Question: My son is growing two rabbit meat pens (New Zealand Whites). This is our first year, so not sure what to expect. We have been weighing them every week and they have been gaining about 50% of their weight for three weeks now. They are on full feed now (Purina Rabbit Professional Blend) and are eating great. How long can I expect that type of weight gain. Is that typical weight gain? They are just about 5 weeks old now and will be 8 weeks at fair time (need to be between 3 to 5 pounds). They were between 20 and 25 oz at 4 weeks. Also when should I wean the bunnies and do I just take them away from the mother cold turkey?

Answer: Dan,

While many rabbit show enthusiasts will not start weighing their rabbits until they are 6 weeks of age, weekly weighing is always a great idea. For a rabbit enthusiast in your position, this will help build up a performance history, so you can better predict future performance.

Your rabbits will probably not be maintaining a 50% of the body weight gain for the next 4 weeks, but the amounts of weight gain should slowly increase for the next 4 week. Thus 10 to 12 oz per week will not be unreasonable. Not this is not the easiest to predict, for it will be dependant on genetics, management, etc. You certainly are feeding the right feed Rabbit Chow Professional to maximize growth performance.

As to weaning there are some people that like to keep their bunnies with the doe up to show time. They figure keeping everything the same has less of a disruption, so performance is maintained. If you do wean, 6 to 7 weeks of age is the most common time. If you keep the bunnies in their cage and move the does, out, you may reduce less stress on your show rabbits, and help maximize performance.

Good luck with your rabbit project. Hope you have a couple of pens of winners.

Regards,

Gary Lynch, Ph.D.
Companion Animal Business Group