We’re not sure how we came up with the idea of raising rabbits to eat. Kelsy thinks it was probably Joy’s idea, but she’s the one who found the ad on craigslist. A woman in Sandy had 3 does and buck for sale along with two 3 hole hutches. “Good for raising meat in your backyard.” So we took it! And now we have more bunnies than we ever though possible.
Tupelo
Our Senior buck, a New Zealand x American. Named after Uncle Tupelo. Also after Elvis’s birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi. Because all the lady bunnies swoon over him.
Snack
Our buck in waiting, a Satin/Rex/Blue American. He’s the biggest boy of Shadow’s first litter with us.
Shadow
Our Senior doe, a Satin x Rex, and a great mama.
Sweet Tea
Sweet Tea is a Chinchilla cross. With what? We don’t know. Sweet Tea is known for her enormous litters (up to 14). She doesn’t produce quite enough milk for all those babies, so we foster some of her kits to Spot.
Spot
What do you get when you cross a Tupelo-colored rabbit with a Shadow-colored rabbit? You get Californian-color of course! We never know exactly what colors are going to come out of our mamas, and this one was certainly a surprise. Spot has smaller litters than Sweet Tea, but produces much more milk! She has successfully nursed up to 13 babies (that’s four from Sweet Tea and nine of her own).
Blueberry
Blueberry came from Bramble’s last litter. We’ve kept her to replace Bramble, whom we euthanized due to mastitis. We hope she has nice big litters like her mama did!
im interested in riasing rabbits for food as well,but i live in kansas and i cant find any rabbits to buy,im thinking aboat getting rabbits from the local humane society.there very healthy and most of the time cheap as well,any body out there want ship me sum rabbits cuase im living in non rabbit country it seems.
Hi, Tim. I wouldn’t recommend adopting bunnies from the Humane Society, as they neuter and spay all of their animals. I know there are some breeders who will ship rabbits. Keep looking!
I was browsing and came across your site, nicely done. Really liked your manifesto. Especially after watching Food Inc, the documentary.
We just had our second litter, with 5 baby bunnies. The first litter had 4, and they’re 11 weeks old.
When is a good time to start putting food on table? They weigh around 3 lbs and 1 or 2 oz. Is it too early?
We started raising rabbits late summer with two small ones. It was a spur of the moment decision, so I think we probably do not have the best breed for meat. 11 weeks old and 3 lbs weight. After buying the bunnies, I’ve read New Zealanders and Californians are best, however I don’t think I can find them in San Diego. Any advice on where to find the best breeds for meat in Southern California?
Thanks for the valuable info.
I really have to wonder how anyone could consider themselves to be “conscientous” when looking at a face like these and even *thinking* about killing them. Butchering them.
What horrid, disgusting people you are.
I think the same thing when I look at a fuzzy little lamb or one of my chickens. I think “food.”
Hey, Hitler was a vegetarian and he was a horrid, disgusting person, too.
I think the most responsible thing we can do as carnivores is to be responsible for the animials we eat. Not only do we know what we are putting in our bodies, but we know they they have lived a good life and had a humane death. I thank them for the nourishment they provide me and my dogs. I applaud you and your system.
Hi! I live in Canyonville, Oregon and I am highly interested in breeding Meat Rabbits but no matter how hard I look I haven’t been able to find Breeders for sell in any of the near area, (Within Driving distance for I prefer to “Meet the Parents”, so to say before I decide on buying or not). I want this to be a supplement and even a Food Supply for myself and my family in the years to come. My Grandmother was a Pedigree Dog Breeder, so yes I understand the responsibilities of Breeding schedules and health. But so far I just can’t seem to find the resources to start out. So, in my long winded way, does anyone know of a Rabbitry in this area?
Thanks for reading this!
Hi, have you found any breeding meat rabbits yet? I live just outside of Eugene and raise Californias. I have several young ( 11-12 weeks old fryers) 2 intermediate does (8 months) and an older buck (2 yrs) available.
Perhaps we could meet in the middle?
Craigslist, farm+garden usually has rabbits for sale.
The person I bought my first doe from even let me come help on butcher
day BEFORE I committed to buy. It’s a good place to start looking anyway,
you can always post a want ad.
Ananda, eating meat you raise yourself is hard. Your anger would be more
useful focused on entities that abuse and torture then kill.
Hey there,
Great site! My daughter (10) is thinking she’d like to raise rabbits for meat and pelts. We’re up near Olympia and need to get down to your neck of the woods at least twice in the next week or so. If you’re willing to show us your set up and encourage (or discourage?) shoot me an email. Regardless, your site has been WONDERFUL and a wealth of information. I noticed that you’d not blogged recently and hope that is just temporary. Thanks very much!
How do yhou make sure the rabbits do not get the worns that wild rabbits are known to have?
Hello,
I am looking for a source of rabbit kidneys in the San Diego area.
Do you know where I can get some?
Thank you,
Jacqueline
I am just starting this also and it’s refreshing to find people and web sites thatwon’t criticize you. I am starting out w/ 2 flemish bucks and does the one pair is only 4 months old so still to young to breed, the other pair I just got has already been bread once and might currently be pregnant. I am planning on building outside hutches and putting up pens/fences for to exercise in. Am I starting off all wrong by starting w/ flemish giants?
I’m thinking of getting started with meat-for-table rabbits and wondering which is better – all galvanized cages raised off the floor, or galvanized cages with an open bottom pinned down to the grass. I’m worried about disease etc from the poo that will accumulate but I intend to move the cages at least two-weekly if not weekly so the rabbits have fresh grass and weeds to eat. What do you think, please?
Galvanized cages raised over pans you can empty or a worm pit are the way to go. Make sure that the wire is a thick enough gauge that it won’t cut the rabbits’ feet. You also want the holes to be no more than 1/2 inch x 1 inch around the bottom portion of the cage, so that newborn kits won’t slip through.
If the rabbits are kept on the ground they will be more at risk for coccidia. If they are left on the ground, they will also burrow and can go quite far and deep. If you want to be able to pasture your rabbits, you’ll need either cages with slats on the bottom that prevent digging but let the greenery come up through them, or you’ll need runs that you can let the rabbits in and out of.
This is a great site! Thanks for sharing!
I helped my Dad when I was a kid raise and butcher rabbits, just mixed breed. And now I want to get back into raising them for meat again, both for myself and my dogs.
I live in Michigan and so far have not seen anyone selling rabbits. Do you recommend just going to a purebred breeder or what resourse should I look to for info on purchasing some bucks and does?
Thanks!!
Hi, you two. Just reading through your site, and I’ve gotta tell you that I was thoroughly amused. I am a vegetarian who has raised rabbits in the past to sell to the meat industry (before I became a vegetarian), and who plans to raise rabbits in the future for my own dog food (and STILL be a vegetarian). I just seriously have to laugh at some of the ridiculous comments though! I love how smoothly you handle the stupidity. Two thumbs up!
am interested in newzeland and california rabbits to purchase for meat raising. do you hafe young stock for sale?
thank you larry
So glad to find this site! I am embarking on raising rabbits for meat at college which gives the whole thing an additional layer of complexity… Very mixed reactions to my plans, but my thinking is either I will raise my own meat (and kill, process, etc.) or become a vegetarian. So we’ll see.
Wanted to chime in on housing — I am personally new to meat rabbits, but I raised show rabbits a few years back and still have one of my babies and a stray as pets, and the biggest concerns for me has always been predators and foot damage–the breed I raised (Mini Rex) tend to have thin furring on their feet so that’s an additional factor but the biggest worry (even in my suburban area!) was foxes/raccoons/hawks/coyotes.