Rabbit Husbandry

Rabbit Husbandry

If you are raising rabbits for meat or for their pelts, the cuteness and cuddliness of rabbits might work against you when it comes time to sell or butcher the offspring of your breeding rabbits. Before you begin, you will want to do some market research to make sure you will be able to sell your stock at a profit — you would not want to invest the time and effort raising rabbits if there are not people ready to buy the meat or live rabbits. There may be a rabbit association in your state or region that can give you an idea of the demand. Your county extension agent will be able to direct you to the right group.

 Once you link up with an association, ask them what breed of rabbit sells the best in your area. You should also ask if there is a nearby rabbit raiser who would let you tour their operation. They will be a good source to inquire about new or used equipment dealers. Finding a market for your rabbits can be difficult, so start early, and look hard for a reliable, steady sales outlook. A few things about rabbits might surprise you. Most people are familiar with rabbit pellets — the rabbit’s normal round stool. However, rabbits also pass a soft stool, called a cecotrope, which is produced in the rabbit’s cecum. The rabbit will eat the cecotrope — which is full of needed nutrients — and most rabbit owners may not even see this stool in the pen. This is a natural function and should not be confused with diarrhea. Also, rabbits’ hind legs are very powerful, giving this prey animal a powerful spurt of speed to outrun predators. Rabbits on open ground can reach speeds of 25 miles per hour when being pursued. Their front legs are adapted for digging, either to dig a hole to hide from predators or to dig burrows to live in. In the wild, rabbits live in groups in a collection of burrows, or a warren. Rabbits are social animals, but they need to bond before they can live peacefully with other rabbits. It can sometimes take several weeks or even months for two rabbits to bond. They will fight over territory or mating, a trait that can make introducing new rabbits into an established group difficult. The easiest way for rabbits to bond is when they are raised together from a young age. You can also help rabbits bond by placing them together in a neutral place to reduce territorial feelings. You can place the rabbits together in the neutral area for a short time each day until the rabbits begin accepting each other. You should watch the rabbits and be ready to intervene if there is any fighting. Once the rabbits accept each other, you can place them in a normal cage or hutch.