Meat Rabbits Care Guide — FarmPal
Complete care guide for meat rabbits including housing, feeding, health, breeding, and seasonal care.
Housing Requirements
- •Wire cage: minimum 30" × 36" per doe
- •24" × 30" per buck minimum
- •Colony: 4-6 sq ft per rabbit minimum
- •Pasture tractor: 4-8 sq ft, move daily
- •Predator protection is critical rabbits are prey animals
- •Shade essential rabbits die from heat above 85°F
Feeding
Daily
4-6 oz pellets (16-18% protein) + unlimited grass hay for adults
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 as treats)
Apple cider vinegar in water (1 tbsp/gallon for gut health)
Health
Checkups
Weekly visual check, monthly detailed exam including teeth and hocks
Common Issues:
- •GI Stasis not eating, no droppings, hunched posture (provide unlimited hay)
- •Pasteurellosis (Snuffles) nasal discharge, head tilt, abscesses
- •Ear mites crusty brown buildup in ears, head shaking
- •Sore hocks raw, inflamed skin on hind feet (add resting boards)
- •Heat stroke panting, ears hot and red (shade and frozen bottles critical)
Product
Meat, Manure, Breeding Stock
Yield
150-200+ lbs meat/year from one breeding trio (1 buck + 2 does)
Seasonal Care
🌱 spring
- • Increase breeding optimal temperature for production
- • Transition kits to pasture tractors as weather warms
- • Plant rabbit garden: comfrey, chicory, plantain, dandelion
☀️ summer
- • CRITICAL: keep below 85°F provide shade, ventilation, frozen water bottles
- • Reduce breeding during peak heat (heat kills bucks' fertility)
- • Harvest and dry herbs for winter supplemental feed
🍂 fall
- • Resume intensive breeding ideal production season
- • Stock winter hay supply
- • Prepare insulated nest boxes for winter kindling
❄️ winter
- • Does can kindle in winter with insulated nest boxes
- • Increase pellet ration slightly for warmth
- • Prevent water from freezing (heated crocks or frequent changes)
🚨 Emergency Tips
- •GI Stasis: Simethicone (Gas-X), gentle belly massage, syringe-feed Critical Care vet if no improvement in 12 hours
- •Heat stroke: Wet ears with cool water immediately, move to shade, mist with spray bottle
- •Scattered kits: Return to nest box does will NOT retrieve them warm first if cold
- •Snuffles outbreak: Isolate immediately, antibiotics, consider culling chronic carriers from breeding program
- •Predator attack: Secure housing first, treat wounds with antiseptic, monitor for shock