Meat Rabbits — FarmPal

Rabbits are the most efficient converter of forage to meat of any livestock. A single breeding trio can produce 150-200 lbs of meat per year in a backyard. Quiet, clean, and legal in most urban areas. The ultimate starter livestock for self-sufficiency.

Space/Animal

Wire cage: minimum 30" × 36" per doe, 24" × 30" per buck. Colony: 4-6 sq ft per rabbit minimum. Pasture tractor: 4-8 sq ft per rabbit.

Fencing

Wire cages: 14-gauge welded wire with 1" × 1/2" floor (or solid floor with bedding). Colony: buried wire or solid walls to prevent digging out. Predator protection is critical rabbits are prey animals.

Feeding

Daily Ration

Adults: 4-6 oz pellets (16-18% protein) + unlimited grass hay. Pregnant/nursing does: free-choice pellets. Growing kits: free-choice pellets until 12 weeks, then restrict.

Unlimited timothy or orchard grass hay (critical for gut health)

Fresh herbs: comfrey, plantain, dandelion, raspberry leaf

Black oil sunflower seeds for coat condition (limit to treats)

Papaya or pineapple (enzymes help prevent wool block)

Apple cider vinegar in water (1 tbsp/gallon gut health)

Maturity

5-6 months for does (wait until 70-80% of adult weight); 6-7 months for bucks

Gestation

31 days

Litter Size

6-12 kits (average 8 for meat breeds)

Frequency

Can rebreed 2 weeks after kindling (intensive). Homestead pace: rebreed at 6-8 weeks (when kits wean). 4-6 litters/year sustainable.

Primary Product

Meat fryers (5 lbs live, 8 weeks) and roasters (8+ lbs, 12+ weeks)

Yield

One breeding trio (1 buck + 2 does) produces 150-200+ lbs meat per year. Dress-out: 55-62% of live weight. That's about 3 lbs meat per fryer.

Market Value

Whole dressed fryers: $8-15/lb (direct sale). Live fryers: $15-25 each. Breeding stock: $40-100+ each. Premium heritage breeds: $75-200+ for proven breeding stock.

Startup Cost

Breeding trio: $100-300. Cages: $100-300 (or build from wire rolls for ~$50/cage). Feeders/waterers: $50-100. Total startup: $250-700.

Annual Cost/Animal

Feed per doe: $120-180/year. Per fryer to market: $3-5 in feed. Health supplies: $20-40/year. Hay: $50-100/year.

Revenue/Animal

Per doe producing 30-50 fryers/year: $450-750 in meat value (at $8-15/lb dressed). Manure and breeding stock sales add $100-300.

Break Even

First litter covers startup costs. Cash-flow positive by month 4-5.

Breeds (6)

🐰 New Zealand White

🐰 Californian

🐰 Silver Fox

🐰 American Chinchilla

🐰 Champagne d'Argent

🐰 Crème d'Argent