After you have picked out your rabbit and got your cages ready, you’re standing there looking at all you have accomplished. You’re probably going to ask NOW WHAT? Well, if you’re the family that just bought one rabbit for a family pet you’ve got it easy, just enjoy his/her company. On the other hand if you’re that family who decided to raise your own, this is the part where you almost regret it. Do you remember when you where a kid on long road trip and, you were driving your parents crazy asking “Are we there yet?” The look your mother gave you with daggers in her eyes saying “patience is a virtue”. You’re about to put that lesson to work. At first you’re going to think all this is doing is costing me money. How could something so small eat so much? You know I pay this water bill, you could stop dumping the whole bowl?
Its ok! Anyone who has started from scratch has had these exact same thoughts, but it’s all worth it. It takes at least 6 months for your rabbits to reach full maturity and another 28-40 days depending on breed for gestation. Then 4-6 weeks to ween, and another 10-12 weeks to butcher. This is the make-or-break period where you decide if this is for you. Here’s the top 6 meat rabbits, in my opinion, and a little bit about each one.
I’m here to reassure you that it will totally pay off in the long run. That 6 or so months you put into raising your breeders has turned into 3-5 years of production and profit. Just hang in there and see it through to the end.
As always God bless you and yours from me and mine!
