1. Dutch are the perfect size for our family of 2.
On average we get a 2 pound carcass when they are dressed at fryer age. The meat to bone ratio is really good. One fried rabbit is plenty for a meal. At this age a stewed rabbit will also make 2-3 good dinners (such as rabbit stew, noodles, pot pie, etc...) There is no need to continue to feed a grow-out past this point.
2. Dutch are cheap to feed.
We buy a 50 pound bag of rabbit pellets about every 5-6 weeks but we never let the feed barrel go empty so I can't say exactly how much they eat. Every morning I grab a few hands full of hay left in the goat hay feeder (that would have ended up on the ground) and distribute it between the rabbit cages. I also supplement with some yard goodies- clover, plantain, dandelion, etc... This is all we need for the breeders (2 does, 1 buck) and the grow-outs.
3. Dutch are easy keepers
By the second breeding a Dutch doe has usually got the mothering thing down. Except for the occasional loss from nest box escape, ours have done a really good job of raising offspring to the weaning stage with no help from me. We don't treat our rabbits like pets but none of the Dutch have ever shown any signs of aggression.
Those are the main reasons we really like our Dutch rabbits.
