Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.
People ask me all the time about the rabbits. And while rabbit isn’t a hugely popular meat on the west coast, I can say that raising rabbits over the last 3 years has given me a huge appreciation for rabbits in general. Rabbits are ideal for the little farm in an urban set up.
They don’t take up a lot of space
Rabbits, in general, don’t make a lot of noise
Rabbits eat hay, organic feed pellets, and any clippings from our vegetable garden + edible plants from the broader yard
They procreate super fast (rabbits can have a litter every month - I wouldn’t recommend this for the health of the rabbit)
Rabbits invite a lot of conversation/questions from adults, and love from younger community members
Their manure can go right back into the garden as fertilizer, or if mixed in with bedding, can be used as excellent compost starters.
I also learn a lot when observing the rabbits about social interactions and behaviors. I find males are super territorial and can be aggressive with one another if not bonded or if too many in one enclosure. Females really rule the roost (or hutch). Colonies are matriarchal, and generations of female rabbits will actually share responsibilities taking care of the young. They do have a pecking order in their colony, and I often time observe the rabbits (along with the chickens and ducks) and reflect on how we might also do some of the same things as humans without realizing it.
So… how does one get started with rabbits? We started quite by accident… Covid Craigslist bunnies, supposedly as 2 females were actually a male/female pair. Thirty (ahem, probably more) rabbits later… You get the picture.
Getting started…
Do your research on rabbit breeds. The most common meat rabbit is the Californian, but ours are a mixed breed and they work just as well.
Consider your setup. Find a place in your garden that has shade, is well ventilated, and may have shelter from the rain, wind, and/or direct sun (rabbits do overheat… and should be out of direct sunlight).
Enclosures should be well ventilated, protect from the elements, have outdoor space for running around, and be able to separate males from females (multiple males will fight unless bonded. Keeping males and females together will invite a larger colony than one anticipated). It’s super expensive to continually feed rabbits if they population isn’t being controlled. Enclosures should protect rabbits from predators (hawks, owls, and rats… yes - even rats will be aggressive with the babies and eat the babies). Protection means hardware cloth all around or wire with small enough holes to prevent rats.
Rabbits should always have access to fresh and clean water, plenty of Timothy or Orchard grass hay, and pellets. Alfalfa is only good for lactating/pregnant does and little ones. For adults, alfalfa will encourage urinary crystals. Straw is not hay - straw won’t have nutrients to sustain rabbits.
If you want to have regular intervals of rabbits, 2 females and 1 male should be enough to get started. Remember, rabbits can have a litter every 30-days, but that is extremely tough on the mama. Alternatively, or, I’ve seen folks who breed both females at the same time so there’s a mama who can take on extra kits if one mama rejects or is overloaded. When pairing male and female, bring the female to the male enclosure. Females can be very territorial and may severely injure your males.
Nesting boxes are essential for rabbits for protection and to keep little ones warm. We buy large plastic totes and cut holes on the side and ventilations holes at the top. It doesn’t need to be fancy.
Phew! Let me know if you have any questions! And happy to post photos if anyone is interested.