New Rabbit Breeding Setup

[Expensive hobby]

Just got my new setup installed.

It's a professional commercial outdoor breeding setup. It has 6 holes, feeders mounted on the doors for ease of cleaning, relief foot pads, cnc machined patented watering system, plumbed on household pressure with no need for regulator, auto flush and plenty of room for everyone.

Tomorrow I will be building the insulated shelter over the top for rain and sun protection.

Oh btw I just had a doe drop her first litter of 5 kits today.

Probably going to make some fancy new nesting/kitting boxes tomorrow.

For those curious the holes are 30x30, and the whole setup is just over 16' long. Pretty soon I will be ordering another identical system.

Please pay no attention to the foil in the Window either lol. My wife used to work grave yard and the sun would light up the room haha. Never took it down.

Anyhow, hope you guys and gals enjoy, let me know what you think, and don't be shy to throw out any ideas or criticism.



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[Wapadi]

Where did you get it? And closer pictures!! LOL Good luck! We tried breeding rabbits in florida and never had any luck!

[Expensive hobby]

Where did you get it? And closer pictures!! LOL Good luck! We tried breeding rabbits in florida and never had any luck!

Haha I'll get some closer pictures so you can see the "details."

I got them from a local commercial breeder. Someone who has had over 1500 breedable does. He makes the cages that he uses and he even patented the water system. It uses pressure fed bowls instead of sippers.

What kind of rabbits did you try breeding?

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[OctagonGecko729]

Curious, I've done no research into rabbits as feeders for larger pythons. Do you feed live or F/T? I'd imagine with those toe nails it could be rather sketchy doing live. Whats the process of euthanasia if you do F/T? How many breeding females are needed per retic on average? How much does the maintanence cost you after the initial setup per breeding pair?

[Mike41793]

Are the same rabbits you breed to feed your snakies good for eating?

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[Expensive hobby]

Are the same rabbits you breed to feed your snakies good for eating?

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Ya actually they are very common food breeds. In fact because of the New Zealand Whites and the Rex I can also use then for pelts.

But the snakes don't care haha. As long as they get big enough.

Curious, I've done no research into rabbits as feeders for larger pythons. Do you feed live or F/T? I'd imagine with those toe nails it could be rather sketchy doing live. Whats the process of euthanasia if you do F/T? How many breeding females are needed per retic on average? How much does the maintanence cost you after the initial setup per breeding pair?

Unlike rats, the VAST MAJORITY of rabbit breeder use blunt force trauma to euthanize the rabbits. Basically you grab their hind quarters at the pelvis and strike their neck on a 90° solid object. It is very fast and very humane. With rats I use cervical dislocation, but the rabbits just aren't built as strong and robust so this method works quickly and effectively. So in short, no I don't feed live, for the sake of the snake and the rabbit.

As for feeding retics, those on rabbits will take one appropriately sized rabbit per week. About 5lbs for the smaller adults and 10lbs for the bigger girls. General rule is about one breeder per snake. I like to have more obviously because you can always sell off the extras(pretty dry on rabbits around here) or eat them if you please.

Start up cost is about $1000 roughly and maintenance is basically the cost of food. They are actually a very economical source of meat and snake food. With a good setup cleaning is almost nill and food is about a tuna can sized portion a day per adult. They actually eat less than rats.

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[sorraia]

Thanks for sharing! Are you in the northern or southern half of the state? I want to breed food rabbits in the near future, and it'd be great if I could find some local places for caging and supplies, instead of having to order and ship everything in.

[John1982]

Looks good, only thing I have to add is to make sure that no part of the rabbit can poke through. Predators can and will grab ahold of any protruding portion of rabbit and pull for all they're worth - things can get ugly.

[John1982]

Unlike rats, the VAST MAJORITY of rabbit breeder use blunt force trauma to euthanize the rabbits. Basically you grab their hind quarters at the pelvis and strike their neck on a 90° solid object. It is very fast and very humane. With rats I use cervical dislocation, but the rabbits just aren't built as strong and robust so this method works quickly and effectively. So in short, no I don't feed live, for the sake of the snake and the rabbit.

That's basically cervical location, just another means to an end.

[John1982]

That's basically cervical location, just another means to an end.

Whoops, cervical dislocation I meant!