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.
How do you fatten up meat rabbits?
3. What to Feed Rabbits to Gain Weight FasterHay. Timothy hay should always be offered to your rabbits. ... 2. Fruits. Fruit is calorie-dense and loaded with nutrients. ... Rolled Oats. Rolled oats are a great source of fiber and they're also calorie dense. ... Root Vegetables. ... Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. ... Nuts.
How much do I feed meat rabbits?
Adult rabbits will eat about four ounces a day, and does with young need about eight ounces. For a meat breed, about 1/2 to 1 cup a day (depending on each individual rabbit). For pregnant or nursing does, and any growing kits you should feed them as free feed another contriversial subject.
How do you feed meat rabbits without pellets?
One basic alternative feed is based on feeding alfalfa hay and rolled oats. My rabbits loved alfalfa hay even more than their grass hay, but it's pretty high in protein and in calcium. If you feed alfalfa, you'll need to pair it with rolled oats to get that increased phosphorus to balance out the calcium.
What should you not feed meat rabbits?
5:2814:40Raising Rabbits - What You Can And Can't Feed A Rabbit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhether it's a pet rabbit or a meat rabbit. Cannot eat and what foods we recommend that they do eatMoreWhether it's a pet rabbit or a meat rabbit. Cannot eat and what foods we recommend that they do eat foods that I recommend you never feed your rabbit is going to be cereal or corn based foods.
How do you feed meat rabbits naturally?
6:148:27Feeding rabbits naturally without using pellets | Raising meat rabbitsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can drag them around and they will prefer to eat the grass. And they will over the pellets. SoMoreYou can drag them around and they will prefer to eat the grass. And they will over the pellets. So this can cut your feed bill in half just the simple move of putting your rabbits out into a tractor.
Do meat rabbits need salt?
0:133:39Do Rabbits Need a Salt Lick or Mineral Lick - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou know that pretty much all animals need salt in their diet. So it only makes sense you shouldMoreYou know that pretty much all animals need salt in their diet. So it only makes sense you should probably be providing that for your rabbits.
What age do you butcher 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 do you make homemade rabbit food?
My Homemade Natural Grain Based Rabbit Food Recipe:6 cups rolled oats.3 cups golden wheat berries.3 cups pearled barley.3 cups hard red wheat berries.3 cups split peas.3 cups black oil sunflower seed.
Can a rabbit survive on just hay?
Rabbits should be fed in a way that is as close as possible to their natural diet: mostly grass or hay. In fact, rabbits could live on hay and water alone, but we recommend providing some fresh leafy vegetables and a small amount of commercial feed.
What can I feed rabbits instead of pellets?
Rabbits can get by without pellets as long as hay and fresh green vegetables are given every day. Avoid cereal/grain mixes (such as rabbit mix muesli) as these can encourage selective feeding, nutritional imbalance and obesity [1, 4]. Providing other objects to chew on is also a good idea.
What can you substitute for rabbit pellets?
Rabbit Food Alternatives and SupplementsDandelion Leaves.Broccoli.Collard Greens.Beet Greens.Romaine Lettuce.Spinach.Kale.Mint.More items...•
What to feed rabbits to fatten them up?
In many cases, an underweight rabbit will benefit from increased consumption of fiber-laden foods, especially grass hay and, to a much lesser extent, leafy greens. (However, too many greens can lead to weight loss instead of weight gain.)
What food make rabbit grow fast?
They will also need free access to a quality grass hay, some alfalfa (lucerne) hay and some grains – barley, oats and wheat are all good options. What is this? You can raise rabbits very well on barley fodder. With free-choice hay always available to them.
What should I feed my underweight rabbit?
Oats One food that is very good for putting weight on rabbits is rolled oats/porridge oats. You can buy these from the supermarket or a feed supplier. You can feed small quantities, e.g. a teaspoon, dry but I recommend mixing them with a little water to make 'porridge' before feeding as they do swell quite a bit.
What weight should you butcher a rabbit?
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.”
What do rabbits eat?
Additionally, rabbits love hay. Give them an ample supply of hay or alfalfa to supplement their nutrient-rich pellets. Fortunately, hay and alfalfa are very cheap to purchase or grow on your own. You should also add some fresh vegetable scraps to your rabbit’s diet.
What breed of rabbits are good for meat?
Common meat rabbit breeds include the New Zealand, American, Californian, and Champagne D’Argent. Each breed has specific qualities that some homesteaders and rabbit specialists prefer over others, so everyone has their own favorite. When raising rabbits for meat, you want to choose a breed that has large litters and grows to a mature size as ...
Why do you need a rabbit hutch?
A hutch also serves as protection from predators and keeps rabbits contained so you don’t have to chase down escapees. Building a rabbit hutch as a homestead project gives you a great opportunity to use up some scrap materials and extra supplies you have laying around.
How long do rabbits have to be pregnant to breed?
Rabbits’ reproductive cycles have many unique qualities compared to other livestock animals. They have a gestation period of about 30 days, give birth to large litters, and can be rebred immediately after giving birth.
How long does it take for a rabbit to grow?
For beginner homesteaders, start with the New Zealand breed. Adults will grow up to 12 pounds within 10 - 12 weeks, and they come in a variety of colors. They have a high feed-to-meat ratio, ...
How much should a rabbit weigh at 10 weeks?
Depending on your breed, rabbits at the 10-week mark should ideally weigh about 5 pounds. Another benefit of raising rabbits for meat is the relatively low amount of daily work needed to sustain a healthy colony. Compared to raising other types of small game, such as chickens, raising rabbits will give you one of the highest yields ...
When will meat rabbits be available in 2021?
July 12, 2021 by Blake Culver This post may contain affiliate links. For homesteaders, meat rabbits provide one of the most cost-effective and sustainable options of home-raised meat for your family. They have short reproduction cycles, and a single breeding doe will birth around four-to-five litters per year, which adds up to quite a bit ...
Have your pens and equipment ready before you buy rabbits
Have pens and equipment completely set up and ready to use before you bring home your rabbits.
Determine how many rabbits you need
You need to figure out how many rabbits you really need, vs how many you want! Read How Many Meat Rabbits For A Family Of Four to get a start on your numbers.
Buy high quality breeding stock rabbits
It can not be overstated, start with high quality breeding stock for your rabbit operation!
Feed high quality pelleted feed
Get a high quality pelleted feed to start your rabbits on. In my experience, the cheaper priced store brand rabbit pellets are not well accepted by the rabbits, so I don’t buy them! (I made this mistake once, I won’t do it again!)
Heat will slow rabbit growth
We often think of the middle of winter as the most difficult weather to be out in, maybe for us it is! But for rabbits, the most challenging time of the year is in the heat of the summer!
1. Determine Whether They Need to Gain Weight
Before trying to increase the rate of gain for your rabbits, it’s essential to identify whether weight gain is truly even necessary.
2. Change Diet Slowly Instead of Abruptly
When it comes to helping your rabbits gain weight, one of the best ways is to offer free feed. If you’re in the habit of measuring out pelleted food, you can stop doing this. Giving your rabbit free choice of all the high-calorie pellets it can eat is a great way to help it gain weight.
3. What to Feed Rabbits to Gain Weight Faster
Here are a few foods you can feed your rabbits in addition to their regular diet of pellets. These foods will help them gain at a reasonable rate for their breed and age.
4. Slow but Steady – Be Consistent in Your Approach
While some meat rabbits gain weight quickly, others put on weight more slowly but steadily. To know which category your rabbits fall into, you may have to get into the habit of weighing them often. Track the progress of your meat rabbits. In most cases, as long as they are gaining, they will continue gaining until they reach maturity.
The 9 Best Meat Rabbits For Raising & Eating
Whilst there are lots of rabbit breeds perfect for eating, there seems to be absolutely no contest when it comes to the fan-favorite, The New Zealand White rabbit.
3 Things When About Raising Meat Rabbits
If you’re just getting started, you might be thinking, is raising rabbits for meat worth it?
Conclusion
Meat rabbits are fairly inexpensive to buy, breed, house, and feed. They also don’t take particularly long to reach an age and size at which they can be eaten.
