Tips for Raising Rabbits

Raising rabbits can be profitable. People raise rabbits for many reasons, including selling them as pets, making yarn from their fur, showing them or for food. Raising rabbits is cheaper and more productive than raising chickens. It is also easier to grow food for rabbits than it is for chickens, making rabbits less expensive to care for.

Before You Begin
Check with your local zoning commission and board of health to see if there are rules about raising rabbits in your community. You may need a license to raise rabbits where you live, or you may need to have special accommodations if you have a large number of rabbits.

You'll also need to find a regular source of rabbit food and a veterinarian in your area who is experienced in rabbit care. In farming communities, these resources are usually easy to find. In an urban or suburban setting, you may need to travel some distance to get any food that you can't grow on your own.

Cages
Keep the rabbit's cages clean and dry. A rabbit cage should be raised above the ground, and should be at a convenient height for your reach, usually about three to four feet above the ground. You can also build shelves on a wall for the cages. If you do this, make sure the bottom pan is waterproof so spilled liquids and urine do not leak into lower cages. The cages should sit at least 2 inches above the bottom pans.

Each rabbit should have its own cage. Rabbits will fight with each other. Cages should be no smaller than three feet square and two feet in height. The rule of thumb is to have a cage that is four times the size of the adult rabbit at a minimum. The cages should also be in a protected area, so that the rabbits are protected from rain, snow, wind and the sun.

Rabbits will not tolerate extreme cold, so outdoor hutches need to be heated. Rabbits also need plenty of exercise. You can use exercise pens designed for dogs or build a fenced-in area for the rabbits to play. If you'll be leaving rabbits outdoors without supervision, you'll need to install netting or fencing over the top of the pen to keep predatory birds from taking your rabbits.

Feed
Timothy hay is the staple food of a rabbit's diet. Hay should always be available, tied to the upper part of a cage wall so that it won't get wet. Alfalfa hay should only be used in an emergency or for treats, as it lacks the nutrients of Timothy hay.

Hay should be supplemented with rabbit pellets and fresh vegetables. Rabbits eat carrots, endive, broccoli, lettuce and apples. Leafy greens are best, but avoid iceberg lettuce, which is low in nutrients. Offer a variety of fresh vegetables to keep your rabbit happy and healthy. If you have a garden, you can give most of what you grow to a rabbit. You can also use rabbit droppings as fertilizer.

Fruit may be given occasionally as a treat, but it shouldn't be part of the daily diet. Fruits contain high concentrations of sugar and starch that are difficult for rabbits to digest.

Rabbits should always have access to fresh water. A gravity-fed bottle is a better choice than a bowl, because the water will stay clean. Change the water daily and carefully rinse the feeder valve and ball to prevent bacteria from growing.