Weaned Rabbits (2 months old)- $10 for female, $8 for male
Adult Rabbits (6 months or older)- $20 for female, $15 for male
Good
for Meat and Fur, Popular as a Pet and for Show
New
Zealand rabbits are an American breed, not a New Zealand breed despite their name.
Breeding started in 1916 with Flemish Giants and Belgian Hares to develop a rabbit
that was good for meat and fur. They are currently bred for that but have also
become one of the favorite breeds of domestic pet rabbit.
New Zealand
rabbits come in white, red, blue and black. They have rounded bodies, slender
and muscular faces, round cheeks, large long back feet, short and small front
feet. Their long ears stand straight up. Their body hair is thick with short fur
on their ears.
Bucks (males) weigh between eight and ten pounds. Does
(females) weigh between nine and twelve pounds. New Zealand Reds are a little
smaller than the Whites. Females have a dewlap, which is a flap of fur below the
chin. The fur is used for her nesting box during pregnancy. Their eyes range from
shades of pale pink to bright ruby red. New Zealands do not get sick or have health
problems nearly as often as many other breeds. This is a common breed.
New Zealand Rabbit for Meat and Fur
The two most common meat rabbits are the New Zealand and Californian. Californian
rabbits are a little smaller than the New Zealand. From a production point of
view, New Zealand rabbits have a fast rate of growth, good carcass quality, good
reproductive traits, and good mothering ability. Cross-breeding Californian and
New Zealand breeds creates hybrid vigor with stronger and healthier rabbits. Rabbits
are ready for sale at 8 weeks.
Rabbits produce white meat that is fine-grained,
high in protein, low in fat, low in cholesterol, and good tasting. It can be used
in the place of poultry in most recipes. The rabbit carcass produces very little
waste with only 20% of it being bone.
White rabbits are preferred by
companies that buy fur for processing because they can dye it any color they want.
New Zealand Rabbits as Pets
New Zealands rabbits make great pets even for beginners. They have a calm, cheerful,
friendly disposition which is true of other large rabbits too. They are social,
affectionate, intelligent, outgoing, and enjoy being part of family life. They
are one of the easier breeds to teach tricks. They like everybody who is nice
to them.
They get along with most household pets. They do not bite. They
like being handled if it's done gently. They are sometimes called "big rag dolls"
because they flop down lettig you cuddle with them. Of course, getting a rabbit
at a young age is an important factor in creating this friendly disposition. They
are popular in the show ring.
Housing and Caring for Rabbits
We
do not ship rabbits. You have to pick them up. We have purebred White New Zealand
rabbits. We also have half breed rabbits that are half White New Zealand and half
unknown. Below are pictures of the mother of the half breed rabbits. Her babies
are either all white or all brown. Rabbits are $12. 
Easy
to clean, wire cages that are 2-3 feet above the ground is the best way to house
rabbits. Each cage needs a feeder preferably one that can be filled from outside
the cage. A sturdy bowl or bottle for water is needed. The housing needs to have
good ventilation and be free of drafts.
Bucks and does are housed separately.
To breed a doe always take the doe to the buck's cage not the other way around.
The gestation period for the doe is 27 to 36 days. Does can be rebred 10 to 14
days after kindling (giving birth). When the doe is ready to give birth, a nest
box for protection of the young rabbits is needed. A good nest box is 12 inches
high, 12 inches wide, and 18 inches long. One end is cut down to 6 inches. Plenty
of straw is added to the nest box before the doe gives birth.
Rabbits
can be fed commercial rabbit pellets in the feeder. Rabbit feed should be between
12 to 18 percent protein. Feeding of additional hay or fiber such as Timothy hay
is not necessary if the rabbit feed has at least 8 percent crude fiber. Some rabbit
breeders have hay racks that they fill with hay. Alfalfa hay contains a lot of
protein and calcium so should be limited. They best hays are grass hays such as
Timothy, Brome, Oat or Orchard Grass. As a treat you can feed a small amount of
fruit and vegetables. If you feed too many fruits and vegetables, they can get
diarrhea.
New Zealand rabbits are easy to take care of and fun to have.
Rabbits
Available for Sale
Mother
of white and brown rabbits.
One
month old rabbit of above mother.
One
month old rabbit of above mother.