Rabbit Breeds

CynthiaGraves

We are starting Rabbits and so far we have 4 does and 2 bucks. The bucks are New Zealanders, as are 2 of the does, the other two are a cross between that and Champagnes.

Those are the meat breeds but what should I have for tanning the furs? Would anyone here recommend what they have used to make tans? I want the fur to use on Doll clothes I make and maybe hoods etc. My husband says rabbit skins are too thin and I shouldn't pursue tanning them.

Ideas?????

chimboodle04

We plan on starting our small breeding trio soon and have decided to go with a silver fox breed due to the fact they are heritage, are a good meat breed, and are known for hide/fur quality.

Marjory Wildcraft

Gosh, I just tanned the hides of any kind of rabbit :) I am a fan of using mixed breeds - they tend to be hardier and more robust (like mixed breed dogs). ALthough I do agree with @chimboodle04 with raising heritage breeds too. Gosh, we need to preserve those genetics. For doll clothes, I don't think you really have to be too fussy about the fur. Or may gor for a short hiar like a Rex as it would fit more proportionally on a doll? Yup, the skins are thin - which makes them oh-so-easy to tan! Thank goodness, deer hides are real work 😀

CynthiaGraves

Thanks !

IF anyone lives in the Pacific Northwest with Silver Foxes I would love to have a breeding pair. The people I have contacted so far are no longer doing them.

chimboodle04

I just found this site for rabbits for sale. You can search by state and it will tell you which breeds are raised by different rabbitries, contact info, etc. https://rabbitbreeders.us/state-rabbit-breeders-index/

hmsadmin

I would second silver foxes! The few I had were docile and sweet, and though I never processed their hides, I can see why they are renown for them. I think the perk of tanning rabbit hides is that they are thin, so they're much easier to work with, especially when you're new to it.

Chris A.

For your own use of tanning hides the rex are velvety and you can use the hides pretty much all year and have good ones. I notice that the other breeds shed often throughout the year so sometimes their pelts are only good in the winter when they are not shedding.

Currently I have two silver fox mixes that I am breeding to a NZ and all of them are shedding like crazy now!!

solarnoon.aspen

I also raise rabbits for meat AND fur and find that the practice of harvesting at 12 weeks means the skin is very fragile, whereas waiting for 8 months or so produces thicker skin and hopefully, if this is in the colder months, better fur. My neighbour/mentor swears by older meat for flavour, although of course it costs more per pound to produce it.

I have New Zealands and their fur is good for tanning. American Chinchilla is a good rabbit for meat to food ratio and for its fur. My little rex rabbits have superb fur however they are so small, not much in the meat department.