What do you need to start a rabbit farm?
im 17 and i want to get into cattle farming someday but im still going to school so i want to start a small scale rabbit or chicken farm in my spare time what would i need to start?
Hi…I’ve been raising and showing rabbits for 10 years and also want to become a large animal vet and cattle ranch someday and am almost 18. Breeding rabbits will not make you a profit unless you go large scale, and even then it takes a while. But if you are just in it for fun then the first thing to do is decide what breed you want to raise and how many you want to start your rabbitry with. The general rule of thumb for cages is that the rabbit needs to be able to lay stretched out in any direction and be able to stand on it’s hind legs without touching the top. The most convenient and efficient cages have wire floors so the droppings can just fall through to either a pan if its a stacking type cage in a shed, barn, or garage or just to the ground if it is a hutch outside. If you do get a hutch then it needs to have a good sturdy roof, at least one solid side to face the wind, and be a few feet off the ground to protect the rabbits from predators. With wire floors the only thing you need to watch out for are sore hocks (places rubbed raw on their feet) but a plastic resting mat with slots in it so the droppings can still fall through usually solves this. Pine shavings are the best bedding to put in dropping pans and nest boxes (where the does have their babies). Obviously feed and water bowls, lock down, clip ons, or water bottles are what I use so they don’t spill or dirty their food and water. They do best on a diet of a good quality timothy pellet feed with 16-17% crude protein from Tractor Supply or a feed mill near you. Some brands I like are Purina, Heinhold, Showrite, Producer’s Pride, and DuMor. They usually come in 25 or 50 lb bags for $6-$12, and are much safer, healthier, and cheaper than pet store and grocery store brands. Really that’s about it for things you’d need, they’re pretty low maintence to care for. Grooming depends on the breed and whether it is a show rabbit or not, I would say about once a week in general though. Nest boxes when you decide to breed, the kind I’ve found to be best are also at Tractor Supply and are metal with a removable wood floor for cleaning. Other than that just please find a reputable breeder to buy from and if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.
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