Four to six months after Easter, some rabbit owners are faced with choices. If Laverne and Shirley turned out to be Lenny and Shirley, there is likely an abundance of bunnies. One choice is to begin raising meat rabbits. Dennis Douthart offers a how-to in this updated article including:
- Production objectives
- Feeding
- Housing
- Breeding
- Health
- Meat processing
- Economics, discussed by Marissa Ames in a footnote
Source: Countryside, October 26, 2019. Link. Raising meat rabbits is relatively easy and domestic rabbits reproduce prolifically. A realistic goal when raising meat rabbits, from medium to larger breeds, would be four or five litters a year. A top consideration when starting out is how many rabbits can a family consume annually.
INSIGHTS: Rabbits are a popular animal for 4-H projects and can be raised in a suburban setting with proper guidance. The manure is also a popular component for adding to garden compost as it is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus < link >. Remember that fly and insect control are important production considerations, as well.