RoseOak Ranch: TAMUK Composite Meat Rabbits

05/13/2025

FAITH (Brian Ritchie Doe x Spirit)
DOB: 7/2022
Phenotype: Black Harlequinized Chinchilla
Genotype: Aa, BB, c(chd)/-, DD?, Eej, W-, Du-
11 # 4oz

11/03/2024

11/01/2024

Excellent way to begin your adventure into learning rabbit coat color genetics. Explanations are easily understood and the pictures further help one's understanding.

Available on Amazon.

11/01/2024

Rabbit Production, 10th Edition is the latest (and most likely the last) edition. It is a comprehensive, scientifically backed, guide to raising rabbits.
Available on Amazon.

10/30/2024

RoseOak Rabbitry
TAMU-K Composite Meat Rabbit
FEEDING Protocol REV4: 10/30/24

IMPORTANT NOTE for young rabbits less than three (3) months - no fresh greens as their gut flora is still in transition.

*********
(For our HOW TO WEAN protocol see the end.)

PER WEANLING (5-6 weeks and ~2-3 #)

MORNING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful

EVENING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful
Coastal: medium handful
_________

PER YOUNGSTER (7-8 weeks and ~ 4 #)

MORNING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful

EVENING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful
Coastal: medium handful
_________

PER JUNIOR (9-12 weeks and ~ 5-7 #)

MORNING
Alfalfa: small handful (mostly stems)
Timothy: large handful

EVENING (before grain)
Alfalfa: medium handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful
Coastal: large handful
_________

PER SUB-ADULT/ADULT (13 weeks plus)

EVENING (before grain)
Timothy: medium handful
Coastal: large handful

_______________________________

PELLETS (aka "grain")

Brand: Purina
Type: Complete (16%)
(NOTE: A higher percentage can cause diarrhea and increase internal fat.)

PER WEANLING (5-6 weeks and ~2-3 #)

Amount: 2 - 3 oz. (by weight, not volume) per rabbit
When: Evening ONLY (after hay)
_________

PER YOUNGSTER (7-8 weeks and ~ 4 #)

Amount: 4 oz. (by weight, not volume) per rabbit
When: Evening ONLY (after hay)
_________

PER JUNIOR (9-12 weeks and ~ 5-7 #)

Amount 5 oz. (by weight, not volume) per rabbit
When: Evening ONLY (after hay)
_________

PER SUB-ADULT/ADULT Buck
Amount: 5-5 1/2 oz. (by weight, not volume) per rabbit
When: Evening ONLY (after hay)

PER SUB-ADULT/ADULT Doe
Amount: 6 oz. (by weight, not volume) per rabbit
When: Evening ONLY (after hay)
_________

LACTATING Does:
IMMEDIATELY upon kindling, implement the following changes in their feeding protocol:

-ADD Alfalfa hay (large handful) morning and evening for the first 4 days after kindling, after that, only once a day (in the evenings);
-Increase pellets to 10 oz.;
-Double the amount of timothy hay;
-Add ONE of the following:
--2 Tablespoons of whole Quaker Oats
(or crimped oats)
--1-2 tablespoons of BOSS
(black oil sunflower seeds)
--1-2 tablespoons of Calf Manna

DECREASE
At 21 days (3 weeks) after kindling, remove nest boxes and make the following feed changes:

- Timothy and coastal hay MORNING and EVENING
- Alfalfa - double the amount and feed in the EVENING
-INCREASE: Pellets to 12 ounces;
-DISCONTINUE: Feeding BOSS and Calf Manna
-CONTINUE: Whole Quaker Oats (or crimped oats) until weaning.

28 days (4 weeks) after kindling - wean the kits.

DOE: Relocate to new cage in the morning, feeding protocol returns to pre-kindling amount (coastal and timothy hay in the evening, followed by 5-6 oz. of pellets.)

*HOW TO WEAN KITS*

HAY

MORNING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful

EVENING
Alfalfa: large handful (stem and leaf)
Timothy: large handful
Coastal: medium handful

PELLETS

*** Important point . . . feed 15-20 minutes AFTER hay ONLY in the evening. ***

AMOUNT of Pellets:
--First THREE days after weaning - 1 oz. of pellets per kit, per day - EVENINGS ONLY
--Days 4-6 after weaning - 2 ozs. of pellets per kit, per day - EVENINGS ONLY
--Days 7-10 after weaning slowly increase to 3 ozs. - EVENINGS ONLY

CONTINUE using the feeding protocol as listed above for weanlings.
_________________
(Previous Versions - REV3: 6/8/24; REV2: 7/1/23; REV1: 10/7/22; Original: 5/3/21)

10/30/2024

Yesterday the photos in our breeder albums were updated to the current lineup.

Our feeding protocol has been tweaked a little further and will posted shortly.

Coming soon . . . A photo album showing some of the items that make raising rabbits a little easier. 🙂

10/29/2024

SATURN (Baby Blue x Scotia)
DOB: 03/30/21
Phenotype: Lilac Japanese Harlequin
Genotype: aa, bb, C/c(chd), dd, ejej, ww, Du-

This boy absolutely loves to be groomed! His unusually soft, silky smooth coat has continued to lighten with age and is now a very light cream and lilac.

Great summer producer.

Adult weight: 11½ lbs.

10/29/2024

QUARTZ (Violet x Onyx)
DOB: 04/02/21
Phenotype: REW
Genotype: Aa, Bb, cc, Dd, ee, Ww, Du/du(d)

Super sweet, he aids us in defining our doe's color genetics at the "C" locus.

Like his half-brother, Magnum (they share the same father), Quartz rarely slings and keeps his pristine white coat year round.

His ears appear on the smaller side due to his large head and longer hair at the ear base.

Quartz passes along those broad shoulders and hefty frame to his progeny.

Adult weight: 10½ lbs.

10/29/2024

PRINCE (Avalon x Jupiter)
DOB: 5/15/24
Phenotype: Black Japanese Harlequin
Genotype: A-, B-, C/-, Dd, ej-, W-, Du-

Adult weight: TBD

10/29/2024

MONTY (Sparkles x Magnum)
DOB: 12/18/23
Phenotype: Harlequinized Chocolate Chinchilla
Genotype: A-, bb, c(chd)/c, Dd, Eej, Ww, Du/-

Great summer producer.

Adult weight: TBD

10/29/2024

MAGNUM (Maggie X Onyx)
DOB: 06/01/18
Phenotype: Black Magpie Harlequin
Genotype:
Aa, Bb, c(chd)/c(chd), Dd, eje, Ww, Du/du(d)

Magnum has remained one of our most virile bucks - for 6½ YEARS! Still tags the ladies twice in short order, and is our go-to for initiating the nervous neophyte doe.

While he, himself, is not heavily marked, his offspring typically are. He is one of the cleanest bucks one could imagine - his cage, his coat - even his feet. When he slings (which is not often) it is not at the buck next to him (as one might expect); or into the fan (that is also next to him); but at the back wall!

Magnum has a nice head, and while not a hefty buck himself, consistently produces them even with smaller does.

Adult weight: 9 lbs.

10/29/2024

JUPITER (Foxy X Magnum)
DOB: 05/01/20
Phenotype: Blue Japanese Harlequin
Genotype:
Aa, BB, C/c(chd), dd, eje, W-, Du-

Jupiter always was big boy and passes his size onto his progeny.

Like his mother, Foxy, he is a real sweetheart that loves music - especially Amazing Grace!

Very clean buck (like his father, Magnum) that produces even in the hottest of weather!

Adult weight: 11½ lbs.