What should I inspect on a rabbit before I purchase one?
Before purchasing a rabbit from any source, we recommend checking the following to ensure you’re receiving a healthy rabbit:
1) ears – signs of mites (crust, scratches);
2) teeth – check they are properly aligned;
3) double-check the gender of the rabbit;
4) check the body type of the rabbit to ensure it’s close to the breed’s standard of perfection (located within the American Rabbit Breeders Association (“ARBA”) manual); and
5) feet – check for sore hocks and that their hip alignment is straight.
What (and how much) should I feed a rabbit?
We recommend feeding a diet of primarily pellets and hay. For the pellets I would recommend using something of 16-18% protein for breeding and growing rabbits. In our rabbitry we use horse quality timothy hay to help give our rabbits all of the fiber they need to avoid GI issues. Most pellet brands recommend feeding 0.5 ounces of pellet per pound of rabbit. For my rabbits, the adults usually receive approximately one cup of pellets each day while growing kits are able to free feed.
How can I house rabbits?
Rabbits can be kept in a variety of ways, depending on their purpose. When breeding and raising rabbits we recommend using wire bottom cages to maintain sanitation. It is important, however, to make sure the flooring is 14 or 16 gauge wire to ensure it’s thick enough for the comfort of the rabbit. Pet rabbits can be kept similarly, or even litter box trained to live in the house (similar to a cat).
When do you wean baby rabbits from their mother?
We usually wean young rabbits around 5-8 weeks old.
What should I have setup for my rabbits when I bring them home?
We recommend making sure each rabbit has the following, at minimum:
1) A cage, or other enclosure to keep them contained and safe. This includes having a plan for waste management (e.g., wire bottom cage with a tray, solid bottom cage with bedding, or enclosure with a litter box).
2) Water. Our rabbitry uses bowls, so if using a bottle ensure the rabbit figures out how to drink from it.
3) Hay. We provide our rabbits unlimited access to hay to ensure their fragile digestive system is always moving.
6) Pellets at least once a day. If you’re feeding a different brand than the Kent/Blue Seal Home Fresh Show Hutch Deluxe 17 pellets, be sure to slowly transition the rabbit’s feed by mixing the two brands of pellets for a time.
What are your sales and return policies?
You can view our information on sales and returns here.
What kinds of record should I keep for my rabbitry?
It’s definitely recommended to keep records for your rabbits, even if you aren’t interested in having pedigrees for all of your rabbits. You will want to know, especially as your herd develops, who is related, who has the best growth rates, who’s the most skilled mother, and more.
We have several different record keeping spreadsheets you can use available on our blog to download HERE. These will help in keeping track of growouts, does and their litters, and making a plan for your breeding schedule.
If you are looking for a program to help create pedigrees and more, there are a few that I’ve used or that I would recommend:
– Evans Rabbit Register for Windows (this is what I currently use)
– Who’s Due for iOS & Android (used previously, works great)
– Everbreed (very popular but wasn’t for me)
What grooming do rabbits need?
Most rabbits do not need much grooming, but what they do need is important. They need their nails trimmed regularly to ensure they do not overgrow. Nails that are too long can even cause rabbits to lose their whole nail, or even a toe! They will also occasionally need brushed when shedding, or molting, to ensure that they do not ingest too much hair. Petting and gently brushing them with a comb or brush will also help with the rabbit’s socialization.
I already have rabbits, should I quarantine my new rabbits?
Yes! We recommended separating new rabbits from the rest of your herd for at least 2 weeks. This will help you to make sure they’re adjusting to their new home and the stress of the transition doesn’t cause them to be afflicted by an illness they normally wouldn’t have.
What age are rabbits ready to breed?
Most commercial-type rabbits are ready to breed at 6-8 months old. This is true for the Champagne d’Argent breed.
What is line breeding?
Line breeding refers to carefully breeding 2 related animals to bring out favored traits. This is not a harmful practice in rabbits and is responsible for creating the differing breeds of domestic rabbits.
What are the prices of your rabbits?
Our prices vary depending on what rabbits are available. You can see our available rabbits here, or by clicking on Available Rabbits in our navigation bar at the top of the screen.
Where can I find more information on raising rabbits for meat?
You can find an excellent beginners guide at HomesteadRabbits.com
Need further assistance?
Unable to locate the information you need? Contact us for guidance.