Why We Chose Meat Rabbits Over Chickens for Our Family Homestead

We began turning our little gardening hobby into a more functional homestead a little over two years ago. After raising chicks last summer as a trial run, we decided to forgo chickens altogether and rehomed our flock. Here's why we chose Meat Rabbits over Chickens on our family's homestead:

Why We Steered Clear of Chickens

Last summer, we had the chance to hatch eggs and raise chickens. Our homestead was finally getting of the ground--and every homestead needs chickens, right?

Our toddlers had a blast candling the eggs, watching them hatch, and chasing them around the homestead. However, once they got about 6 weeks old, we quickly realized we were in over our heads. Chicken poo is dirty, the chickens tend wander off, and birds contract diseases (and parasites) very easily. Ultimately, rehomed our lovely chickens to a dear friend, and connected with another farmer for our weekly eggs.

Raising Rabbits Instead

Rabbits are surprisingly easy to care for and require less space than larger livestock. They thrive in various environments, making them a perfect fit for homesteaders eager to maximize their outputs without stretching their resources too thin.

Remarkably, each rabbit can produce around 10 pounds of meat in under 12 weeks, offering an impressive return on investment in terms of food production. While rabbit meat tends to come with a certain social stigma, it's important to remember that cultures, including local Native American cultures, have been enjoyed this vegetarian-fed, lean meat for thousands of years.

They are also the perfect family-farm pet. They're friendly and harmless around children, they're an easier animal to have children help care for, and they're relatively clean. Plus, our children get so much joy from watching our bunnies hop and interact with each other.

We ultimately chose to raise rabbits because they are much easier to raise, are more friendly with children, and have far more uses than chickens.

Rabbit Manure: The Gardener’s Gold

Bunny poo is one of the best natural fertilizers out there. What sets it apart? For starters, rabbit droppings are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—essential nutrients that plants need to thrive. Rabbit manure is often termed as "cold," which means you can apply it directly to your garden without needing to compost it first. It's gentle on seedlings and offers a slow release of nutrients into the soil. And because bunnies are vegetarian, there are almost no bacterial and contamination concerns (such as e-coli from cow manure).

Nutrient-Rich Composition

Rabbit manure contains approximately 2.4% nitrogen, 1.4% phosphorus, and 0.6% potassium. Nitrogen boosts leaf growth and is essential for leafy greens like spinach, while phosphorus supports root development in vegetables like carrots. With the right application, you can see significant improvements in your garden's yield.

Easy to Gather and Store

Collecting rabbit droppings requires minimal effort. You can easily gather their waste daily, and it stores well in bags or bins. When gardening season peaks, having a ready supply of rabbit manure at your fingertips can simplify the process of enriching your plants. Any excess can be added into existing compost piles--so there's zero waste!

Additional Benefits of Raising Meat Rabbits

Aside from their impressive manure, raising bunnies brings more advantages to your homestead:

1. Low Feed Requirements: Rabbits are efficient foragers. Diets composed of kitchen scraps and garden trimmings can significantly lower feed costs. Studies show that a balanced diet can reduce feed expenses by up to 50%.

   
   

2. Small Space Requirement: Even in urban areas, rabbits can thrive in small enclosures, making them suitable for homesteaders with limited space. Even a small hutch can fit 2-4 rabbits comfortably.

   
   

3. Rapid Reproduction: Rabbits breed quickly, leading to a larger herd to meet your meat needs. An average doe can deliver 6 to 10 kits per litter several times a year. This fast reproduction rate supports a steady supply of meat.

   
   

Discover the Potential of Meat Rabbits

Rabbits offer much more than just meat; they can revolutionize your garden by enhancing soil health with their rich manure. Their ability to improve your gardening success makes them a must-have for any homesteader looking to boost self-sufficiency.

Happy Homestading!