The American Beagler Forum

WILL WILD RABBITS LIVE IF YOU CATCH THEM AND CAGE THEM UP TO RAISE THERE YOUNG TO PUT INTO AN INCLOSURE.ALSO I HAVE SAND JUAN RABBITS COULD U CROSS THEM AGAIN WITH A WILD RABBIT. WOULD THIS BE GOOD OR BAD IDEA. THANKS

tracker we never had any luck keeping them alive . about the cross i do not know

Not positive on the caging wild rabbits and getting them to breed, but I doubt it. Although you can trap them and put them into your enclosure and they will breed. The ones in my pen have produced several litters this year. Then, you can trap some of them out and set them lose in your favorite hunting spots I do know ( have read ) that wild rabbits will not cross with San Juans nor any other domestic rabbit.good luck.. Palerydr

THANKS PALERYDR I WAS WONDERING IF U COULD KEEP WILD RABBITS ALIVE IN A CAGE I WAS TOLD BY OTHERS YOU COULD NOT BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD GET SOMEONE ELSES OPINION. I'M TRYING TO GET AN INCLOSURE BUILT I HAVE 7 BEAGLES AND A LITTER OF 7 PUPS

THANKS FOR THE REPLY, TRACKER

I have 2 wild rabbits I caught this year in a hutch as I type.. I ran them down and caught them when they were little.. Ive had 1 more that died in the hutch. The first one I put in by its self the last 2 I put in with other tame 1/2 grown rabbits and put a box tunnel for them to get in and hide. 1 of them Ive had for over a month the other Ive had for about a week. Another thing to do is to put some old paper bags in the cage so if the rabbit trys to run around it want beat itself to death. Im hoping to breed these with the rabbits I got from a friend up in KY that she uses in her starting pen.. If they want breed then I'll just turn them loose in my starting pen when I finish it.

Jason

Wild cottontail rabbits will live in a cage. However, you must provide a place for them to stay hidden in the daylight hours. I don't think they will breed in a cage but I have never tried it. I kept one for several months before I released it.

Sounds like an interesting project there jkidd. Let us know how it works out. Palerydr

Ive breed San Juans females and wild rabbits by catching wild rabbits and penning them with ripe San Juans. San Juans would not take or loose the babies before birth. I think I did have one set that was born but died at birth. Ive penned wild rabbits and have had luck keeping them alive for up to 6 months but never had any live longer than that. Big thing is change their food sorce from original very slowly and keep it clean. I rebuilt a Carb one time washed my hands very well and fed the rabbits that evening and killed every one of them. Bonanza Horse feed is good for feeding rabbits pull grass,clover and very slowly itroduce Bonaza in a feeder is how I have done mine. Good place to hide and not bothering them is also key. Always supplemented feed with grass clover turnips greenthings and every now and then piece of apple.

I have been told that domestic rabbits are a hare and not rabbit. You might have luck breeding wild hare (swamper, snowshoe...) with domestic rabbits. I dunno, but something to think about.

Emery