When we started our rabbitry, it was just a trio of New Zealand Whites, two does and one buck, to produce meat for our family and pets. After we got our first pair of Silver Foxes later on and had a few months of crossbreeding, we began to learn about genetics. I realized then that even though there was quite a bit of information on the Internet about rabbits, I found myself wishing I had a road map of how other breeders did things more specifically: their goals, successes, failures...basically a journal. This is why I created this site, to provide to other people what I had longed for: a road map for anyone interested in starting a rabbitry, particularly as we had moved into breeding Silver Foxes solely and showing. We all tailor our rabbitries according to our preferences, so yours will probably not be exactly like ours, but we hope that we can contribute to your ideas and knowledge as well as learn from you!
Since we started our rabbity in the fall of 2010, our goals have changed from meat breeding NZWs to crossing with SFs to breeding only SFs to actively working toward show quality SFs. Presently, our top goal at Tale of Tails Rabbitry is to raise healthy and high-quality show and brood Silver Fox rabbits with good temperaments. However, we have always made health and temperament our highest priorities as we worked to improve the quality of our rabbits throughout the years.
Although it is possible to breed the does every four to six weeks, even while one kindle is not yet weaned, our does are given at least twelve weeks or more between breedings so that they have ample milk to nourish their young and then prepare for the next pregnancy. We may have fewer kindles from each doe throughout the year, but we feel it is best to maintain the ultimate health of our does and their kits. We also try not to breed during the hotter months of the year as it is risky for the does and kits unless we keep them in a climate-controlled environment.
Since we started our rabbity in the fall of 2010, our goals have changed from meat breeding NZWs to crossing with SFs to breeding only SFs to actively working toward show quality SFs. Presently, our top goal at Tale of Tails Rabbitry is to raise healthy and high-quality show and brood Silver Fox rabbits with good temperaments. However, we have always made health and temperament our highest priorities as we worked to improve the quality of our rabbits throughout the years.
Although it is possible to breed the does every four to six weeks, even while one kindle is not yet weaned, our does are given at least twelve weeks or more between breedings so that they have ample milk to nourish their young and then prepare for the next pregnancy. We may have fewer kindles from each doe throughout the year, but we feel it is best to maintain the ultimate health of our does and their kits. We also try not to breed during the hotter months of the year as it is risky for the does and kits unless we keep them in a climate-controlled environment.
We strive to promote purebred Silver Fox rabbits because we wanted to help preserve the best of the Silver Fox breed, that was once on the critical list of endangered species. Because of their growing popularity, the Silver Fox is now considered "recovering." The breed was developed in Midwest America and it is a great breed of rabbit for anyone starting a rabbitry. They have a docile temperament, unique no-fly-back silvered fur, and high dress out of live weight (up to around 65%).
All our rabbits are fed quality hay, organic pellets, organic greens (some from our own gardens), and organic treats. They also drink highly purified water with low levels of food-grade hydrogen peroxide to boost their immunity and encourage probiotics. We also use a variety of supplements as needed, including probiotics. We do not use antibiotics or medicines unless absolutely necessary and then only sparingly.
The weaning process is a natural process that is usually completed when the kits are eating well on their own and the mother is not allowing them to nurse, usually between five to eight weeks. If crowding is an issue, the largest kits may be separated from the mother at six to seven weeks giving the smaller ones extra time to nurse while the doe begins to dry up if she has not already.
We handle our rabbits nearly every day and breed for a good-natured, docile temperament, although we strongly do not recommend any commercial class rabbits, like Silver Foxes, for pets because their senior size is large and more difficult to manage.
We have a closed rabbitry, which means we do not allow visitors. This is to protect the health of our rabbits as well as protect both parties from liabilities.