyone sell rabbits as food in QLD?
if i am feeding adult rats to my morelias, what size rabbits would be the equivelent?
btw how big do rabbits get to, would a adult bredli and coastal be able to take fully grown rabbits?

licky

yea does any one sell rabbit as snake food

 

[FAY]

Aren't rabbits illegal to keep in QLD?

 

[CodeRed]

Its not illegal to keep frozen ones.

 

[FAY]

Its not illegal to keep frozen ones.

haha fair enough lol

 

[caustichumor]

I would have a breeding hutch if they where legal in QLD !! although I think my kids would find rabbits a bit cute for snake fodder....

 

[cement]

I just started breeding rabbits. I saw a nutritional info sheet on food sources put up here by Splitmore I beleive. It stated that rabbits are the most nutritional source.

 

[dragon lady]

would that be because there is more bone...calcium?
or lessfat opposed to rodent

 

[Mudimans]

The only place i have seen rabbits for sale in brisbane was at Brisbane pet superstore on Stafford road in Stafford. They had them frozen obviously, not sure of the prices