Alright, I have been doing my best at getting a diet that is more healthy for my dogs. I feed Taste Of The Wild, but still feel like I could add some raw. So, I took the plunge, is there anyone else that raises rabbits for the purpose of feeding your dogs, and, sometimes yourselves?
I have done some research so far, and found that I want to get the Californian breed of rabbit... though I have toyed with getting the plain white New Zealnad White for ease(emotionally) of harvest. If you have seen those cute little Cali's, you will know what I am talking about. Anyway, I would be interested in hearing anyone elses tales, or advise.

Oh, I might add, I haven't gotten the rabbits yet, I don't want to learn rabbit husbandry while the temps are still as low as they are. I plan to stay small.. just 2 does, and one buck. That should be enough food for the pooches, and ourselves as well.. afterall they breed like...rabbits, right? lol.

Anyway..

Californians are a nice commercial rabbit. I raised them years ago. If you're wanting plain old numbers I'd personally get a californian buck and NZW does for the faster growth, better coat for that climate, and better bone to meat ratio.

Personally if I were to raise rabbits for the dogs (and myself) I'd prob go with champagne de argents. They're a pretty rabbit, have good production value, and are very hardy. They also don't have the REW head sway that NZW and Californians have. They are also very interesting looking at butcher age, they are born black and turn a color that kind of reminds me of a ACD's coloring.

Only second to the champagnes for me would be standard rexes. They're a little less commercial but I have a fascination with their coat which is as soft as soft gets. I'm very partial to castor as a coat color.

Wisconsin has a lot of commercial rabbit breeders to acquire stock from. I'd head to a local rabbit show (you can find them on the American rabbit breeders association website) and take a look and see what looks and feels appealing. Also you'll need to decide if you're going to use hutches, runs, cages, etc and where you want to put them. I would suggest to you at least six cages with two being grow out pens.

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/181608/page/0/fpart/1

Here's an old thread we had on the topic.

Melissa, thanks for the link, haven't checked it out yet, but all the other info you gave me in the post above is great.
What do you mean REW head sway that you talk about? I have a "neighbor" that has the NZ reds and a lady I know that has the Cali's. I am open to any breed right now, though I have kind of set my mind on the Cali for right now. When I went to get the 5 cage unit that I have the lady had a standard rex.. and when you say soft you aint a lie-in... I have 8 cages as of right now.
Would you think that the NZ red and Cal. cross would be a decent cross? I will have to do some research on the champagne de argents.
I will go check out that link now..
Thanks again for the info.

New Zealand red is just a variety of new zealand so yes you can use them assuming the are the same quality and breeding standards of a commercial line rabbit. The main concern I have about new zealands is that their coats tend to be fly back which imo doesn't have the same heat retention as a normal double coated "rollback" rabbit. It may not be a concern around here but in Wisconsin, I'm not sure.

I guess probably the best comparison is that in chicken speak a new zealand is like a commercial white cornish cross. They grow fast, they grow big, but imo are not as hardy outside of the commercial environment as an old fashion rhode island red.

The head swaying/scanning is something that all red/blue eyed rabbits do. It's a little weird to see but it's the only way I'm told that they can process images. It's like a gentle methodical head rocking... a little odd to see and for a great many people a deal breaker on having REW and BEW rabbits.

de argents are interesting rabbits. I would strongly encourage anyone to check them out. At least here I've found them to be very hardy to varying light conditions and temperatures.
Here's a pic of an adult with a bunny. http://duygusu.yasalmuzik.com/Champagne%20d%27argent.jpg
and here's a pic of during the color change. http://www.flatlandfarm.com/data/storage/attachments/aa43e678e73663ff4da08259c5c090fe.JPG

Well, as you probably know meat bunnies don't always stay around long. I thought that in time I could try all of the varieties that you have talked about. More terms that I don't know yet.. the rollback and flyback.. could you explain those two? Yes, here in Wis. we need something that is going to be hardy... very hardy in the cold weather. what age do they start to change colors? As being that I would raise them to butcher, would I get to see much changing?

rollback and flyback is simply a descriptive term to describe short normal coat. flyback is a bit harsher and snap backs into place and rollback rolls back into place. I guess in descriptive terms think of a texture like a lab coat rubbed against the grain vs a fuzzier breed like a german shepherd.

Yes you would see that color change start by fryer age.

I can see that I am a SUPER newb to rabbits. I haven't even heard of those two rollback and flyback terms. I plan to breed and feed them, but also laid out a deal with my two older girls that if they wanted they could make it a small 'business' and could use it for a way to get some extra money.. as long as they sold and bought the feed themselves.. otherwise those little buggers are mine. Just a way that I thought they could be introduced to money, and responsibilities that go along with that.
One thought she might like show in 4H. That link was chock full of info. Thanks again.

 Quote: Brandon LaMere

I plan to breed and feed them, but also laid out a deal with my two older girls that if they wanted they could make it a small 'business' and could use it for a way to get some extra money.. as long as they sold and bought the feed themselves.. .

It's really hard to make any money on rabbits on the small scale. Feed is expensive but you can cut your costs by buying larger quantities (like 1000 lb bags), and hay isn't free. Even when we were managing the big herd we were lucky to break even on the the bulk sales to the reptile folks (hey snakes have to eat too.)

I am not saying this to discourage anyone it's just reality. If there was three nickles to be made on rabbit everyone would be in production.

4-H rabbits is difficult. Far more so than cats or dogs but less imo than poultry, cattle, or horses. I would encourage you to acquire the ARBA handbook and standard of perfection. It'll have a lot of very helpful information for you.