06/10/2026
We added rabbits to the farm!
The decision came down to meat rabbits or meat chickens. After doing our research, rabbits were the obvious choice.
We were looking for a small livestock species that could reproduce easily and often, raise their own young, have a high carcass yield, reach processing weight quickly, and be easy to process. Bonus points if they were multi-purpose and could reduce feed costs by utilizing forage.
We love eating chicken, but chickens come with some challenges. Processing requires additional equipment and steps, including scalding and plucking, if you want to make the most of the carcass.
Additionally, the meat chickens most people are familiar with, Cornish Cross, are multi-generational terminal hybrids and aren't practical for breeding on a small-scale homestead. There are other meat chicken breeds, including heritage breeds, that can work well for homesteaders, but their carcass yields typically don't compare to Cornish Cross. Many heritage breeds also take longer to reach processing weight and don't gain as efficiently.
While chickens can be multi-purpose by producing both eggs and meat, the breeds that excel at meat production are generally not the best egg layers. Chickens can forage, but they still require a significant amount of supplemental feed beyond grasses and forbs.
We will still butcher any excess roosters in our flock. The line of laying chickens that we developed produce roosters that reach a decent size and can be utilized for their meat when needed.
Rabbits, on the other hand, checked nearly every box.
They are easy to breed and naturally raise their own young (hence the phrase "breeding like rabbits"). Many breeds have been selected for excellent carcass yields and efficient growth rates. Processing is simple and straightforward. Rabbits are also multi-purpose, producing both meat and hides that can be tanned and used.
Unlike chickens, rabbits can thrive on a diet consisting largely of grasses and forbes. This opens the door to reducing feed costs while utilizing pasture resources.
Rabbits are also remarkably clean animals. Their manure can be applied directly to gardens without composting, making it an excellent fertilizer.
Our goal is to raise rabbits in mobile enclosures, allowing them access to fresh forage while helping build soil health.
For us, rabbits were an easy choice.
We're excited to begin developing our own lines of meat rabbits!
