The world today is weird. Way weirder than it was 3 months ago. From a panic over a potential deadly disease, to not being able to get toilet paper or groceries, to a month later, meat processors closing leaving a broken supply chain between livestock farmers and grocery stores, you're probably asking yourself "Is now the time to start breeding meat rabbits?"
While I can't answer that question for you, I want to address some of the messy stuff, the not so fun stuff that you may not have considered when in response to a global pandemic you decided to raise you own food. And not saying you haven't thought it through, but in 5 years breeding rabbits I have never had a waiting list more than 2-3 people long. I currently have over 20 people on a list. I even had trouble finding a friend of a friend a trio of meat mutts within a 3-hour radius.
1. Rabbits need care daily, many times twice daily, 365 days a year. When it’s -2 degrees outside you have to haul your butt outside and make sure they have fresh water. You water them and 30 minutes later its frozen solid. Dehydration is actually more devastating for a rabbit in freezing temperatures, so you’ll need a system or schedule to make sure your rabbits get plenty of water at least 2 times per day. Have a full time job? That means you are outside before work cracking frozen water tubs and refilling them.
2. Cage space fills fast. If you have 2 litters at the same time and are growing them to 12 weeks to butcher you’ll need cage space for potentially 24-30 5+lb rabbits near the end of the grow-out period. If you don’t have space to separate them by sex they can even start to fight by then and some may start getting picked on. Also consider that your breeding does may have new litters by this point or are getting ready to start nesting, so they need ample cage space as well.
3. Growing rabbits poop and pee, a lot. Like a lot a lot. They go through 3-4 times the feed as an adult rabbit will to. Expect to be cleaning cages and trays weekly. In the summer it can get stinky, so plan for ventilation, and in the winter the waste is all frozen, so that makes it an extra pain in the rear to clean too. Still a task that must be done though, as unclean living conditions can be a huge contributor to poorly or ill rabbits.
4. Butchering for some is not an issue. For others it can be. I have heard stories of people setting up a rabbitry, getting stock, breeding, fully intent on butchering, educated on the matter and the first time the do it it’s so unsettling they can never do it again. I suggest finding a local breeder or mentor that will let you come learn and help butcher before investing all the time and money into an activity you think you’ll be okay with but later find you aren’t.
Those are just a few of the biggies on a long list of things to consider before getting started with rabbits. I think raising rabbits is an amazingly rewarding hobby. It is a great way for kids to learn about raising animals and the food chain as well as a great alternate food source should the want or need arise for your family. If you have any questions about raising rabbits please feel free to shoot them to us on the contact form at the right. And good luck setting up your rabbitry!
