Is Raising Meat Rabbits Profitable?

[@zone4garlicfarm]

When I raised rabbits my best meat customers were restaurants. I was selling to 2 restaurants that wanted 25 rabbits every week. 4 litters a week supplied them and my own family with rabbit meat. I usually had a list of people waiting to buy breeding stock so I was able to sell any that were left after supplying those two regular customers.

[@BasicSkills]

That's great! I had tried to get into restaurants a few years ago, and didn't have any success. They only served rabbit a few times a year and weren't willing to have a local producer over purchasing a couple in a grocery store when they needed them. Glad you were able to get into a good market.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Yes, but if you want to establish an economy of scale, you're better off with cows.

[@rustyshackelford6290]

@@samsonsoturian6013 its a self sustaining side hustle at best

[@TheTaoofEternalWar]

I was talking to a fella down in Texas said he was selling his kits for 50 dollars each to the FFA kids who lived in DFW, he said once a year they need tons of rabbits for their school projects because most city kids don't have room for goats and pigs and stuff. He claimed the catch is you have to be able to supply hundreds of rabbits all at once. Said he knew a guy who got a 30 thousand dollar check for kits from one of the big school systems who prefer to buy all at once from one supplier. Way out of my league, but interesting.

[@tdvanwinkle]

Surely he meant 5 dollars each

[@jpp9876]

You mentioned Joel Salatin. He so has a brand he built up. This helps him in sales volume and a higher market price.

[@far-maracreshomesteadingan7777]

I agree to a certain point. Marketing is the key. If people don't know you have rabbit meat for sale, their not going to buy it. A lot also depends on your location both for good breeding and demand. A New Zealand rabbit will cost you around .60 per week to feed. ( This is based on a diet of 4oz of rabbit feed per day and all the hay they want. Fat rabbits won't breed) It takes 12 weeks to feed out a rabbit to a 5 lb fryer. That will yield a 3 pound dressed out rabbit. If you don't count the first 4 weeks that the kits are nursing, your cost to feed out the kits for 8 weeks is around $5 per kit. We sell our Fryers for $15 and have a waiting list. If you have 40 breeding does that are on an aggressive breeding schedule yeilding 5 liters 10 kits per liter per doe per year. Each doe will produce 50 kits per year. That's 150 lbs of rabbit meat per year from one doe. I have 40 breeding does and still can't keep up with the demand for rabbit meat to the private sector. That one breeding does is making you a profit of $500 per year. That is a $20,000 business profit per year with only 40 does. That doesn't even include the money we make off the rabbit manure we sell to the gardeners. If you have a good insulated building, a love for being a rabbit grower, and a good market, it's really a good business for a passive income. We grow Purebred New Zealand Whites.

[@BasicSkills]

If you are making it work, that's great! A number of years ago we did all the calculations to figure out what we should have been able to make per doe. The issue that we had was that things don't ever go as planned. For example, you mentioned a schedule of 5 litters/year and 10 kits/litter. If a doe refuses to breed, suddenly you're off by a few weeks. Then a couple does only have 8 kits, or one loses some. Pretty soon all your numbers are messed up. If someone is just getting started, all these numbers are great and can give you goals to shoot for. But often when it comes down to what actually happens every day, plans start falling apart. I don't know how long you've been into rabbits, but if these are the numbers that you are actually seeing, you have a really good business going. Are you just getting into this market, or have you been into rabbits for a while?

[@jayedahamedjayed6355]

You just helped me with my Betta fish farm problem. I made too many female fish now I can't sell them. I will try to flow your advice . Thank you very much.s

[@justachick3114]

I agree with you completely. I also want to feed my dogs and the scraps will do that. So feeding my husband and I with my dogs and chickens eating the scraps I think itll be fine to start off. Ill try to grow my market from there. This is certainly the time to be branching out into different meats and markets. Home businesses are the way to go right now to be sure. Also there are other markets for the meat and bones and hide than human and I intend to explore those options as well. Things are goin backwards as far as homesteading etc. goes as you can tell just by looking at how many have gotten into canning their own food this year. And when you consider how many have gone into prepping the industry is booming! People are looking for ways to feed themselves and their families when regular markets may not be available. If you are ready for it and set up already your market share can only go up. I am just at the learning and start up point right now and will be setting up my own rabbitry soon. A friend has Flemish Giants so Im getting a couple does from her and then Ill go elsewhere and get a NZ Buck and a California Buck from 2 different farms so there will be no inbreeding. Im going to use the wire shelf hutches from Jnll0 channel and all the knowledge from all the other channels Im watching and the comments Im reading. These channels are the most valuable asset as far as Im concerned. Id far rather learn from you than reinvent the wheel. I so appreciate the numbers you threw up on the screen as that will make it easier to work from even though I am in Canada. You did a great job and I am sub'ing right now and will look forward to your next vids. Thanks again

[@Heather-xm9ul]

Very informative. Makes me glad that I view this as a side hustle, rather than my business future.

[@BasicSkills]

We're on Instagram - You can find us @basicskillschannel ( instagram.com/basicskillschannel/ ). As always, let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for improvement and future content.

[@SgtSnausages]

Great for the dinner table. One a week, per adult, takes care of half our meat protein requirement. Once setup it's virtually free if you learn to grow and have a spare 1/8th acre or so, you can generate free food for 100+ growouts a year. We keep the breeders on pellets, but graze in tractors and grow our own feed for the freezer stock. I couldn't possibly see trying to make a living doin' it. I'd have to sell 50 a day and I just don't have that kinda time.

[@blessedtimur3163]

Fantastic videos, my man. Keep it up!

[@tellitlikeitis1828]

Good Video, Good advice! I am still in the “What was I thinking?” stage after buying 6 NZ does and a buck 2 weeks ago.

[@BasicSkills]

Well, they'll be a good meat source for you and your family. They're easy to care for, don't take a lot of time and are an excellent learning experience. Just don't expect to make a huge profit!

[@teachersikhumbuzomoyo5419]

This is so truthful indeed helpful, as I contemplate on starting my rabbitry

[@printaboul]

If you have just a few doe, can you produce on your land, part of their feed. I just discovered your channel, I gonna stay I think.

[@bigsprucerabbitry6238]

Keep up the good work! Agreed about the demand for rabbits meat. We eat nearly all the meat from our homestead and barter a bit with homemade rabbit sausage. In my market - in Alaska - furs make up for the meat, but I do all the tanning myself and often sell handmade hats made from the pelt for a good profit.

[@1gr8lpta]

New subscriber. I think I will binge watch your channel for a while. Unfortunately, I don’t see a new video for 11 months?

[@denislosieroutdoors]

Thanks for the info... I just picked up 3 does and a buck planning on breeding to feed my family only, I watched your other vids on cold weather got some good tips on building cages thanks for sharing

[@manuelsaldana3374]

Great video. I like how you show the production analysis with spreadsheets. Would you be able to discuss those spreadsheets?

[@tdvanwinkle]

I really like your record keeping. To contain cost try feeding only grass and hay to the animals that will be butchered. Butchering them at 1/4 to half grown improves the quality of the meat and reduces costs. I only feed pellets to my does and bucks used for production. Most profit on our farm comes from eating rabbits allowing us to sell more quail and chicken. Domestic rabbit liver at half grown is very delicious and tender. Most visitors who have ate it first then ask what it is love it and indicate they usually hate liver. In my area it is very difficult to market rabbits for any purpose

[@rjmyers7782]

What market are you in?

[@tdvanwinkle]

@@rjmyers7782 middle Tennessee greater Nashville area

[@tomdaniels9062]

Before weening, we find it difficult to keep the young ( after leaving the nest) out of mamas pellets.

[@tankscrittersandurbanhomes5579]

As a sole proprietary business your labor should never be included in your profit loss data. You are the business. You set a fixed percentage to keep the business afloat. And the rest is paid as labor. As the business grows your business makes more until you give a raise for labor.

[@tdvanwinkle]

Very good point. It is only about actual cost of raising the rabbits and your time is not considered in the actual costs.

[@zone4garlicfarm]

@@tdvanwinkle Your time must be considered. If the time spent caring for rabbits is keeping you from other income producing activities that time is a cost of doing business.

[@tdvanwinkle]

@@zone4garlicfarm consider it for sure but unless you are hiring labor it isn't an expense

[@zone4garlicfarm]

@@tdvanwinkle It's not an expense that you can list on your tax return. The opportunity costs make it a real expense in your personal finances.

[@kezhanakhro6267]

Bro how many months is enough for rabbit meat?

[@Shady_oaks_rabbitry]

My rabbits are mainly for meat but I do sale some if I don’t need them or someone wants some

[@derekfuqua1254]

Hang in there. I have a deep feeling that rabbit, (along with most other foods) are going to have very high value in the not so distant future.

[@sparky5513]

some good points made, thank you. rabbits could be very profitable IF you have a market.

[@denislosieroutdoors]

What is the coldest temp u had kits survive and do u do anything extra for them in the winter?

[@BasicSkills]

It all depends on how well the doe builds her nest. If she doesn't put enough hair in the nest the kits will really struggle even when it's not super cold. On the other hand, if she puts down lots of hair and has them in the nest, they do well. I've tried heat lamps when they were due and it was really cold (-10 to -40˚F) but never had much success. At that temperature she won't pull enough hair and if a kit gets out of the nest, it will freeze with or without the lamp. At the moment, I stop breeding them late in the fall and start back up again in the early spring.

[@kezhanakhro6267]

Bro If I wanna raise rabbit for meat, how many months should I feed ?

[@BasicSkills]

The fryers will be ready to process at 13 weeks old. Some people like them a little younger or older, but 13 weeks is the standard age.

[@gauchiergrows7267]

Hey man I loved watching all your rabbit videos I’m thinking of getting some myself, how long can you breed rabbits for?

[@BasicSkills]

It depends on the rabbit. If a rabbit is getting older and having issues with breeding, I'll cull them. If you start small and save your own stock now and then, you won't ever run out of pairs to breed.

[@SgtSnausages]

We breed full bore for 3 years. Three complete breeding production years of a yearly schedule of 5 litters (plus a 6 month grow-out to get to breeding age). From one of the litters in that third year we choose a replacement. By the time we get to a fourth breeding year, the replacement is ready to go. Give or take, a breeder is kept for 4 full years and actively breeding 3 (and change) of them. We've noticed by the 4th year production goes down slightly for most and by the 5th year pretty much all are in decline in terms of output. They still breed and produce meat ... but the output in terms of yield weight starts to decline. 4 to 5 years and you're good ... although I hear that they can successfully breed at 10 or 12 years(depending on how long they live ) ... I wouldn't want to be breeding decade+ old Mommas.

[@microblogging7643]

Thank you for sharing

[@dlanoroticul5693]

Hi, what breeds do you have? Do you imports your rabbits? Thanks so much

[@BasicSkills]

I have D'Argents, but right now I am not able to ship.

[@dlanoroticul5693]

@@BasicSkills thanks for the reply

[@joeicampbell5189]

Where are you located? My ferrets eat and LOVE rabbit. They are on a raw meat diet.

[@BasicSkills]

We don't have any extra at the moment. Try talking to a few local businesses and see what's in your area.

[@AviaryBirdsAndCo]

Those are some beautiful rabbits! What breed and color are those?

[@BasicSkills]

They are D'Argents.

[@printaboul]

@@BasicSkills The French call them «Argenté de Champagne» I think

[@dc-wp8oc]

What other animals, besides rabbits, are not worth the effort?

[@ricardogomez7672]

Nice rabbits, do you sell any rabbits ? And if you do , do you ship to California ?

[@BasicSkills]

I do sell them locally, but don't do any shipping.

[@littlefluffybum2073]

What rabbit breed are you using?

[@BasicSkills]

I'm using D'Argents. We got them years ago and have really liked them, however, I don't recommend a certain breed as I know many people who have been successful with different breeds. The key to success is farm management and any breed can fit into a good system.

[@lordsrabbitscity8741]

How many months should I breed my Rabbits. They giant chinchillas

[@BasicSkills]

You can begin breeding at 6-8 months, depending on size (bigger breeds require more time).

[@papalimtv8106]

Negative but it's true keep breeding and selling you will see the success

[@jupiterong7580]

Thanks bro.

[@dirtisbetterthandiamonds]

If you want to make money with rabbits, you have to get with grocery stores and get your product in the freezers. You have to have a processor and even work with other rabbitries to keep up with the demand of hundreds of stores. Heres an article about a friend of mine who did just that! www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/food/cooking/florida-farm-provides-rabbits-for-the-dinner-table/2170550/

[@Mamaluv70]

Man you are missing out! Where is the money from their urine and poop?! The money is in the pee dude!

[@justachick3114]

I know their poop is valuable but what do you use their pee for? Just getting into the meat rabbit biz myself. And I want to make sure I have all my bases covered. Im also thinking of bulk buying rabbit food and reselling in smaller quantities to pet owners although Im not sure they need the same feed. I think I will need 18% protein and pet stock will be different but Ill look into all that when I get set up.

[@mungomunro8579]

Hey Teresa! I'm not yet a year in to keeping rabbits, and the pee and poop thing seemed so logical, so full of plant nutrition; it seemed stupid not to. What I didn't take into consideration was the flies; now it's straight down the toilet manhole with a strong hose on the trays. I do put some poop in my compost bin as that has a sealed lid, but even then I have to be a a bit conservative with how much I put in as I'm sure my three would fill my converted wheelie bin themselves in a couple of months.

[@robertmoore1472]

@@justachick3114 pee is used as a pesticide that only deters bugs, doesn't kill bugs.

[@justachick3114]

@@robertmoore1472 that's what Im hearing. I like the idea. I saw a video about one man in an African country finances his operation on the sales of the urine and feces!

[@danielk8149]

I'm raising them for food 😹

[@buckreynolds7475]

Sell them to a processing