Not Growing

[norcal]

My Cali does are not growing. They are 5 months and pretty darn small. The buck I got (which is not Cali, its solid white) is getting big compared to them. They don't eat as much as the buck, but I don't think that's it.

First off, how do you weigh your rabbits?
I have a human scale, I might be able to tell, but it wouldn't be very accurate.
Secondly, should I try to get some purebred stock? Or should I wait & see if these girls get bigger. These are meat rabbits......

I'm thinking I got conned (I saw mom) she was a decent sized Cali. , but, maybe dad was a smaller breed?

Advice?

 

[TigerLilly]

When i had rabbits (years ago) I had a hanging produce scale to weigh them on (think I bought it from Jeffer's).

Personally, I would get to know some of the breeders in your area. If you just bought them from Craigslist (for eg.), you really may not know what you're getting. If you didn't see the sire, there may be a reason for that. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Pure breed stock is definitely better if you have specific plans for them--breeding, raising for meat, etc.; that's why I say to get to know breeders in your area. Most people I kinow that breed their critters as a hobby LOVE to talk about them & show them off. And you can learn a ton of stuff from people like that!
If you are just starting off & these are your first, work with them & get used to the things you have to do, learn their behaviors, etc. At some point, if they don't turn out to be what you thought you were getting, they can still end up in the freezer/frying pan.
Good luck!

 

[norcal]

Still haven't gotten a scale. I was supposed to be breeding the does in Sept. Will try to weigh them...

 

[Beekissed]

Place a small but deep cardboard box on your bathroom scales and reset your scale to zero while the box is on there. Then place your rabbit in the box and measure the weight.

 

[jas]

You can also get a scale at an office supply store. They have them for weighing postage boxes.

 

[Citylife]

Personally, I would get to know some of the breeders in your area. If you just bought them from Craigslist (for eg.), you really may not know what you're getting. If you didn't see the sire, there may be a reason for that. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Pure breed stock is definitely better if you have specific plans for them--breeding, raising for meat, etc.; that's why I say to get to know breeders in your area. Most people I kinow that breed their critters as a hobby LOVE to talk about them & show them off. And you can learn a ton of stuff from people like that!

I totally agree about making sure you buy good stock from reputable breeders. I choose the Florida White meat rabbit for my project. I had a dutch doe from CL with a hutch I purchased. So, I figured she was nice I would go ahead and breed her to my FW buck. She had 5 nice kits and they appeared to be quite nice meat rabbits.
Time came for butchering and I had her 5 kits and 2 FW kits.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a difference. The FW's were typical of the breed ALL meat and little bone. Beautiful. The cross's (dutch/FW) on the other hand were quite fatty. Even the kidneys were surrounded by fat. I was shocked at how the food was converted to meat on the FW's but the crosses. Now I am not saying they were obese, just fatter then I ever expected. The bone size was larger and the dressed product was about the same but the crosses seemed lighter. Needless to say. I have not done that again.
The FW is what I wanted. All meat and little bone. Take up little space and are easy keepers.
My rabbit project was the one project I actually put a lot of thought into and got everything ready before I got my stock. Then I ended up waiting 3 months for my trio from the breeder. But, I am extatic with my little city project.
I say spend the extra $10-15 per animal and get good quality rabbits, of your breed of choice. IMO it is well worth the extra money.

the lady w/4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 5 meat rabbits, their kits and a lizard
and a STD Poodle I am fostering