Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I raise rabbits for purposes other than food, and occasionally I have lesser quality (by quality I mean conformation, not health) animals available.

I would like to know how to establish a relationship with local reptile enthusiasts who might be able to utilize my unneeded stock.

I haven't found anyone local via the internet, and the local herp society doesn't list any contacts. Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Beth

Beth

Going to a local herp meeting, or an event might be the best way. At the top of the kingsnake page, click on 'Events' and it will tell you where reptile shows are going to be held, or on 'Organizations'. Irba.com is a So. Ca. group that stages several events that is not listed. What state are you in? Most of us here have herps and friends who have herps. None of mine aren't large enough to eat a rabbit but I know several people who's are. I live in So. Ca. (San Fernando Valley).

You might want to try a classified, I don't know if you have enough to make that worth while.

You face the same problem that breeders of fancy rats and mice do. The animal might be fine, just imperfect coloring or the ears aren't just so....

DeMak

Thanks, I was thinking about going to one, but not sure what to do once there!

I consider myself to be a very competitive and high quality breeder of rabbits, and to me this is the best way to make sure that my "pet" quality stock will not be bred or end up in a humane shelter.

Beth

and I can appreciate the need to cull and the need for pet rabbits is limited. If you can determine which kits to cull before they have much size to them, like rat size, you will probably have no problem finding snake breeders to buy them from you. I used to sell for that purpose but did so through a friend who knew the contacts. Also check to see if your area has any raptor rescues OR small private zoos. Often they have a hard time finding appropriate prey/feed for the raptors and small bunnies are perfect and a very natural choice. This may take a little more research but I would think that if you have any rescues your area vets should be able to point your to them.

Good luck with the culls and the shows! I miss them sometimes

Marcia

Thanks Froggie! With the breed that I raise, it would not be very responsible for me to sell them as pets. In my opinion there are a limited number of people able to care for this breed properly.

By 8 wks I can cull most of the litter. I hang onto some promising youngsters to grow some more, but by that point those ones are at least breeding quality and can be sold as such if I do not have a use for them.

We do have a local bird rescue very near by. I know they have all sorts of birds including various raptors and owls. However I have toured their facilities and I am almost certain they raise their own feeder mice and rats. But maybe they could still use some "variety" in their diets? Never hurts to ask

Are there any other reptile websites out there that may be more regional? I have looked at Kingsnakes Organization Forums, and they are still too far away.

On the rabbit note, I just granded out a buck at 6 mos, 3 days old with 7 GC Legs. Just shows what a great culling program can do for any breeder of animals

Beth

I don't know if you'll read this since it's so far down the forum now but Congratulations! So what breed are you working with? I had mini lops and they made wonderful pets.

Marcia

Hi, I raise English Angora rabbits.

do put some time in your rabbits! I couldn't even keep the fuzzy lops because of the hair. I am terribly allergic to rabbits and the long hair ones just didn't agree with me. I do know though the amount of time and work involved in breeding the angoras!

Continued good luck with them
Marcia

You could say that I put quite a bit of time into them...

That is the reason I don't care to produce too many of them, they matt easily and not many pet owners are prepared for the kind of special dietary and grooming needs they have. I'd rather have them go to reptile owners who can utilize them then suffer in a poor quality home.

If you want to e-mail me off list I'll give you my home page address and you can see all my animals.

Angoras4Me@aol.com