I've been breeding showing bunnies for the last 12 years. Mostly I have shown English Lops but recently I've replaced them with a few rare breeds that are also good for meat production.
Rabbits are such a great source of protein for homesteaders. Their are 2 different times you can process a bunny, the first being younger then 12weeks, these are called Fryers and are good for everything from Fried rabbit to baking. Then anything after 12weeks is called a stewer, they tend to be a little gamier in taste if they are put into a pot and stewed for a few hours, but these guys are great for rabbit stew and homemade rabbit noodle soup.
I picked bunnies to raise for my homestead because their meat is leaner then chicken, but has the same flavor like chicken. They are quiet and easy to raise. Bunnies give birth every 30 days and babies are ready to go in just 10-12 weeks (I like the 10 week range).
All of my Bunnies are Pedigreed and I offer them to anyone interested.
My first breed I focus on are the Harlequins: They are a fun and active breed that is about 7lbs fully grown. I'll be working on breeding them to improve their meat quality. I also show my bunnies so Markings are very important to me. There are 2 different varieties for Harlequin, the first is a Magpie and what I focus on the most, they have a white background. The other is the Japanese and they have a fawn, orange or red background.
My other breed I do are Beverens: I only have a pair of Beverens because they are a larger breed, but I love their fun personalities. I'm hoping to be able to eventually have a colony of Beverens, but right now it's just the pair. They are show bunnies and both my adults are grand champions, but I mostly do these guys for meat, showing only a little when I get a nice one.
My Beveren Doe:
This is Beverly the Beveren.
My Harlequin bucks:
This is my Black Japanese Buck Francis. He's a young buck that's just starting his how and breeding career. Francis has an very nice 2 part going for him...
This is my Blue Magpie Buck Sabotage... He's a young buck and wont be ready to breed until later this year. Sabotage, another wanna be three part here... just need ot work on that split... LOVE his body alternation, I think he's gonna do great things for my herd.
My Harlequin Does:
This is one my black Magpie does, Beaudacious, or Bodi for short. She'll be starting her show career here soon. This girls is VERY dark, almost black in her body. But is a very nice (nicest I have atleast) three part.
This is another of my Black Magpie Does. This is Galileo (long story on that... she was actually bought being a buck to be discovered to be a girl instead)... She's a wanna by three part (the back of her leg is black, just not the front)... I think she's gonna have some pretty babies with Sabortage.
This is my Blue Magpie Doe Jinx. She'll also be showing most of this year before becoming a mom in the summer. I can't remember I'll have to look, but this cutie is a one part I believe. I need to get better pictures of her now that her cotton kit coat is gone.
This is My Chocolate Magpie Doe Marvel. She's one of 2 sisters I bought as breeding does. This girl is one of my favorites, only 2nd to her sister. She's a 2 part (ear and feet) but her darker face side would make her a one...
We have a planned breeding with my co breeders lilac buck for beautiful chocolate and lilac babies from her.
This is my favorite doe Wonderwoman. Her sister Marvel were bought to be breeding does. And I've saved my favorite for last. She's a two part (ears and feet)... but a one part techniqually because her dark side is all on one side...
She's bred to Francis, because Galileo turned into a girl and Sabotage just isn't old enough to know what a girl is. so expecting some Japanese.