Meat rabbits are self-sufficient and meat chickens aren't

Why meat rabbits are a more self sufficient option than meat chickens.

SageSmokeSurvival

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[katmandudawn]

Many years ago my dad thought he wanted to raise rabbits for food. I agreed to cook them but wouldn’t help kill them. He was accidentally given 2 female identical white rabbits. He named them MaryAnne and MaryAnne. He went out every day to check on them and chat. They finally died of old age.😂

My dad was not a hunter and loved animals. He was very tender hearted, so it went how I expected it would. My dad was the kindest man.

[MA-mhvs]

I knew a man who raised rabbits for food, the only other meat he ate was venison. He never went to the store for meat and was crazy healthy.

[richardbaer]

I raised meat rabbits for 5 years. It's the absolute best way to economically raise meat

[turtlellama]

Listen, I'm all for raising rabbits. They are cheaper to feed, but no one is raising their own backyard chickens to raise cornish crosses. They're raising good, multi-use breeds for eggs and pest control.

[Chili_D_]

The eggs are better as well. They're made of chocolate and filled with caramel or cream.

[jamessimpsoniii]

Preaching to the choir as I've raised Flemish Rabbits, Bobwhite Quail, and Golden Pheasant in my 4 lot property since 2008 and the provide food and crafts from fur, hide, feathers, and taxidermy funds that supplement cost of raising and provide materials for my hunting and fishing ie feather/fur for flies, rabbit gut for bowstring and hide for gloves.

[smas]

Their fresh poop won't burn crop plants in gardens. Valuable.

[greeksandacamera]

Yes we are interested in this.
Very good presentation.

[dakotafrazier]

Thats why you get rhode island reds. Theyre a good dual purpose breed for eggs and meat once theyre older. Also good for pest control, efficient in space, the manure is good nitrogen rich fertilizer as long as youre letting them forage instead of giving them high protein feed. You dont need many. 20 chickens will lay about 6 eggs a day in the winter which is more than enough for 1 person or a couple. When they reach about a year old they can be hrvested for meat and each one or 4 lbs or so before organ removal. They can breed just fine. Its just the type of operation youre running and your personnal needs.

[cameronhigh]

I understand the subject here is "meat animals". However, I would argue that laying hens far out produce rabbits in protein alone. Not to mention B vitamins and numerous other vital nutrients and minerals. Also their pest control abilities and general lack of parasites is a huge plus.

By the way, love your content! 👍

[stormcry]

Having had a pet rabbit as a kid, I couldn't do that kind of farming myself. I'd rather have chicken over rabbit any day, but you do you :)

[ethanbelton]

Another good low maintenance animal that could be used for meat is the North American rock dove. This animal can be harvested as squab and the eggs are pretty good too. Rock doves multiply quickly and maintain themselves as long as they have the right living quarters.

[GriffinAt]

As a poultry breeder I take issue with that statement!

Cornish crosses, ISA browns and hylines are not the only breeds. If you want your own meat birds go for a meat and egg layer pymouth rocks are amazing for reliable egg laying and those girls get massive and pack on weight at a rate that’s slower but they are also long lived.

One issue is they are endlessly curious and will make noise until you feed them.

We don’t even keep them for meat and they’re 7yo doing great. Laying eggs consistently and those girls would have to be almost 10kg each.

[Rullstolsboken]

Also important note, rabbits can eat more things like grass, chickens need more than grass, like grain, and turning grain to meat isn't really valid on a small scale self-sufficient homestead

[Maddogs]

I didn't know I wanted this series 5 minutes ago, but I know I need it now.

[ronmartens]

Great info and a series would be excellent, thanks!

[slouchyjoe]

When I was a kid, even people in the city raised rabbits in their back yards.

[RyanSlade-mf]

I would definitely watch your meat rabbit series. I've researched this a fair bit, but you seem to have a good, practical perspective on homesteading and I would love to hear all about it.

[SgtSnausages]

We do:
Rabbits (Californian)
Goose (American Buff)
Duck (Muscovy)

The Geese and Duck are 100% hands off. Semi-feral. We let them roam the property (9 acres) and 2 ponds. We feed them exactly Zero. We water them exactly zero. We house them exactly zero.

The Rabbit taste better and are easier to process, but the birds are 100% free.

[kennycharles]

I raised rabbits as a youngster that we sold as pets as soon as they were weaned. We almost always sold them with a cage (made more on the cage than on the rabbit itself). We slaughtered the ones that we didn’t sell and sold them to a local mom and pop grocery store. That was about 55 years ago. My best friend and I would go feed and water them before school each day and repeat in the afternoons. I’d really like to get started raising them again for meat but would be very interested in your course.