We’ve developed a simple but effective feeding routine for our meat rabbits that focuses on quality and sustainability: an all-they-can-eat combination of organic Modesto Milling pellets (we actually switched to pellets from New Country Organics – the supplier of our chicken feed) and Timothy hay, with access to pasture and pumpkin seeds thrown in for good measure!

Our goal is to ensure that our rabbits’ diet is free from glyphosates and pesticides. Feeding them organic and non-GMO food is more expensive, but it helps ensure that we’re raising the healthiest rabbits possible, and that the meat we eventually harvest doesn’t contain harmful chemicals.

Our approach to raising rabbits for meat is slightly different from our approach to raising grow-out rabbits. Once the meat rabbits stop nursing (at around 8 to 10 weeks old), we move them into mobile rabbit tractors. This not only helps reduce the manure load in their stationary hutches, but also gives them access to fresh grass, which is a great supplement to their pellet intake.

In other words, these young meat rabbits essentially switch from hay to grass, allowing them to graze naturally while still getting essential nutrients from the pellets. We move the tractors daily, which means they get a fresh patch of grass each time, turning them into little lawnmowers as they grow.

We also offer them organic pumpkin seeds because they contain tannins that help prevent parasites in the rabbits’ intestines, which is a natural way to maintain their health. Occasionally, we throw in fresh greens or leftover vegetables from our family’s meals, but the bulk of their food comes from hay and pellets, providing a balanced and nutritious diet.

While some people might worry about the cost of free-feeding pellets, we find that it’s more convenient for our smaller-scale setup. We usually have about 30 rabbits at a time, and with our breeding meat rabbits, we’ve found that free feeding works well without leading to obesity. In fact, we’ve had great success letting them regulate their own intake, and they maintain a healthy weight.

Of course, there are different methods when it comes to raising meat rabbits. Some prefer to raise rabbits on wire cages for faster growth, but we prioritize giving our rabbits more space to dig, burrow, and hop around. While this means our rabbits grow a little slower than those raised in more confined conditions, we feel it’s worth it to raise healthy, happy animals.

That’s our strategy for feeding meat rabbits: a mix of hay, organic pellets, and fresh pasture. It’s been working well for us and aligns with our commitment to raising sustainable meat for our family. If you’re interested in raising rabbits for meat, check out our other rabbit videos where we cover topics like colony raising and more. Thanks for watching, and we hope to see you in the next video!

In this video:
00:00:00 - Intro - What we feed our breeding rabbits
00:02:15 - Feeding our rabbits in mobile tractors
00:04:26 - Balancing rabbit health and growth

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