Creme d'Argents & Other Meat Rabbits

menollyrj · #1 06/25/07, 01:08 PM

We have a few mutt rabbits that we breed for meat, but have had a lot of interest in purebreds for pets lately. I was looking at other posts on this topic (meat breeds) and am thinking about Creme d'Argents. Does anyone know where a breeder is in the TN/KY/NC area? I'll even be in MD/VA in about a month. I tried looking online but only found a breeder in California, which is a bit far... Also, what is the going rate (or fair price) for a purebred Creme d'Argent?

We were also considering Harlequins because I like the different colors. Are there any other breeds suitable for meat rabbits that have multi-colored offspring like the Harlequins?

Thanks!

-Joy

Meg Z · #2 06/25/07, 02:18 PM

rabbitgal in VA has them. I'd drop her a pm if she doesn't show up here...but I'll bet she does!

She keeps good healthy stock, and shows, too, so pays attention to conformation and temperament. She's a detail-oriented kinda person.

Meg

lyceum · #3 06/25/07, 03:14 PM

I would not pay a whole lot for a meat rabbit. I have never paid much more than $50 for a pedigreed GCH meat rabbit. And that was pushing it. Most meat rabbit breeders I know you can get them for around $25 each or $20 each if you get like 3 or more.

Don't know of any breeders in that area. Try googling it or try posting on one of the Yahoo Group boards that you are looking. I have gotten good response doing that.

Carisa

thatcompchick · #4 06/25/07, 10:22 PM

Joy, Where in MD/VA will you be? I'm meeting up with Hannah from Verdant Rabbitry (on here too!) to get my Creme's. I believe she still has some available.

There is a niche for rare breed animals - you can get more for their meat if they are on slow food list or albc - but all that aside, from my research I've found that cremes (and champagne) do really well with gain, mothering, etc. Also easy to deal with.

I also will be heading to TN in the fall for Goats Music and More -

Andrea
www.faintinggoat.net
www.arare-breed.net

menollyrj · #5 06/26/07, 07:48 AM

I'll be in Williamsburg, Va during the last few days of July/first few days of August for a training conference. I'll be in Salisbury, MD on the 4th of August and probably drive home through D.C/Winchester/Roanoke on the 5th. I'm also headed to NC this weekend, near Raleigh. I'm just all over the place as my parents live on MD's Eastern Shore and my sisters live near Raleigh and Roanoke, respectively.

I don't think there is a real market here for "slow food" as most of this area is still mostly rural and gardening, canning, raising animals is the norm rather than the exception. (Of course, Knoxville is only a short distance away, so I'm certain there is a market there.) Where we live is also an economically depressed area. However, what has happened lately is that people have asked us if our rabbits are purebred, and they aren't. Folks locally with purebred rabbits can command about $10 for a six-week-old rabbit in the local market. Since this breed is rather rare, there is also an extended market which would be nice to tap into. We aren't a large commercial rabbitry. We only have one buck and two does, but if we can improve our profit margin, that is always a good thing!

-Joy

thatcompchick · #6 06/26/07, 01:22 PM

Joy, I can meet you in Winchester if you arrange something with Hannah - I'll be meeting her on the 21st of July is what I'm gathering so far.

Heck, you could just come out and check out the ones I got from her if you aren't ready to buy yet lol! I'm off of 81 just north of Winchester.

You can pm or email me privately - thatcomputerchick@hughes.net

Hannah's email is bennettsva@aim.com

Andrea

www.faintinggoat.net
www.arare-breed.net