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How to Raise Goats, Sheep and Rabbits

Page 2 of 24 © How to Raise Goats, Sheep and Rabbits

Table of Contents

DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................................... 4

Survival Farm: Raising Animals for Milk ..................................................................................... 5

Choosing Animals Based on Land Availability and Transport ................................................................... 6

A Special Note for Apartment and City Dwellers ........................................................................................... 6

Raising the Next Generation .................................................................................................................................. 7

Managing Medical Issues ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Keeping Your Milk and Cheese Supply Safe to Consume........................................................................... 9

Alternative Ways to Use Milk ................................................................................................................................. 9

Raising Goats for Self-Sufficiency ............................................................................................. 10

Goat Breeds for Milk .............................................................................................................................................. 11

The Alpine Goat ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Saanen ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Oberhasli ................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Nubian ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Goat Breeds for Meat Production ..................................................................................................................... 12

Boer .......................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Kiko ........................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Kinder ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Goat Breeds for Fiber Production ...................................................................................................................... 14

Cashmere ............................................................................................................................................................... 14

Angora..................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Pygora ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Nigora...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Miniature Pigs vs. Standard Pigs........................................................................................................................ 17

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Raising Pigs ................................................................................................................................................................ 18

Slaughtering and Butchering Pigs ..................................................................................................................... 18

Pig Parts and How to Use/Store Them ............................................................................................................ 19

Raising Rabbits for Self-Sufficiency .......................................................................................... 21

Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Efficiency:................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Urban-Friendly: .................................................................................................................................................... 22

Meat Quality: ........................................................................................................................................................ 22

Purchasing Rabbits ................................................................................................................................................. 22

Breeds ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Housing ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Nutrition ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23

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DISCLAIMER

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN “HOW TO RAISE GOATS, SHEEP AND RABBITS” IS

MEANT TO SERVE AS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF TIME-TESTED AND PROVEN

STRATEGIES THAT THE AUTHORS OF THIS COURSE LEARN OVER THE YEARS. SUMMARIES,

STRATEGIES, TIPS AND TRICKS ARE ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE AUTHORS, AND

READING THIS EBOOK DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT ONE’S RESULTS WILL EXACTLY MIRROR

OUR OWN RESULTS. THE AUTHOR OF “HOW TO RAISE GOATS, SHEEP AND RABBITS” HAS

MADE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CURRENT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR

THE READERS OF THIS COURSE. THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY

UNINTENTIONAL ERRORS OR OMISSIONS THAT MAY BE FOUND.

THE MATERIAL IN “HOW TO RAISE GOATS, SHEEP AND RABBITS” MAY INCLUDE

INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES BY THIRD PARTIES. THIRD PARTY MATERIALS

COMPRISE OF THE PRODUCTS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THEIR OWNERS. AS SUCH, THE

AUTHORS OF THIS GUIDE DO NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY THIRD

PARTY MATERIAL OR OPINIONS.THE PUBLICATION OF SUCH THIRD PARTY MATERIALS DOES

NOT CONSTITUTE THE AUTHORS’ GUARANTEE OF ANY INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION,

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AS FACT AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, MAY BECOME OUTDATED OR SIMPLY INAPPLICABLE

AT A LATER DATE. THIS MAY APPLY TO THE “HOW TO RAISE GOATS, SHEEP AND RABBITS”

AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS SIMILAR COMPANIES THAT WEHAVE REFERENCED IN THIS EBOOK,

AND OUR SEVERAL COMPLEMENTARY GUIDES. GREAT EFFORT HAS BEEN EXERTED TO

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NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION SHALL BE REPRODUCED, TRANSMITTED OR RESOLD IN

WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY FORM, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE

AUTHORS. ALL TRADEMARKS AND REGISTERED TRADEMARKS APPEARING IN “HOW TO RAISE

GOATS, SHEEP AND RABBITS” ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNER.

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Survival Farm: Raising Animals for

Milk

Some preppers believe that they can avoid having anything to do with raising animals if they

condition themselves to live on a vegan diet.

While careful attention to detail can make this a healthy diet choice, it does not pay to rely on

container gardens and aquaponics when there may be times when you will need to rely on

animal meat and milk.

For example, if you cannot grow enough mushrooms or develop a strain of brewer’s yeast for

vitamin B-12, you will need to eat meat.

At the very least, if you have one or two animals on hand that can be used for milk production

and meat, you will be able to stave off malnutrition long enough to pursue other food options.

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Choosing Animals Based on Land Availability and Transport

It is very important to realize that it may not be possible to

have a cow living in your attic, or goats frolicking around in

your rented city dweller living room.

In addition, if you have to move quickly from one place to

another, it will be very hard to move large farm animals.

While you may be able to get away with moving 2 – 3 animals

that are around the same size as a large dog, anything else

won’t be very practical.

From that perspective, if you are going to start raising animals for milk and meat now, it might

make sense to go with “mini” breeds, which are more adaptable to your current living

conditions.

That said, if you already have a few acres of land or have farm property, then you can purchase

larger animals and start working with them.

A Special Note for Apartment and City Dwellers

There is nothing worse than being stuck in a city or apartment building with no food and no way

to tangibly prepare for survival needs. Even if your landlord says you cannot have pets, you are

allowed to have them if your doctor gives you a letter stating that you need a medical service

animal.

Contrary to popular belief, these federal laws don’t only protect dogs, they are meant for any

kind of animal that may offer affection, companionship, or alert you to a medical issue.

Therefore, if you want to have mini farm animals, it should be possible for you to have them in

your apartment; provided there is enough room and you take proper care of them.

At the very least, you can find out more about how service animal laws are managed in your

local area and take steps to get your paperwork in order.

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* Note – It is still relatively difficult to buy dairy quality sheep in the United States. It is best to

locate a working dairy sheep farm and see if you can purchase lambs from them.

** Note – Milking horses can be difficult and dangerous. Horse milk is, however, considered a

delicacy in gourmet foods, and also in the fermented form.

Raising the Next Generation

It is very easy for people not raised on farms to believe that cows and other mammals give milk

all year round. In reality, mammals must give birth before they start secreting milk.

Today, most dairy producers use artificial insemination to force female mammals to get

pregnant, and then take the young away as soon as they are born. Since these animals are

usually hybrid varieties, it is not possible to propagate from generation to generation using

natural methods.

When it comes to choosing animals for your own farm, it will be best to work with heritage

varieties; or for mini animals, once that are certified capable of producing viable offspring.

While these animals may cost a bit more, at least you will be able to build up a herd and keep

them going for decades.

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Needless to say, you will also need to study population genetics so that you know how many

animals to buy and keep at any given time to prevent excessive inbreeding.

Managing Medical Issues

If you have cats or dogs, then you may not be accustomed to the kinds of routine medical care

associated with keeping farm animals. This includes a whole host of different diseases to watch

out for as well as a much more robust inoculation schedule.

Even though these shots will not be available in a crisis scenario, it is very important to be

educated about all the diseases farm animals can develop, as well as how to avoid them.

Depending on where you live, including access to a veterinarian that is also a prepper will be of

immense benefit.

Regardless of whether you need access to antibiotics or don’t know how to turn an animal

around in the womb, this person can help you with those problems now as well as in a disaster

scenario.

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Keeping Your Milk and Cheese Supply Safe to Consume

Aside from pasteurizing milk and cheese products, it is also very important to keep your tools

and equipment clean. Since you will most likely be using bacteria cultures to make various

cheese products, it is very important to keep these strains uncontaminated.

If at all possible, it would be best to have a room set aside exclusively for raising cheese cultures

and the equipment used for that purpose. Here are some additional things that will help you

keep cheeses and milk safe and ready to use when needed:

Have a root cellar or other naturally cool, dry place where cheeses can be stored

Can milk to preserve it and prevent it from going bad

Always date cheeses and milk products, plus add an approximate expiration date to each

label. Use older dairy products first so that you avoid wasting food due to rotting or loss

of quality.

Alternative Ways to Use Milk

Overall, you will find that milk is either drunk directly or turned into cheeses and butters for

food. You can also ferment milk for alcoholic beverages. Depending on the alcohol tolerance

level of the yeast, and the amount of sugar/honey added to the milk, you can easily make

beverages with a fairly high alcohol content. For medicinal wines and wound sterilization, use a

still to concentrate the alcohol, and then store for later use.

Here are some other ways you can use milk that have nothing to do with food based

applications:

Place on sun burned skin to relieve burning and pain,

Mix with salt to reduce itching from bug bites,

Clean hands with a mix of oatmeal and milk. Can also be used as a facial cleanser

Treat Poison Ivy with ice cold milk. Just be sure not to let the milk spread to other areas

because Poison Ivy oils spread easily and can damage more skin that way.

Many people that decide to raise animals for milk find it a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

That said, if you are planning to save money, it may be some time before you break even on the

initial purchase of land, animals, and equipment.

If you are interested in milk animals for survival purposes, planning out your farm area and

getting started as soon as possible will be to your advantage.

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Raising Goats for Self-Sufficiency

Aside from their outrageously fun personalities and the companionship they can provide, goats

are also immensely useful for their production of milk, meat, mohair, cashmere, and natural

fertilizer.

Raising goats is advantageous because these animals are relatively small, thus they require less

pasture and food to remain healthy and productive. Indeed, like urban backyard chickens, many

cities and towns permit homeowners to keep goats, so the urban farmer or survivalist can also

raise and benefit from these animals.

In a more rural or countryside location, goats can also be rotated between pastures and their

dung can be naturally spread out or collected and concentrated for use as organic fertilizer on

your food crops.

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Goat Breeds for Milk

In terms of milk production, goat milk has been rising in popularity in recent years and with

good reason. Known for its lower lactose content, goat milk is generally easier to digest and can

be used in making yogurt, butter, ice cream and other dairy products as well as soap.

Although the flavor of the milk often varies from breed to breed and from goat to goat, some of

the most popular breeds of dairy goat include:

The Alpine Goat

Also frequently known as the French Alpine due to its

roots in the French Alps, this is a very popular breed

for milking, known for relatively high yields of 1 – 2

gallons a day.

With an average butterfat content of approximately

3.5%, they produce a thicker, creamier milk that can

be used to make butter, cheese, ice creams and even

soap.

Saanen

The Saanen is an archetypal breed of white and cream-colored goats that originated in

Switzerland; they are one of the largest of dairy breeds, with females generally weighing 150

pounds or more and bucks reaching 200+ lbs. at

maturity.

Common as commercial milking goats, this breed

can serve as a dual-purpose meat producer and

they are popular as pets and in showmanship

rings for their calm, well-mannered personalities.

Saanen does produce an average of 1 gallon of

milk per day, with butterfat of 2.5 – 3%.

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Oberhasli

The Oberhasli goat, known by many as the Swiss

Alpine, is a very old and popular breed of dairy goat

that originally hails from Switzerland.

Milk production from this breed generally ranges

from ½ -1 ½ gallons per day with butterfat content

of 2 – 3% and the does are known for their sweet,

intelligent temperaments.

Nubian

The Nubian, also known as the Anglo-Nubian, is a

breed known to produce rich, creamy milk with the

highest butterfat content (5% on average) of any

breed.

Nubian goats are generally slightly heavier and

meatier than other dairy breeds, as well, so they

serve well as a dual-purpose breed, with milk

production between ½ – 1 ½ gallons per day.

A good dairy goat gets better with age, as well, both in quality and quantity of the milk she

produces. A yearling doe who has just had her first kid, for instance, won’t produce as much milk

as a more mature 3 or 4 year old doe who has been bred two or three times.

Finally, if you keep an intact buck for breeding purposes, be sure to keep him away from your

milk herd. Intact male goats produce a strong, characteristic odor that affects the flavor of your

doe’s milk.

Goat Breeds for Meat Production

Most dairy breeds serve well as dual-purpose meat producers, so you can raise and slaughter

unwanted or unneeded males and females who don’t produce well or aren’t good mothers.

If you’re specifically interested in a fast-growing breed for meat production, though, here are

some of the top breeds that have been selectively bred for meat production.

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Boer

The Boer goat is one of the most popular of all

breeds for meat production.

With bucks growing to between 240 – 300 pounds at

maturity, the Boer can also be crossbred with Nubian,

Alpine, Oberhasli, Angora and Kiko goats to produce

offspring with varying growth rates, meat production

and increased milk production. Boer goats are hardy,

resistant to disease and prolifically reproductive,

especially after their first breeding.

Kiko

The Kiko goat breed originated in the 1980s in New

Zealand when two companies began experimenting

with crossing feral New Zealand goats with domestic

dairy breeds.

After many years of selective breeding, the result is

the fast-growing, hardy breed known as the Kiko.

This breed adapts well to most climates and has also

been crossbred with other meat producing breeds to

take advantage of its low maintenance and resilience

as a breed.

Kinder

The Kinder goat breed originated in 1985 when two

Nubian does were first crossed with a pygmy goat.

Thanks to their pygmy heritage, kinder goats can

breed at any time of the year, and they are known for

being a great dual-purpose meat and dairy producer.

The milk from kinder does is sweet and known for

high butterfat content (often 5 – 7%) and more milk

solids, making it ideal for butter, cheese and soap

making.

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Goat Breeds for Fiber Production

And if companionship, meat and milk production aren’t enough to convince you of how

versatile and useful goats are, there are several breeds that have been raised for fiber

production.

The fine wool from goats is known as mohair, while cashmere also comes from specially bred

goats. As some of the finest, most expensive wool in the world, mohair and cashmere are prized

for textile use.

Some of the best breeds for mohair or cashmere production include:

Cashmere

The Cashmere goat is a broad term that refers to

any breed of goat that produces cashmere wool

(which is the very soft, downy inner wool of their

winter coat) of fine quality and large quantity.

Cashmere goat breeds are most commonly found

throughout Asia, including in China, India, Mongolia

and Tibet.

Angora

The Angora goat traditionally hails from Turkey, and is known for its production of ample

quantities of very fine mohair.

Angoras are shorn twice a year, unlike sheep, which are

shorn only once. Angoras, despite their coats, bear no

relation to sheep.

Angora goats generally produce 8 – 12 pounds of

mohair each year, but their wool production can be

severely curtailed by poor diet or lack of proper

mineral supplementation.

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Pygora

The Pygora is a hybrid breed that resulted from the

crossbreeding of angora goats with pygmy goats,

thus giving the goats a smaller and more compact

stature with greater fiber and wool production

capability.

Small and compact (mature does generally weigh 65

– 75 pounds, with mature bucks weighing between

75 – 100 lbs. Most pygora goats are kept for their

fiber production, but they can also be milked and will produce ¼ – ½ a gallon of milk per day;

they are also very friendly and intelligent.

Nigora

The Nigora is a great dual-purpose breed that

produces marketable quality and quantities of fleece

as well as a decent quality and quantity of milk.

Generally crossed between miniature dairy goats of

Swiss descent and fiber producing goats such as a

cashmere breed or an angora goat, the nigora breed

are a medium-sized goat with friendly and sociable

personalities that make them ideal for family pets,

companionship and small scale farming or self-

sufficiency operations.

All goat breeds are known for their curiosity and intelligence, though, so be prepared to

reinforce your fence if they discover weak spots. Most breeds live between 10 – 20 years

naturally, with prime slaughter age for meat goats generally being anywhere from 6 months – 2

or 3 years.

Does who have been in the milking herd for several years may produce good milk for upwards

of 4 – 6 years or longer, but repeated breeding shortens a doe’s lifespan to 8 – 10 years on

average.

Whether you raise your goatherd for meat, milk, and/or mohair or cashmere production, your

goats can also serve you well in clearing new land for agricultural use.

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Goats of all breeds are renowned for their foraging behavior; natural browsers, goats actually

prefer many weeds to traditional grasses and hays, so you can set your herd on a patch of

poison ivy or thorny blackberries and they’ll steadfastly munch away on all that unwanted plant

matter.

In addition to clearing the unwanted brush, your goatherd will also deposit rich, natural fertilizer

in the form of their dung.

Meanwhile, their cloven hooves will prevent them from packing the soil down too much. With

their complimentary tastes, goats and sheep can also be grazed in mixed groups; while the

goats devour brambles and weeds, the sheep will focus on the grasses.

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Raising Pigs and Using Them for

Survival

When it comes to raising pigs for commercial purposes, there is a joke in the industry that

everything is used but the squeal.

If you are looking for a multi-purpose animal for survival purposes, pigs are ideal. Aside from

getting meat from pigs, just about everything else can be used to bolster your chances of

survival.

Miniature Pigs vs. Standard Pigs

During the initial days of a social collapse, you are bound to be on the run or stuck indoors.

Unless you have several acres of land, it may not be possible to have full sized pigs and ensure

their safety. On the other hand, miniature pigs are growing in numbers as household pets.

You can easily transport them by car and keep them indoors until rioters or other criminals leave

the area. While you may not get as much meat or other resources from miniature pigs, you can

always build your herd up so that you have enough to live on.

It is also important to realize that full sized pigs require more water and food. Even if you keep

larger pigs at a well-fortified bug out location, it may not be possible to take care of them all.

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For example, in the event of a nuclear attack or other disaster that makes water and food unfit

for consumption, you will not have enough resources to care for full sized pigs. That said, if you

can purify enough water and scrape together enough food to feed a person, you can also take

care of miniature pigs.

Raising Pigs

Pigs make ideal farm animals in the sense that they will eat almost anything and require

relatively little care. You can keep full sized pigs in a pen as long as they have access to plenty of

water, mud, and grass. Since pigs are also cheaper to buy than many other farm animals, it will

be a bit easier to get started with them.

Even though pigs tend to be resistant to the kinds of diseases that would wipe out a herd of

cattle or a flock of avians, they still have their illnesses to watch out for. This includes E.coli and

other bacterial infections.

Since pig skin is actually very sensitive, you should always keep an eye out for dermatitis. Even a

slight cut on a pig’s skin can lead to a serious infection.

Slaughtering and Butchering Pigs Unlike avians and cows, you cannot get much other than manure and good company from pigs

without slaughtering them. If you have never hunted or killed an animal for food, then you may

have a very hard time with this aspect of keeping pigs.

Before you decide to keep pigs, take the time to study slaughter methods and take note of how

you feel about each method. If the methods you find seem inhumane, keep looking until you

find something you can deal with that will not lead to contaminated flesh or serious injury to

yourself or others.

When it comes right down to it, slaughtering and butchering any animal, including pigs is not

something you can learn and master from studying a book, article or video, and then try to

experiment with on your own. Here are some important points to consider about mastering pig

slaughter:

There is a huge difference between reading or watching videos on pig slaughter and

actually dealing with an animal that will fight to the death for its life.

When you take the life of an animal, make sure you will not waste any part of the

body. This is a matter of respect for the animal’s life as much as it is common sense for

survival needs.

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If you make a mistake or get wrong information about slaughter methods, you can get

injured or killed.

If you don’t have the right equipment, you may contaminate the meat or cause other

problems.

Inability to treat cuts and scrapes that may be contaminated with pig blood and flesh can

open you to all kinds of disease, as can improper handling of the carcass.

Once you become acquainted with slaughter methods, find a pig farmer that will supervise your

first kill and the butchering process. This learning and apprentice period is essential for helping

you to determine whether or not you can slaughter and butcher pigs on a regular basis, as well

as help you learn the safest way to carry out these tasks.

Quite frankly, if you cannot slaughter pigs respectfully and use all the parts responsibly, you are

better served by looking to other means of meeting survival needs.

Pig Parts and How to Use/Store Them

Aside from using the muscle for pork chops and bacon, pork can be made into jerky for long

term storage. You can also make salted hams and other forms of preserved meat that will last

months in cold storage.

Here are some other things you can use pigs for:

Pig intestines can be used for making sausage or

chitterlings

Pig giblets and brains make good soups and stews

Pig bones can be burnt to make bone char, which can be

used as a bleaching agent and remove heavy metals from

water.

Larger bones can be sharpened and shaped to make

weapons.

Smaller bones can be used for needles and other small tools.

Hair can be used for stuffing pillows or sewn into blankets for bedding.

Pig hides are very resilient when properly stretched and tanned. They can be used for

shoes, clothing, and sewn together to make a shelter.

Pigs’ feet, ears, and tongues can also be consumed, and are considered a delicacy in

some parts of the world.

Pig droppings are ideal for making fertilizer for the garden, as are any parts that you do

not use for food or other purposes.

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There is no question that many survival needs can be met by keeping pigs. On the other hand, if

you cannot slaughter these animals for meat and other needs, you will not be able to use your

resources effectively.

Rather than wait for disaster to strike, now is the time to be honest with yourself and take steps

to work with a pig farmer to learn what you need to know about every phase and stage of pig

keeping.

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Raising Rabbits for Self-Sufficiency

Rabbit is not a mainstream source of meat these days, but it didn’t used to be that way. For

centuries, people have raised these animals on their farms for food, and for many thousands of

years before that, hunted them.

Rabbits breed easily, grow quickly and are relatively easy to keep and care for. Able to thrive

even in small spaces, it’s no wonder that meat rabbits are enjoying a surge in popularity, both

on large homesteads and small urban farms.

Benefits

Meat rabbits offer numerous benefits to the right home so long as their needs are met (which

isn’t hard to do). Below are just a few reasons to consider adding meat rabbits to your home:

Efficiency:

One huge benefit to raising rabbits for their meat is that they are such efficient producers. For

one, these critters mature quickly. One meat buck can be ready to butcher and supply your

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family with 5 pounds of meat in as little as 10 weeks! Also, it is said that a rabbit can produce 6

pounds of meat with the same amount of feed that takes for a cow to produce one pound of

meat. If larger livestock is too expensive for you to raise, meat rabbits are easy to raise on a

budget.

Urban-Friendly:

Meat rabbits can be a great option for the urban homesteader. Unlike larger livestock, rabbits

require very little space to be happy and healthy. In fact, they often take even less space than

backyard chickens.

The traditional all-wire hutch that most meat rabbits are housed in have a floor space of only

about 2.5 x 3 ft or so, and multiple enclosures can easily be stacked or lined up side-by-side

along a wall. Another urban perk of owning rabbits is that they are quiet. If noise in your

neighborhood could be a problem, these rodents can be the perfect solution. They don’t bray,

cluck, crow or make much noise at all, other than an occasional quiet grunting.

Many owners claim that the most noise their rabbits make is the sound of hopping around in

their wire enclosures.

Meat Quality:

If you’ve never tried it before, rabbit meat is very tasty and very good for you. It is a lean white

meat that’s very rich in protein (about 20%), low in cholesterol and lower in fat than any of the

mainstream meats, including beef, pork and chicken.

In fact, some are calling rabbit the “meat of the future.” Rabbit meat’s taste and texture is very

similar to chicken, and it makes a great chicken substitute in recipes, though of course it has a

mild flavor all its own. Even if you’re not interested in raising meat rabbits for yourself, their

meat is certainly worth a try.

Purchasing Rabbits

While not as popular as chickens, meat rabbits are fairly easy to come by. Not that these types

of rabbits are a specific breed – not just any pet bunny breed is suitable for eating.

You can purchase meat rabbits from a local breeder (a national rabbitry directory can be found

online), 4-H club, or local feed store.

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Breeds

Large and stocky, meat rabbit breeds are much heavier than your typical pet bunny or wild

cottontail, usually weighing in at 10 pounds or more at maturity. There are numerous breeds of

meat rabbits to choose from, some of which are quite rare. Below are some of the most popular:

New Zealand: The New Zealand is a favorite among many enthusiasts. They come with

red or white coats, and are especially easy to butcher for eating.

Californian: Another favorite breed, the Californian is an all-American breed developed in

the 1920s. It features the weight and quality meat of the New Zealand, with a more

quality pelt that you can sell after butchering.

Flemish Cross: A cross-breed of the Flemish Giant and the New Zealand or Californian,

Flemish Crosses are an extra-large breed with quality meat.

Housing

Traditionally, rabbits are kept in open-air hutches above the ground outdoors or in a small barn.

While sometimes made of wood, most of these enclosures are made of wire mesh, including a

tighter wire mesh flooring, which allows their droppings to fall through.

Some new owners may be surprised at the recommendation for wire flooring, but this type of

enclosure is considered both very sanitary and humane for these animals. To add to these

animals’ quality of life, as well as take advantage of their grazing nature, some owners choose to

set their rabbits in portable outdoor runs around the yard for a short time.

If you choose to do this, however, be very careful – rabbits are very talented and driven diggers,

and can make themselves a burrow in a surprisingly short amount of time.

Nutrition

Most meat rabbits are fed a diet of commercial pellets, which are made up of alfalfa hay, oats,

barley and other grains, as well as plenty of fresh timothy hay, which they love.

In addition, you can always add more variety and nutrition to your meat rabbits’ diets by

supplying fresh greens, vegetables and even fruits. Many rabbits seem especially partial to

lettuce, carrots and apples. No matter what you choose to feed your rabbits, make sure fresh

water is available at all times and that you purchase the highest-quality feed possible.

Remember, you eventually eat what they eat!

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Meat rabbit enthusiasts all agree – these animals are not nearly as popular as they should be.

Cheap and easy to care for with little space and almost no noise, these hardy livestock are

perfect for beginners and those looking to add another source of meat for their family.

Whether you’re a new urban farmer just starting out or an experienced homesteader out in the

country, meat rabbits can offer great return for your efforts.

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