backyard meat rabbits
Are Prolific Producers And their grow out time is short. In about 12 weeks you’ll have a large quantity of healthy,
lean meat
to feed yourself and your family A trio of rabbits can produce upwards of 600 pounds of meat in a year which is more than a dressed one year old steer.
How many meat rabbits should be in a cage?
Near the end, when they are big, 6 or more rabbits will empty a 1.5-pound feeder in a day. I like for my growing meat-rabbits to never run out of food. So I grow them four rabbits per cage Hence smaller cages with four rabbits each.
How tall should a meat rabbit cage be?
Cage size for medium sized meat breeds are 24″W x 36″L x 18″H or 30″W x 36″L x 18″H for breeding cages, cages for bucks or young replacement breeding stock can be housed in a 24″W x 24″L x 18″H or a 24″W x 30″L x 18″H.
At what age do you butcher meat rabbits?
Although companion rabbits are capable of living 10 to 15 years, the vast majority of “meat” rabbits are killed at three months of age Referred to as “fryers,” these baby rabbits weigh only 1.5 – 3.5 pounds. A small percentage are slaughtered at 8 months old or 4 pounds; they are known in the industry as “roasters.”.
How much does it cost to feed a meat rabbit per month?
Once your start up supplies are taken care of, the cost of rabbits boils down to feeding them. In other words, for less than $40 a month and probably much cheaper if you really wanted to, you are able to feed meat rabbits. I don’t know about you guys, but my dogs eat more than that in food costs each month.
Do meat rabbits need bedding?
The Basic No-no’s to Keeping Meat Rabbits Rabbits require bedding in the rabbit hole sections of their hutches This is where rabbits will sleep and have their babies. Do not use straw in these sections. Straw is a carrier of mites.
Can bunnies chew through
chicken wire
?
Precautionary measures can then be implemented. Tough metal wire can withstand a rabbit’s teeth, so this material is ideal for a rabbit hutch. But rabbits can chew through most other materials, including chicken wire, plastic, vinyl, and
solid wood
.
What do you put in bottom of rabbit cage?
But if your cage or enclosure has a wire or plastic floor, then you’ll need to take measures to protect your bunnies’ feet. Cardboard, hay, and paper make excellent flooring for a cage or hutch. You probably already have some in your home right now. Wood bedding, marmoleum, and fleece work well, too.
How long does it take to raise a rabbit for meat?
Rabbits can be harvested as early as 8 weeks of age, though many prefer to harvest them around 4 to 5 pounds. I prefer to harvest between 8 to 12 weeks , but no later than 12 weeks of age as the meat begins getting tough.
What’s the best rabbits to raise for meat?
Answer: Two medium-size breeds, the New Zealand White (NZW) and the Californian , are the most important for meat production. They have white fur that is difficult to see if a few pieces are stuck to the carcass, and they have higher meat-to-bone ratios.
Can you raise
meat rabbits indoors
?
Yes, when there is room, keeping your rabbits indoors makes the most sense It is easier to provide a temperature controlled climate year-round and allows you to maximize your breeding schedule. The cage size most appropriate for medium-sized meat rabbit breeds is 24 x 30 x 56.
What is the cost of raising meat rabbits?
The cost to raise a fryer (young meat rabbit) up to 5 pounds is $4.65-6.30 each , depending upon your cost of feed.
Can you make money raising meat rabbits?
Raising rabbits for meat is quite a simple production to start if you have the time and space. It can be highly lucrative, especially if you plan to raise your rabbits on grass and market your product as grass-fed rather than as raised in hutches.
What do you feed meat rabbits?
You can also feed vetch, cow peas, and other rich hays You can give your rabbits dried scraps of bread and crusts; also any kind of vegetable parings and tops they’ll eat. You can feed them lawn trimmings and weeds.
How much pasture do rabbits need?
Pasture can supply up to 40 percent of the rabbits’ dietary needs They will eat legumes and other high protein greens, but prefer plants with more stem or roughage.
How big should a rabbit tractor be?
The Best Rabbit Tractor Design My tractors are 3′ wide x 2′ tall The hide area is 1′ off the ground. The hide section is 3′ wide x 2′ deep, and 1′ tall to allow space for multiple rabbits. Use 1/2″x1″ or 1/2″x1/2″ welded wire for the shelf floor.
How much meat do you get from a meat rabbit?
Butcher them as young as possible for the best meat. A four-pound animal produces about two pounds of meat Rabbit really tastes something like chicken, and it even gets cut into eight pieces like a frying chicken.
How many rabbits should a family of 4 eat?
Depending on the dressed size, one rabbit can easily feed a family of four. An acquaintance of mine who enjoys raising meat rabbits prefers the live weight of his butchers to be 3 to 2-1/2 pounds. Personally, I like to let my growers get up to around 4-1/2 pounds.
What is the best housing for rabbits?
Indoor rabbits can be housed in an indoor hutch or cage A wooden or metal hutch is suited for indoors too but are not necessary. A simple cage with a solid base and lots of hay is just as good.
How big should a grow out pen be for rabbits?
Building rabbit pens An individual pen should start around 30-inches by 36-inches by 18-inches The grow-out pen, for animals raised for meat, is more flexible in size but should be large enough that the young rabbits have room to spread out a bit.
How many rabbits can a rabbit tractor have?
Five or six rabbits in an enclosure of about 40 square feet exclusively eating pasture grass will need to be moved every 24 to 36 hours.
What is the meat of a rabbit called?
Unlike other animals like cows (beef) and pigs (pork) where there are other names to call them, rabbit meat is simply called “ rabbit meat ” all over the world. This is due to the fact that rabbit meat is uncommon and somewhat rare to be eaten, so there are no culinary terms for it. It’s just rabbit.
What months can you eat rabbits?
It’s unsafe to eat wild rabbits or hares before the first hard frost of the year If you eat a wild rabbit sooner, the meat will have parasites.
How much is a pound of rabbit meat?
If you’re able to process your rabbit meat on-site, you can expect to get $5 to $7 per pound, depending on quality.
How do you take care of meat rabbits?
- Clean Their Homes. Image via Shutterstock
- Protect Those Ears
- Give Your Rabbits a Mani/Pedi
- Give Them Space to Rest Their Feet
- Give Them a Space to Nest
- Protect Your Bunnies
- Brush Them (If Needed) .
- Consider Their Nutrition.
Is raising a rabbit expensive?
For a high-quality pellet, hay and fresh foods, a good estimate is at least $25 per month This will fluctuate depending on your area, and how you shop, and adding a second rabbit will not usually double the cost of the food. However, the better you are eating, the higher this price can be.
Should you cover a rabbit hutch at night?
It is fine to cover more of the hutch during the night but you should still leave a small area open for ventilation Add extra bedding for your bunny to snuggle into. This can be lined underneath with newspaper for increased insulation.
Do rabbits sleep on hay or straw?
Hay is dried grass and the most vital part of a rabbit’s diet. Straw is dried stalks from grain crops and is much more suitable for bedding as it is warmer and less likely to be eaten.
Can bunnies live outside in the winter?
Can pet rabbits live outside in winter? Yes, they can Rabbits have adaptations that help them survive the cold, such as thick fur coats and fur pads on their feet.
Can rabbits eat cardboard?
As long as the cardboard has no coating or ink, it’s non-toxic and safe for rabbits to chew on However, even plain cardboard can be bad for rabbits’ digestion if they consume too much. Excessive amounts of cardboard can cause intestinal blockages.
Can I use a chicken coop for rabbits?
If you’re wondering how to house these furry little critters, look no further- Backyard Chicken Coops’ as their coops make excellent rabbit hutches for your bunnies ! These coops are just right for raising happy “hoppy” outdoor rabbits.
How deep should a rabbit fence be?
Use chicken wire with one-inch or smaller mesh. As shown in the illustration at the top of the page, fencing should be at least 2 feet high to prevent rabbits from jumping over. To keep them from burrowing under, bury at least 3 to 6 inches (the deeper the better) and bend the buried portion away from plantings.
Is it OK to put newspaper in a rabbit cage?
Newspaper. This is a good base to line the floor of the hutch or cage with However, many rabbits, especially if bored, will rip it up and the ink on newspaper can be harmful to rabbits if they ingest too much of it.
Should rabbits have wire bottom cages?
Actually, wire floors are often the best choice for keeping a rabbit clean, healthy and comfortable In fact, there are a number of clinical studies that have found that rabbits raised on wire floors may be healthier and have better growth rates.
How do I keep my rabbit hutch from rotting?
Make sure the wood isn’t damp or rotting; you should apply a rabbit-safe wood protecting coating to the hutch every few years You can also line the inside walls with newspaper for insulation.
Is raising rabbits for meat worth it?
In about 12 weeks you’ll have a large quantity of healthy, lean meat to feed yourself and your family A trio of rabbits can produce upwards of 600 pounds of meat in a year which is more than a dressed one year old steer. That’s pretty impressive.
Sources
50 Free DIY Rabbit Hutch Plans & Ideas to Get You Started Keeping Rabbits
https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/meat-rabbits-zm0z11zmat/
https://hostilehare.com/product/rabbit-cages/