The Basics of Raising Meat Rabbits (Complete Overview)

[@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.

[@casonryder4705]

Sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know of a way to get back into an instagram account? I somehow forgot the account password. I love any tips you can give me.

[@avicreed974]

@Cason Ryder instablaster ;)

[@casonryder4705]

@Avi Creed i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@casonryder4705]

@Avi Creed it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass :D

[@avicreed974]

@Cason Ryder no problem :)

[@reuben4710]

The best video I've seen on this by far. It's straight to the point, not 40 minutes long, and teaches you all the basics.

[@CottonTailJoe]

Finally a no nonsense video about rabbits. I have full confidence now in my research thanks!!!

[@ste00158]

Really useful intro to raising meat rabbits, and very well presented. Thanks!

[@craigprestidge123]

Basic skills. Great video. It's very informative and clear Thank you.

[@quentinn.3837]

Excellent video you two, I stumbled upon your gem of a video via trying to explain to my girlfriend why I was cleaning rabbits. You delivered hands down the best "this is what we do" video. Awesome and thank you

[@debbieholmes6441]

You remind me of my husband when he was your age! He raised rabbits for meat when he was a teen until right before we got married. Your a very smart and handsome young man! Good luck with your rabbits! God bless you, Scooter🛵

[@atifjan4052]

What he get from that

[@psuadonym4740]

@@atifjan4052 A wife

[@AJ-ox8xy]

I never knew all the benefits of rabbit meat and harvesting over chicken meat. Rabbits are so much more sustainable and significantly more cheaper to raise. Plus rabbits can more easily be sold as a pet along with their pelts being harvested and used for hats, etc. They're so much better for short term and long term investments.

[@caninedrill_instructor5861]

Sir, A nicely done video. I've watched videos about breeding rabbits where the recommendation was to get at least three "fall-offs" in a breeding session.

[@BasicSkills]

I've worked with a few people who like to do that. To be honest, I haven't really tried it so I'm not sure if it is more reliable than what I usually do.

[@lahesmuda7356]

Alot of usefull information in six minutes, thanks!!!!

[@josephvita8943]

Awesome video, info and examples. And GREAT videography on sexing. So many videos are not clear

[@dayeak57]

Dude killed it... All the right info...breeding...timeline...sexing...even composting the waste

[@RC-df8hx]

Very straight forward video...Thanks! I may start next spring and feed ra bit meat to my dog (s).

[@listenup1711]

Very nice presentation. Easy to understand. The best so far. Thank you

[@tonyt5218]

Sweet video man, informative and to the point, thanks! Keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@zainudinaja3194]

Your vidio is very good, thanks for your advice, I am FROM Indonesia ,I have rabbits

[@lucasmartinez3531]

Such valuable information, thank you!

[@zainudinaja3194]

the rabbit cage is good, the cleanliness must be good so the rabbit doesn't get sick. also the tools for drinking are also good. good luck.you wil get profit

[@phoenicianbird109]

Great job... What is the material in the roof?? Is it good in winter??

[@BasicSkills]

It's just greenhouse plastic (actually this one is just extra vapor-barrier we had left over from a reno project) and its really good in the winter. It lets in lots of light and keeps everything nice and warm.

[@phoenicianbird109]

@@BasicSkills Amazing... Thank you for your reply

[@Pierrericheart]

very good vid. informative. try using EM ( effective Microorganisms) for the smell.

[@Gamerfanize]

This channels dope man if you keep uploading content you WILL grow nicely in subs, I love this content. Subbed.

[@ceepark114]

Great video with general info on raising rabbits.

[@daniels4654]

Very informative, thanks man 👊

[@danielphillips6766]

Great informative video thanks!

[@hicks928]

Hell yea man. Nice video. Best one ive seen so far

[@BasicSkills]

Thanks!

[@tedmarlenebarry1514]

great simple video

[@olakant1]

@BasicSkils what breed are these big rabbits? I will like to breed them too

[@louisianaBoi225]

Thanks for the video. nice job explaining everything 👍

[@quinnwolf817]

Your rabbits are so sweet mine hate being picked up. Thanks for showing how to tell which is a buck or doe. We just started raising them and I can't tell.

[@tomford7732]

Great Video. Well spoken and descriptive. Thank you.

[@ZapBzoo]

this is great! Everything you need to know in one place.

[@courtneypendergrass7704]

Good video! Very helpful and to the point, thanks!

[@WickedImprints]

wow lol I've been in AWE with this video... Don't need the learning but had my kiddo watch for her to understand.... Thank you! New Scriber!! 🤗💖

[@pressedearth9492]

Fantastic useful information. I'm inspired.

[@kimbalrichmond9942]

WTG dude! Great video, tons of useful info, very well explained! keep up the good work.

[@edd8282]

Great info thank you

[@melig7543]

Thank you so much. Wonderful info!!

[@jobird354]

Gorgeous Rabbits. What breed are they please? Can anyone tell me?

[@BasicSkills]

We have D'Argents, we've had them for a number of years and they are a very good breed.

[@lenascountrylife4694]

Great video! Thanks for the info.

[@siennaclark3677]

i really like how you did the video and i like your channel (my opinion rabbits shouldn't be food but you do everything amazing)

[@aperson1181]

Is it ok to put adults together in 1 cage?

[@mora118]

I find a lot of videos on how to raise and process but none have mentioned how to keep your rabbit pest free. Like parasites and such. Is there de wormer you have to give them?

[@BasicSkills]

Having them in cages where the manure falls through the bottom helps keep them parasite free in the winter. In the summer we try not to put them over the same section of grass for two weeks, that way the parasite cycle will be broken. For de-wormer we'll add diatomaceous earth to their feed and a little apple-cider vinegar to the water.

[@mora118]

@@BasicSkills You're awesome! Thank you for the info!

[@1980Baldeagle]

What is the best breed for meat? I'm just getting into rabbits with my 13yo daughter. I live in Georgia so it's a bit warm most the year. Thanks in advance.

[@BasicSkills]

Most of it comes down to personal preference. The most popular meat breed is New Zealand's, but it depends on what you're looking for. We have D'Argents and have really liked them. I would recommend finding a grower near you and seeing what they have. The only required characteristic is size. Our rabbits are around 6 pounds as adults and grow quickly. New Zealand's grow up to 12 pounds, but don't grow as fast. There are a variety of pros and cons for every breed; I would make the choice based on overall health, size, and color. Hope that helps. Have fun!

[@1980Baldeagle]

@@BasicSkills Thanks for the reply!

[@tomcondon6169]

There was a favorite adage from the '60s, that you could starve eating only rabbit, because they had no fat. I saw a YT video discussing the fat on rabbit. Care to comment?

[@BasicSkills]

I have heard of that, and certainly wouldn't recommend a zero-fat diet. I don't know much about it, but would recommend the Wikipedia article on Rabbit Starvation.

[@caninedrill_instructor5861]

@@BasicSkills Sir, and Tom Condon. This lady puts that myth to rest in this video from the Good Simple Living And Homesteading Channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/earZZWB8oN-WeLs

[@jerrysmith372]

Thank you. I like this video. First one I've seen that shows how to sex the rabbits. I would guess with all your bunnies you get a large pile of "compost material". How much rabbit pellets and barley do you use in a year/month? I live in the desert southwest - how well do the rabbits handle the heat of summer? I would think breeding in really hot weather would be hard on the Kits. We can get as hot as 119 - 120.

[@BasicSkills]

I'm not really sure how much feed I use in a given time period. It really depends on how well the litters do and how much grass/hay they're eating. For heat, they shed their winter coats once it begins to warm up, if you were to get them on pasture and try to keep them out of the sun, at least to a certain extent, I think they'd be fine. I would also try to get a breed that is already raised locally, that way you know they'll be heat-tolerant.

[@markyjohnson5713]

I've watched your video and found it informative but what breed of rabbits do you have and what breed do you recommend for meat purpose ?

[@BasicSkills]

We have D'Argents and I really like them for meat. As for a specific breed, I don't think it matters much. As long as they're big enough to eat at 12-14 weeks, and you care for them properly, you will be successful.

[@markyjohnson5713]

@@BasicSkills at 12-14 weeks how much do they weight meat only (clean meat) ?

[@BasicSkills]

They weigh 2.5-3.5 pounds dressed at 12-14 weeks.

[@christian_lied]

You say enough food to feed a family of 12, what do you do with the left over meat? Great vid btw

[@BasicSkills]

The rabbits have been able supply us with all the rabbit we want as well as enough to sell in different places as we get the opportunity. They certainly aren't our only meat source, but are a great addition to what we eat.

[@HUNGRYHUSKY]

Can be feed to dogs

[@motuw8949]

Thanks for the informative video

[@sonntag31]

Great would say : "How dare you, you have stolen my dreams " I love cute rabbits -

[@jasona.126]

They should be in SKUwell!

[@debbiekellogg9293]

1st great video very helpful. Now question, can I turn rabbits out on my garden when it's done for human use? Are there things I should be sure they don't eat in a vegetable garden?

[@BasicSkills]

Letting them out in the garden is a great idea. They'll eat everything that would be wasted, and will fertilize the garden at the same time. I wouldn't be concerned about them eating something poisonous; they're generally smart enough to avoid anything that could be harmful.

[@debbiekellogg9293]

@@BasicSkills thank you. One more thing. When I was younger my Dad built rabbit hutches like yours. Outside no fan for air. A local breeder here in Kansas told us that the rabbits are cold weather animals. He has fans constantly running (outside) so they don't over heat. We are planning on getting female New Zealand and male Satin. Does that sound right for meat rabbits?

[@BasicSkills]

I don't have a lot of experience with extremely hot weather, but rabbits have a heavy winter coat and shed it in the summer. It would most likely depend on your management technique; if you pasture them in the summer and give them shade, they should be fine. On the other hand if you have them in a barn, they may overheat.

[@huntercools9717]

What type? and Where would I find rabbit pellets? The Pet Store??

[@BasicSkills]

The best place to get rabbit pellets is a feed store. A lot of small hardware stores will carry feed in 50 pound sacks. Pet stores carry much smaller bags, and the price will be much higher.

[@dave-yj9mc]

Great video!

[@mungomunro8579]

Hi. I'm learning from your vids, nice one! I've just gotten few 8 - 10 weekers, and at the moment in the UK there's loads of dandelions, dock leaves, stinging nettles and grass: which my rabbits go crazy for. As it's nutritious and abundant I forage every day, and bring them fresh free food . I've heard, seen and read about the importance of hay in the rabbit's diet, and subsequently I own: orchard hay, timothy hay, oat hay, alpha hay and meadow hay, but they don't seem to be interested at all. Is it something that I should be concerned about, or are they getting everything they need from the fresh stuff, and I can save the hays til winter? They're happy and healthy to look at, and they've a wee space to go mental in; and they do. The importance of teeth grinding is a reason for asking this question, and should I encourage them eat more hay by depriving them of fleshy greens? Cheers

[@BasicSkills]

The only reason I ever feed hay in the summer is a couple days to transition them from hay to grass in the spring (and I don't always even do that). The reasoning behind hay is it is easier to come by in large quantities than fresh grass, so for anyone without access to pasture, hay is a good option. As long as you have grass, use it. When it stops growing start feeding hay. Our summer cages are made of wood, and they would often chew on them. We ended up throwing a few sticks of wood in for them to chew instead of the cage.

[@mungomunro8579]

@@BasicSkills You're brilliant! Thanks for the quick reply and peace of mind. Easy'!

[@JJ-ql8yc]

Nice to get a little anatomy lesson at the end there too! 😀

[@nonwilson5587]

Thank you very much

[@thorodin6686]

I have heard you never let meat rabbits touch the ground? I just bought 2 does they are California and Flemish I got from Amish any advice?

[@BasicSkills]

I've never heard of that. I would guess that it is an effort to keep parasites down. This is what hanging cages do as the manure falls through the floor, making the rabbit less likely to be in contact with parasites. In the summer, with portable cages on grass, the principle is to keep moving them around. This gives them new grass and leaves any parasites behind. By having a large rest period (around two weeks) between times that the rabbits access that particular spot, you are able to break up the parasite life-cycle.

[@BasicSkills]

For your second question, there are really three recommendations I would give you. Start small. You are in a good position to learn with two does, don't try to ramp up to fifty before you really see what you're getting into. Manage carefully. This doesn't mean that you have to have spreadsheets and careful documentation of bloodlines. You have to understand how rabbits work. Sunlight kills disease, so don't have your rabbits in a wet, dark shed. Rabbits can eat up to 65% of their diet on grass, this means you should give them hay in the winter and grass in the summer. Pasturing them is the best option because that gets them sunlight, fresh air, exercise, and grass. And last, keep going. You most likely won't lose either of your does, but if they are first-time mothers some of the kits will probably not make it. Rabbits aren't hard, but when you're starting up it's hard to pinpoint a problem and find the solution. The great thing about problems is that you learn how to deal with them and avoid them in the future.

[@thorodin6686]

Basic Skills I really appreciate you answering me thoroughly and will put this to practice

[@lovemyjob57]

thank you

[@nelorden2616]

This guys so cute 😍😍😍😍😩😩😩😩

[@carlossantana3463]

How can I get a breeding pair of silver fox or champagne agrant or American chinchilla

[@BasicSkills]

We got our D'Argents online years ago, doing a quick search you could find any available rabbits near you. I would also recommend going to any shows or events for small livestock and poultry to get in contact with someone who would have the breed you're looking for. If you are just wanting meat rabbits, the big thing isn't what kind you have, but how you take care of them. Hope that helps.

[@vixxcottage]

Great job!

[@josuabosch8224]

Is it possible to start with one pair and how long will it take to start selling from... All the way from South Africa man✌️

[@BasicSkills]

One pair is a great place to start. You could even just buy a doe that was already bred and get started with just one doe. Gestation is 4 weeks, you can wean the kits at 5 weeks old, and butcher them at 12 weeks, so from purchase to processing would be 21 weeks.

[@wrestlingfan4ever76]

How do you keep them cool in the summer?

[@BasicSkills]

We have them out on pasture all summer and the cages are sheltered enough to keep them from overheating. I think the key is shade and water. If we were to keep them in the winter cages all summer, we might have problems, but moving them out on grass helps.

[@wrestlingfan4ever76]

Oh, cool. Thanks. That is what I may have to do with my Continental Giant. He will get so big and I am afraid he will get too hot in a hutch in summer even though my yard is mostly shaded. My English Lop does okay. @@BasicSkills

[@Cappu17]

Hi there, what breed our your rabbits?

[@jimsgardensandrabbitry]

@@BasicSkills Beautiful rabbits. I will be getting 2 does and a buck in about 3 weeks to get started again. Has been about 20 years since I have had rabbits. By the way, I subbed your channel. Blessings, Jim

[@BasicSkills]

I've got D'Argent rabbits. I like them, but it really doesn't matter what breed you get.

[@mccaskillfarmstead4244]

Good stuff! Just subscribed👍🏼

[@mikeolden144]

The best, dude !

[@sekeletihacuma5749]

very informative

[@jeromeproctor1668]

Do you keep the pelts

[@BasicSkills]

We've never been able to tap into a pelt market, so at the moment we compost them and add them to our soil.

[@rickayers3150]

Good job

[@coleseaboyer1113]

What breed of rabbits do u use

[@BasicSkills]

I have D'Argents, but it really doesn't matter what breed you get as long as you raise them properly.

[@coleseaboyer1113]

Basic Skills I have 4x8 hutches and have a couple rabbits but rabbits are big where I am and you might get 20 dollars for adult

[@studychannel8998]

Are they nutritious though??

[@BasicSkills]

Yes, they are nutritious. Rabbit is one of the leanest meats, and depending on the method of production the meat is very good.

[@مزرعهجابرمنازعلتربيهالارانب]

I am a rabbit breeder in Egypt, and I have a channel that talks about raising rabbits

[@bestcity0979]

Could this b turned into a profitable side buisness?

[@BasicSkills]

Yes it certainly can, but you need to add it onto an already successful marketing platform. Since most people don't eat rabbit and most of your customers will only eat it a few times per year, you need a wide base to start on in order to find enough customers to support a business. I made a video explaining the concept and you can find it at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2sdXaObcl5l9U.

[@yvanquiri9938]

Thanks

[@weedaddwarchild6585]

i need two of your breed... how can i get to you?

[@BasicSkills]

I don't have any breeding stock for sale at the moment. I'd recommend looking for breeders near you that have this breed if you want to get D'Argents.

[@wanttobeasage2952]

Yeah, I could keep them, but I don't think I can butcher one.

[@MrRockstar696969]

How are the champagne d'argent hide for tanning?

[@BasicSkills]

We've never actually tanned any. They seem to have really high quality coats, but I don't have any hands-on experience with the tanning.

[@aswyers8816]

Nice job..

[@davidfarm8095]

what about hot weather?

[@BasicSkills]

We haven't had any trouble with them overheating. Having them on pasture in the summer keeps them sheltered and cool.

[@dajojoboii_rsa9425]

Nice

[@markrigsby2425]

How much income per month?

[@BasicSkills]

We haven't been able to find a really good, sustainable market, so we really just eat them ourselves and sell a few when we have the opportunity. That said, we're not really making much money, we basically make enough to cover expenses. From my experience, rabbits aren't a good center-piece operation, they are a small market that you can add to other ventures. Because most people aren't familiar with eating rabbit it's hard to introduce them as your only product.

[@bolletjebruin7678]

I will never , ever force my rabbits to live on a gaze, metal wire floor.

[@kingjeremysircornwell7847]

fur market? no waist

[@BasicSkills]

We don't currently have a market for the furs, so we simply compost them along everything else. Turning them into dirt may not be the most profitable option, but it still eliminates waste and benefits the rest of the ecological cycle.

[@kingjeremysircornwell7847]

@@BasicSkillsOregon buys fur, even un treated\cured\tanned.

[@Adnancorner]

they will make more rabbits :D :D

[@jasonredmond7309]

you're so cute dude😊

[@Asifkhan22522]

Dear I need these rabbits plz send it to me ready to pay I am from Pakistan

[@bogeyonanostrilhair9568]

I don't think you realise how sickening this is in the UK. Although rabbit meant isn't all that popular in the UK, we do eat it. However, our rabbit meat is wild like dear meat. (hare) These sort of rabbit is what we consider as pets.

[@uftc1324]

The UK has quite a few farm that raise mostly New Zealand’s actually.

[@athame57]

When you've a rabbit you'll never want to eat one.

[@nickgordon4954]

I don’t like how he smiles at the camera lol

[@bolletjebruin7678]

I will never ever force my rabbits to live on dread wire metal gaze floor.

[@bolletjebruin7678]

I will never, ever keep my rabbits on a gaze metal wire floor....

[@uftc1324]

Good for you. I will

[@bolletjebruin7678]

I will never, ever , force my rabbits , to live on a gaze, metal dread wire floor...