Rabbits are the ideal small-space meat animal. Quiet, prolific, and efficient at converting feed to meat, they're perfect for urban homesteads and backyard farms alike.
Why Raise Meat Rabbits?
- Efficiency: Best feed-to-meat conversion of any livestock
- Space: Can be raised in garages, backyards, even balconies
- Quiet: No noise issues with neighbors
- Prolific: One doe can produce 50+ lbs of meat annually
- Healthy: Low-fat, high-protein white meat
- Manure: Excellent cold fertilizer for gardens
Meat Rabbit Breeds
Best for Beginners
- New Zealand: Most popular, fast-growing, 10-12 lbs
- Californian: Excellent meat-to-bone ratio, 9-11 lbs
- Champagne d'Argent: Beautiful silver coat, 10-12 lbs
Heritage Breeds
- American: Endangered breed, blue or white, 10-12 lbs
- Silver Fox: Beautiful coat, good temperament, 10-12 lbs
- American Chinchilla: Hardy, good mothers, 9-12 lbs
🐇 Trio Setup
Start with one buck (male) and two does (females). This trio can produce 200+ pounds of meat per year while maintaining genetic diversity in your offspring.
Housing Rabbits
Cage Requirements
- Does: 30" x 36" minimum (larger for giant breeds)
- Bucks: 30" x 30" adequate
- Height: 18" minimum
- Wire flooring: 1" x ½" mesh (with resting mats)
Location Considerations
- Protected from extreme weather
- Good ventilation (ammonia is harmful)
- Shade in summer (rabbits overheat easily!)
- Protection from predators
Colony vs. Cage Housing
Cages: Easier breeding management, cleaner, less disease
Colony: More natural behavior but harder to manage breeding, higher parasite risk
Feeding Rabbits
Basic Diet
- Pellets: 16-18% protein commercial feed, 4-6 oz daily
- Hay: Unlimited grass hay (timothy, orchard grass)
- Water: Fresh, clean water always available
Supplemental Foods
- Dark leafy greens
- Herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil)
- Limited fruits as treats
- Foraged foods (dandelions, clover, plantain)
Breeding
Breeding Basics
- Does mature at 5-6 months (breed at 6+ months)
- Always bring doe to buck's cage
- Breeding takes only a few minutes
- Gestation: 28-31 days
- Provide nest box on day 28
Kindling (Birth)
- Does typically kindle at night
- Litter size: 6-10 kits average
- Check nest box for dead kits, remove promptly
- Don't handle kits excessively first week
Processing
Fryers are typically processed at 8-12 weeks (5 lbs live weight). Learning humane processing techniques ensures quick, stress-free handling:
- Cervical dislocation or stunning
- Immediate bleeding
- Skinning and gutting
- Chill promptly
Common Health Issues
- Snuffles: Respiratory infection—isolate, keep clean and dry
- Sore hocks: Provide resting boards on wire floors
- GI stasis: Ensure adequate hay, reduce stress
- Heat stroke: Keep cool in summer (frozen water bottles help)
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