« Genetically modified foods: how safe are they? | Home | How To Level A Lawn »
Raise Rabbits
| By goGreen | January 8, 2012 |  |
1 Introduction
Raising rabbits is very popular in Europe and North America. In England over one million families have rabbits. In America, people eat 30 million pounds of rabbit meat each year.
There are a number of reasons why raising rabbits is becoming a more and more important activity throughout the world:
* Rabbits can produce large amounts of delicious meat. Although rabbit meat is firmer, it tastes very much like chicken. Rabbit meat contains a lot of protein and is low in calories and fat. So rabbit meat is both good to eat and is a very healthy food.
* Rabbits multiply quickly. A rabbit raiser can start with two females and one male and produce fifty, or more, rabbits in one year. Even a small backyard project in which two to three females and one male are raised can furnish meat to strengthen the family diet. On the other hand, 50 to 150 females can mean a business which provides part-time employment and perhaps extra income.
* Rabbits are easy to raise at home — whether home is in the city or the country: Rabbit hutches do not take up a lot of space, and rabbits are clean, quiet and easy to care for.
* Rabbit skins are also valuable; they can be made into hats, fur-trimmed collars, slippers, pillows, small rugs, etc.
In addition to these reasons, gardeners and farmers often use rabbit manure as a fertilizer. The manure of well fed rabbits contains nitrogen and phosphorus. This manure can be mixed directly into the soil to help the growth of farmers’ crops. Other manures, such as chicken manure, cannot be used this way. This is especially important to farmers and gardeners who cannot afford or find other fertilizers — and to those who wish to make the best possible use of all the natural resources of their farms.
There are only a few simple rules to follow in order to raise rabbits successfully:
* Build a good hutch.
* Begin with healthy animals.
* Give rabbits good care.
Why not try raising rabbits? Good luck and good farming!
Harlan H. D. Attfield
<FIGURE 2>
50p05.gif (353×353)
2 Preparing to Raise Rabbits
Most people who decide to raise rabbits want to produce meat. And they want to produce this meat as quickly, and cheaply, as possible. Therefore, before beginning any part of the project, it is very important to decide:
* how much room there is for raising rabbits. If there is only room for a few hutches, there is a limit on the number of rabbits which can be raised.
* what kinds of breeds of rabbit are available. Some breeds of rabbits grow more quickly; some are better for eating. In other words, it is necessary to check the sources of rabbits to see if a good breed is available. And the breed will determine the size of the hutch.
* what foods are available for feeding the rabbits. Rabbits will eat a variety of foods, but some are more important for rabbits than others. Some will lead to faster growth; some are more expensive; etc.
It is always best to begin any project by studying and understanding all parts of it. Therefore, it is a good idea for a prospective rabbit raiser to read through all the information in this handbook before taking any steps. Successful rabbit raising depends upon setting up the effort so that few problems are likely to occur, and upon
managing the project so that any problems which do come up can be handled quickly and easily.
Choosing the Breed of Rabbit
There are over sixty breeds and varieties of rabbits in the world. These breeds, or different kinds of rabbits, can be put into three main groups, according to size:
Small breeds The Polish rabbit, for example, weighs a little more than 1 kg as an adult.
Medium breeds The New Zealand, California and Palomino breeds have an average adult weight of 4 1/2 kg.
Heavy breeds The Flemish Giant can weigh over 6 1/2 kg as an adult.
This handbook focuses on raising rabbits to produce meat for the table, or even for profit. For this purpose, medium-breed rabbits which grow rapidly are the best choice — they will yield more meat from the amount of food fed them.
<FIGURE 3>
50p06.gif (150×600)
The Hutch
The hutch which is detailed in this manual (Part B, ”Hutch Construction”) is ideal for medium-breed rabbits. It was designed and used successfully by the author. The following discussion presents some of the major factors to keep in mind while building a hutch; for example, protection from wind, rain and sun.
Hutches can and do look very different from one area to the next. There are no critical measurements which say that a hutch must be just so high or so long or it will not work.
There are size ranges which are better for certain types of rabbits. And there are design differences. For example, a hutch in a cold climate may have completely closed sides;
a hot humid climate may suggest more open sides and greater overhang on the roof to increase ventilation. All hutches, no matter how they are different or similar, should
provide:
* plenty of air
* sunlight to the inside of thi cages
* protection from rain and winds
* a quiet home (undisturbed by dogs)
* a self-cleaning floor
* a good roof that does not leak
* a cage for each medium-breed rabbit
* a water container for each rabbit
* a manger(s) for grass
Most people prefer to build a hutch for one male and two females, but some two-rabbit hutches (one male and one female) are also built.
It costs only a little more to build a hutch for three rabbits than to build a hutch for two. Two females will produce more young (and therefore increased meat yield), and the male will not become lazy.
Each adult rabbit must have its own cage. This is very important. Each compartment (cage) for a medium-breed rabbit should measure about 75cm (2 1/2 ft) wide, 1m (3 ft) deep, and 60cm (2 ft) high.
Materials
Many different kinds of materials can be used to build a hutch. The hutch pictured on the next page was made using:
* packing cases
* four eucalyptus poles
* 14 strips of pine
* 1 cm (1/2 in) square wire netting
* one flat sheet of galvanized iron
* binding wire
Hutches can be made of many other woods and materials, including bamboo (see Part B).
<FIGURE 4>
50p08a.gif (540×540)
Protection from weather
<FIGURE 5>
50p08b.gif (437×437)
The weather conditions that most affect rabbits are rain, sun and heat. Rabbits often enjoy sitting in the sun, but they must always be able to get out of the direct rays of
the sun. Too much sun can kill rabbits. Rabbits tolerate cold in their “fur coats” better than extreme heat.
Also, protect rabbits from rain and wind. If the sides, front or back of the hutch are covered only with wire netting, hang sheets of plastic or gunny sacks over these spaces during rains to protect the rabbits. Always place the enclosed back of the hutch to the wind. Rabbits suffer when exposed to drafts. In severe winter it is best to bring the hutch under the shelter of a roof (a corner of the barn) or under the eaves of the house.
Self-cleaning floors
<FIGURE 6>
50p09.gif (600×600)
The floor of the hutch should be no higher than the waist and be self-cleaning. A self-cleaning floor is made by stretching 1 cm (1/2 in) square wire netting in a frame. Wire floors help prevent rabbits from becoming sick and dying because manure and urine pass through the holes of the wire and drop to the ground. The inside of the hutch then stays clean, dry and sanitary.
The manure under the hutches should be gathered every few months and used on vegetable gardens. Rabbit manure is better than the manure of pigs, chickens or cows for growing vegetables.
<FIGURE 7>
50p10.gif (600×600)
Topics: Livestock | 2 Comments »
February 6th, 2012 at 12:58 am
I just want to ask if there’s an existing market for rabbit meat right now. thanks in advance for answering my question.
February 21st, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I live close to Capas. Where in the Philippines can I buy New Zealand rabbits for breeding and subsequent meat for my family and neighbors? About how much should I expect to pay?