Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Discussion carried over from the quail thread.
Spiritrancho the method I used to keep the genetics fresh is by crossing breeds. At one point I had a huge Flemish giant buck and 3 New Zealand does. It worked out good for a while but he started getting old and may only breed once in a day. To have a large litter you need to breed at least twice best 3 times But the doe gets hard to handle on the third go round. Does ovalate 1 hr after breeding and if you can get her to ovalate 3 times you will end up with a litter of 9-12 kits. It's always nice to know a few other local breeders to get fresh bloodlines from.

Thats when you know your getting old. You can only breed once in a day.

i breed rabbits to, i like NZ whites, i have tried a few other breeds but i think the NZ whites are best, although im not having much luck breeding them lately, one female is over weight and another has hock sores and is a little under weight.

Are they for eating Grunta?

Does anybody in melb breed bunnies?

If so anybody got a nice stud buck I can buy?

I'm also inerested in those Netherlands giant rabbits too if anybody knows anything about them in Australia.

"Does anybody in melb breed bunnies?"

I live in Diamond Creek... they breed themselves around here

Honestly, I wish I could get rid of them. Some of the damage to our dirt-garden looks about big enough for the vermin.

N4K1

faye wrote: Are they for eating Grunta?

they sure are, even my wife who is a fussy eater likes home grown rabbit!

If one was to raise ones own rabbits how does one slaughter them? I have only shot rabbits before, can you snap their necks by hand or do you slit the throat like a sheep?

Ever notice you can't spell slaughter without laughter.

Here is a link to a fairly quick humain way, I normally knock them in the head But this looks way more effective.
Warning Graphic...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuSY9OCD0Zo

Ringing the neck of a rabbit is very easy with practice.
There is a technique though. Such talk is oft upsetting so if you want a detailed description, pm me.

dislocation method is very easy, i used to knock them on the head but i found dislocting there head from there neck is much easier and you really can't get it wrong.

Grunta, you've not taken enough newbs hunting. It's spectacularly and humerously easy for some ppl to get it wrong.
better than knocking them on the head though, yes.

fair point Kuda, i gues i was thiking obout a few times when i have taken a swing to knock one on the head ... and it moved!

heheh Knocking small game on the head is better done by keeping swinging the game and holding the rock still... There's less chance to move.

+ 1, bullbar