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I’ll keep this story as real and direct as possible. No sugarcoating—just honest experience. And as you read, feel free to ask questions. I’ll answer them along the way.

How It All Started

I never planned to become a rabbit farmer.

In fact, I had never even thought about owning a rabbit—until one day, I visited a popular animal market in Ibadan. That visit changed everything.

There were rabbits everywhere. Different colors, different sizes. At that time, I didn’t know anything about rabbit breeds or farming. To me, they were just small, attractive animals.

Then I saw one.

A young, all-white rabbit.

Something about it stood out. Calm. Clean. Different.

Without overthinking it, I bought it—just as a pet.

I named it Superwhite.

My First Lesson (The Hard Way)

Superwhite quickly became part of the house.

It was gentle, playful, and loved moving freely around. Watching it hop around brought a kind of peace I didn’t expect.

But then… reality set in.

Superwhite chewed everything.

Doors. Furniture. Wooden edges. Anything it could find.

That was my first real lesson:

Rabbits are not just cute—they are active and destructive if not properly managed.

The Turning Point

Instead of getting frustrated, something else happened.

I became curious.

I started observing.

I started asking questions.

And before I knew it, what started as a pet slowly turned into interest… then passion… then vision.

That was when I made a decision:

“This is no longer just a pet. This can become a business.”

Transitioning Into Business

Once I made up my mind, I knew I had to do things properly.

Keeping rabbits inside the house was no longer an option.

I needed:

Space

Structure

System

Building My First Setup

I started small.

I constructed a simple shed using wooden stands and covered it with corrugated roofing sheets. It wasn’t fancy—but it worked.

Then came the most important decision:

Choosing the Right Housing System

I went for metal mesh cages.

Yes, they are more expensive than:

Wooden hutches

Free-range systems

But here’s what I discovered:

Metal mesh cages offer:

Better hygiene

Easier cleaning

Lower disease risk

Better growth performance

Long-term durability

That was when I understood something powerful:

Cheap can be expensive in farming.

My Cage Structure

The cage I purchased had:

3 layers

4 rabbits per layer

That gives a total capacity of 12 adult rabbits.

Interestingly, it can hold even more when the rabbits are still young.

This setup became the foundation of my rabbit farming system.

What Rabbit Farming Taught Me Early

Even at the beginning, I learned lessons that many people overlook:

1. Start Small—but Start Right

Don’t rush to scale. Get your system right first.

2. Housing Determines Success

Poor housing = disease, stress, losses.

3. Rabbits Multiply Fast

If you’re not prepared, they can outgrow your capacity quickly.

4. Passion Matters—but Structure Matters More

Love for animals is good, but systems make money.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this not just as a story—but as a guide.

If you’re thinking of starting rabbit farming:

You don’t need to know everything at the beginning

You just need to start and learn fast

Because sometimes…

All it takes is one rabbit to change your direction.


I will continue the story tomorrow talking about how sourced my parent stocks, challenges and disease management....

Thank you for sharing this interesting and inspiring farming experience. It is a valuable piece of education!

Can you share pics of your rabbits?

mightiersa:
I’ll keep this story as real and direct as possible. No sugarcoating—just honest experience. And as you read, feel free to ask questions. I’ll answer them along the way.

How It All Started

I never planned to become a rabbit farmer.

In fact, I had never even thought about owning a rabbit—until one day, I visited a popular animal market in Ibadan. That visit changed everything.

There were rabbits everywhere. Different colors, different sizes. At that time, I didn’t know anything about rabbit breeds or farming. To me, they were just small, attractive animals.

Then I saw one.

A young, all-white rabbit.

Something about it stood out. Calm. Clean. Different.

Without overthinking it, I bought it—just as a pet.

I named it Superwhite.

My First Lesson (The Hard Way)

Superwhite quickly became part of the house.

It was gentle, playful, and loved moving freely around. Watching it hop around brought a kind of peace I didn’t expect.

But then… reality set in.

Superwhite chewed everything.

Doors. Furniture. Wooden edges. Anything it could find.

That was my first real lesson:

Rabbits are not just cute—they are active and destructive if not properly managed.

The Turning Point

Instead of getting frustrated, something else happened.

I became curious.

I started observing.

I started asking questions.

And before I knew it, what started as a pet slowly turned into interest… then passion… then vision.

That was when I made a decision:

“This is no longer just a pet. This can become a business.”

Transitioning Into Business

Once I made up my mind, I knew I had to do things properly.

Keeping rabbits inside the house was no longer an option.

I needed:

Space

Structure

System

Building My First Setup

I started small.

I constructed a simple shed using wooden stands and covered it with corrugated roofing sheets. It wasn’t fancy—but it worked.

Then came the most important decision:

Choosing the Right Housing System

I went for metal mesh cages.

Yes, they are more expensive than:

Wooden hutches

Free-range systems

But here’s what I discovered:

Metal mesh cages offer:

Better hygiene

Easier cleaning

Lower disease risk

Better growth performance

Long-term durability

That was when I understood something powerful:

Cheap can be expensive in farming.

My Cage Structure

The cage I purchased had:

3 layers

4 rabbits per layer

That gives a total capacity of 12 adult rabbits.

Interestingly, it can hold even more when the rabbits are still young.

This setup became the foundation of my rabbit farming system.

What Rabbit Farming Taught Me Early

Even at the beginning, I learned lessons that many people overlook:

1. Start Small—but Start Right

Don’t rush to scale. Get your system right first.

2. Housing Determines Success

Poor housing = disease, stress, losses.

3. Rabbits Multiply Fast

If you’re not prepared, they can outgrow your capacity quickly.

4. Passion Matters—but Structure Matters More

Love for animals is good, but systems make money.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this not just as a story—but as a guide.

If you’re thinking of starting rabbit farming:

You don’t need to know everything at the beginning

You just need to start and learn fast

Because sometimes…

All it takes is one rabbit to change your direction.


I will continue the story tomorrow talking about how sourced my parent stocks, challenges and disease management....

Nice one!!!

Do well to mention me in your next post. T for Thanks

Nice thread.

Could you share step by step guide?

Rabbit type, Feed type, Feeding pattern, drugs, what to avoid, what do look out for, likely diseases.

Adding pictures to your post will make it more interesting and engaging.

The problem with rabbits farming is feeding them during the dry season. I have 9 of them

From One Rabbit To A Business: My Journey Into Rabbit Farming >>>>>>>>>>>>> Part 2 <<<<<<<<<<<<


Stocking My First Rabbits (And the Mistakes I Made Early)

If you all can remember, I promised to come back and continue my story—so here we are.

After setting up the housing, the next big step was stocking my farm with the right rabbits—the foundation breeders that would determine the future of everything I was about to build.

And let me say this clearly:

Buying rabbits as pets is completely different from buying rabbits to start a farm.

This time, I knew I had to be intentional.

Learning Before Buying

I didn’t want to make blind decisions, so I started asking questions—from sellers and experienced breeders. I also made sure to understand the background of the rabbits I was about to purchase.

One key advice stood out:

The best rabbits to start with are young, newly matured ones that have never been bred before.

In other words, rabbits that have not yet given birth.

I also learned about different breeds—their unique traits, strengths, and weaknesses. That knowledge helped me narrow down my choices.

The Breeds I Chose

After my research, I decided to go with:

New Zealand White

Harlequin

Hyla Max

My initial plan was to start with:

8 does (females)

2 bucks (males)

But reality had its own plans.

The First Setback (Sourcing Problems)

It was harder than I expected to find ready-to-breed rabbits.

After going back and forth with sellers, I was only able to get:

5 does

2 bucks

A total of 7 rabbits instead of 10.

To make matters worse, I paid money for rabbits that were never delivered.

As I write this, I still have ₦50,000 stuck with a seller—and honestly, it’s looking like a bad debt.

Each rabbit cost me ₦20,000, so you can imagine how painful that experience was as a beginner.

That was another hard lesson:

Never commit money to a seller unless the rabbits are physically available and verified.

Responsibility Begins

Now, I finally had my rabbits.

At that moment, everything changed.

No more planning. No more talking.

Their survival was now my responsibility.

The Feeding Mistake That Cost Me

One of the first issues I noticed was that some of the rabbits were not eating pellet feed as expected.

Instead of acting immediately, I made a costly assumption:

“They will adjust in one or two days.”

I was wrong.

I delayed providing alternative feed like:

Fresh grasses

Hay

By the time I finally got those on the third day, the damage had already been done.

The rabbits became weak… then sick.

Within a week—

I lost three rabbits.

The Painful Lesson

That experience taught me something I will never forget:

Rabbits must never stay without proper and adequate feeding—even for a short period.

A few days of poor feeding can lead to:

Stress

Digestive issues

Rapid decline

Death

What looked like a small delay turned into a major loss.

What You Should Take From This

If you’re starting rabbit farming, learn from my mistake:

Always ask questions before buying

Never trust blindly—verify everything

Ensure feed is available before the rabbits arrive

Don’t assume rabbits will “adjust”—act immediately

This stage of my journey was tough—but it shaped how I manage my farm today.

And honestly…

Every serious rabbit farmer has a story like this. The difference is whether you learn fast or quit early.


Part 3 coming soon********

This thread excite me because I'm also a rabbit keeper.Im enjoying every bit of your write up and finding it a bit relatable.Before setting up a rabbit ,just ensure you get the necessary training from expert or the breeder you are buying from in particular, failure to do that could be a bad gamble. Rabbits are cool creatures that wants to live a soft and easy life,they are allergic to stress and will give up easily if exposed to stress.You have to make provision for every thing to make them comfortable such as good feed, medication and a conducive environment and proper hygiene ,that way you'll always have a healthy bunnies 🐰🐰🐰

decatalyst:
Nice thread.

Could you share step by step guide?

Rabbit type, Feed type, Feeding pattern, drugs, what to avoid, what do look out for, likely diseases.

Adding pictures to your post will make it more interesting and engaging.

I grew up in a home where we bred rabbits. We bred rabbits in my dad's house at Oke Ira, Ogba from 1989 to around 2012. So I know so much about breeding rabbits. Rabbits eat a variety of things. They eat elephant grass, tridax weed, this plant that grows about with a yellow flower, plantain leaves ( when you are not able to go out to cut grass for them ) , yam peels, potato peels, pawpaw, guava, plantain peels etc. They also eat mash and pellets etc. The list of rabbit food is endless. Just do your research. Fresh clean water is needed for the rabbits daily.

mightiersa:
I’ll keep this story as real and direct as possible. No sugarcoating—just honest experience. And as you read, feel free to ask questions. I’ll answer them along the way.

How It All Started

I never planned to become a rabbit farmer.

In fact, I had never even thought about owning a rabbit—until one day, I visited a popular animal market in Ibadan. That visit changed everything.

There were rabbits everywhere. Different colors, different sizes. At that time, I didn’t know anything about rabbit breeds or farming. To me, they were just small, attractive animals.

Then I saw one.

A young, all-white rabbit.

Something about it stood out. Calm. Clean. Different.

Without overthinking it, I bought it—just as a pet.

I named it Superwhite.

My First Lesson (The Hard Way)

Superwhite quickly became part of the house.

It was gentle, playful, and loved moving freely around. Watching it hop around brought a kind of peace I didn’t expect.

But then… reality set in.

Superwhite chewed everything.

Doors. Furniture. Wooden edges. Anything it could find.

That was my first real lesson:

Rabbits are not just cute—they are active and destructive if not properly managed.

The Turning Point

Instead of getting frustrated, something else happened.

I became curious.

I started observing.

I started asking questions.

And before I knew it, what started as a pet slowly turned into interest… then passion… then vision.

That was when I made a decision:

“This is no longer just a pet. This can become a business.”

Transitioning Into Business

Once I made up my mind, I knew I had to do things properly.

Keeping rabbits inside the house was no longer an option.

I needed:

Space

Structure

System

Building My First Setup

I started small.

I constructed a simple shed using wooden stands and covered it with corrugated roofing sheets. It wasn’t fancy—but it worked.

Then came the most important decision:

Choosing the Right Housing System

I went for metal mesh cages.

Yes, they are more expensive than:

Wooden hutches

Free-range systems

But here’s what I discovered:

Metal mesh cages offer:

Better hygiene

Easier cleaning

Lower disease risk

Better growth performance

Long-term durability

That was when I understood something powerful:

Cheap can be expensive in farming.

My Cage Structure

The cage I purchased had:

3 layers

4 rabbits per layer

That gives a total capacity of 12 adult rabbits.

Interestingly, it can hold even more when the rabbits are still young.

This setup became the foundation of my rabbit farming system.

What Rabbit Farming Taught Me Early

Even at the beginning, I learned lessons that many people overlook:

1. Start Small—but Start Right

Don’t rush to scale. Get your system right first.

2. Housing Determines Success

Poor housing = disease, stress, losses.

3. Rabbits Multiply Fast

If you’re not prepared, they can outgrow your capacity quickly.

4. Passion Matters—but Structure Matters More

Love for animals is good, but systems make money.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this not just as a story—but as a guide.

If you’re thinking of starting rabbit farming:

You don’t need to know everything at the beginning

You just need to start and learn fast

Because sometimes…

All it takes is one rabbit to change your direction.


I will continue the story tomorrow talking about how sourced my parent stocks, challenges and disease management....

Last Sunday I bought 3 rabbits to eat, immediately I fell in love with them and decided to keep them and added one more.

The joy they give me is so awesome. Good thing the house is mine and I can allow them roam occasionally.

How much did you buy that cage and where in Ibadan? I reside in Ibadan too.

shox:
The problem with rabbits farming is feeding them during the dry season. I have 9 of them

What problem are you experiencing? Let's learn from you.

oliverwrites:
Last Sunday I bought 3 rabbits to eat, immediately I fell in love with them and decided to keep them and added one more.

The joy they give me is so awesome. Good thing the house is mine and I can allow them roam occasionally.

How much did you buy that cage and where in Ibadan? I reside in Ibadan too.

Good that you are keeping them. I also started my rabbit farm by just buying one as pet; today I have more than 150 rabbits of different breeds and sizes.

As per the cage, I started with buying one at 160k but now I design and build cages by myself putting into consideration, iron quality, safety for the little rabbits and ease of cleaning. I do design and build for clients too.

oliverwrites:
What problem are you experiencing? Let's learn from you.

Well, from the person's comment, it is easy to deduced that most grassed and weeds edible to rabbits will not be available during dry season.

if you stay with the story, my story will get there - where i will explicitly talk about feed, diseases, management and marketing.

mightiersa:
Well, from the person's comment, it is easy to deduced that most grassed and weeds edible to rabbits will not be available during dry season.

if you stay with the story, my story will get there - where i will explicitly talk about feed, diseases, management and marketing.

Tridax weed is available during the dry season. It is all around my place at the moment.

mightiersa:
Good that you are keeping them. I also started my rabbit farm by just buying one as pet; today I have more than 150 rabbits of different breeds and sizes.

As per the cage, I started with buying one at 160k but now I design and build cages by myself putting into consideration, iron quality, safety for the little rabbits and ease of cleaning. I do design and build for clients too.

How much do your cages cost and how many rabbits can be put inside?

oliverwrites:
How much do your cages cost and how many rabbits can be put inside?

It costs 160k and it will be self cleaning design of three layers; each layer can house 4 adults, one per compartment, making 12 in total. Practically, it can house more especially when they are still young.

mightiersa:
It costs 160k and it will be self cleaning design of three layers; each layer can house 4 adults, one per compartment, making 12 in total. Practically, it can house more especially when they are still young.

I will like to buy one. I am following you, DM me your WhatsApp number.

You need to follow me on nairaland so I can DM you my number because I don't remember the password to the email I have on file.

oliverwrites:
Last Sunday I bought 3 rabbits to eat, immediately I fell in love with them and decided to keep them and added one more.

The joy they give me is so awesome. Good thing the house is mine and I can allow them roam occasionally.

How much did you buy that cage and where in Ibadan? I reside in Ibadan too.

Pleawe, Where did you buy the rabbit in ibadan?

How much was it sold? How big?

Can they sell and prepare it for someone?

decatalyst:
Pleawe, Where did you buy the rabbit in ibadan?

How much was it sold? How big?

Can they sell and prepare it for someone?

I bought it from my tenant. I am sure he can prepare it for you if need be.

Follow me so I can DM you his number.

oliverwrites:
I bought it from my tenant. I am sure he can prepare it for you if need be.

Follow me so I can DM you his number.

Following you now.

How much per one

decatalyst:
Following you now.

How much per one

I don't think it would be fair on him to tell you the price he gave me. My rent for him is extremely cheap and I guess he tries to return the favour.

I will DM you his number.

mightiersa:
Good that you are keeping them. I also started my rabbit farm by just buying one as pet; today I have more than 150 rabbits of different breeds and sizes.

As per the cage, I started with buying one at 160k but now I design and build cages by myself putting into consideration, iron quality, safety for the little rabbits and ease of cleaning. I do design and build for clients too.

can I contact you to get hyla and improved Dutch rabbits from you

shox:
can I contact you to get hyla and improved Dutch rabbits from you

mightiersa I will also be interested in this. I guess nairaland's bots are making it difficult for you to update the thread, many of us are keenly following you.

P:S: I sent you my whatsapp number. I will like to buy the cage.

Rabbits are wonderful

Someone with the phone number +234 815 249 0506 just tried to scam me claiming they are mightiersa.

Guys be careful. I outed by asking him to reply this thread but claimed antibot won't allow him, click share on my post, he used another account. Guys be careful.

Jesus! Thank God that you were able to detect their evil plans. I am not the one ooo...

You contact me by sending email to me via Nairaland.


I will continue my story tonight. I have been so busy lately.

mightiersa:
Jesus! Thank God that you were able to detect their evil plans. I am not the one ooo...

You contact me by sending email to me via Nairaland.


I will continue my story tonight. I have been so busy lately.

I sent you my WhatsApp number. Maybe you should send me your own number.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Here is Part 3



A Pause… and a Hard Truth About Rabbit Farming

First of all, I sincerely apologize for the delay in continuing this story. I’ve been occupied with quite a lot lately.

But now, back to my journey—the one that started with just a single pet bunny.

Revisiting My Early Mistake

Do you remember when I lost some of my rabbits?

Yes… that painful experience.

It was largely due to my negligence—I didn’t respond quickly enough to their needs.

But if I’m being completely honest… at that time, I tried to shift some of the blame.

I told myself:

“The rabbits didn’t show signs early enough.”

Looking back now, that was just me trying to comfort myself.

Because the truth is:

Rabbits are naturally wired to hide their pain.

They are prey animals.

In the wild, showing weakness makes them targets for predators. So even when they are sick, they often behave as if everything is normal—until they suddenly collapse.

That was something I had to learn the hard way.

Understanding Rabbit Health

From my experience so far, some rabbit diseases can still be detected early—if you know what to look for.

Conditions like:

Snuffles
Sore hocks
Mite infestations

These can show visible signs, even though rabbits try their best to hide discomfort.

That brings me to an important point:

As a rabbit farmer, you must develop the ability to observe and act early.

You don’t have to be a veterinary doctor—but you cannot be ignorant either.

At the minimum, you should have basic treatments available, such as:

Antibiotics
Multivitamins
Anti-coccidiosis drugs
Needles and syringes

However, let me be very clear:

Good management reduces the need for medication.

If you:

Feed your rabbits properly
Provide clean water at all times
Maintain clean housing and environment

Then you will rarely need to use those drugs.

And please—this is very important:

In critical situations, call a veterinary doctor. Don’t gamble with your farm.

The Joy of New Life

After about five weeks of settling my parent stock, something exciting happened—

My farm began to grow.

I started welcoming baby rabbits.

There’s a special kind of joy that comes with seeing your animals multiply—especially after spending money feeding them every day. It finally feels like progress.

I had crossed five does almost at the same time, which meant I was expecting births within a few days of each other.

For context:

Rabbits typically carry pregnancy for 28 to 31 days (though rare cases can go longer).

I once experienced a doe carrying pregnancy for nearly two months—very abnormal, but it happens.

One strategy I learned early is this:

Always breed multiple does around the same time.

Why?

Because it allows you to foster (transfer babies):

From a doe with too many kits
To another with fewer

This improves survival and balances the workload among the mothers.

The Story of Browny

Now, before I pause again, let me share one of the most shocking experiences I’ve had on my farm.

There was a rabbit I named Browny.

She was exceptional.

From her first and second litters, she proved to be an outstanding mother.

Let me explain.

When rabbits are about to give birth, they naturally:

Pull fur from their bodies (especially around the belly)
Use it to build a nest
Cover their babies for warmth

(Remember, baby rabbits are born without fur.)

But not all rabbits do this well.

Some:

Don’t prepare at all
Don’t build nests
Don’t even feed their babies

In such cases, the only solution is to transfer the babies to another responsible mother.

But Browny was different.

She:

Prepared her nest perfectly
Took good care of her babies
Fed them adequately
Even did not allow me to handle them—something many mothers do tolerate

She was calm, protective, and reliable.

A farmer’s dream.

The Unexpected Turn

Everything changed with her third litter.

She gave birth to 9 babies.

The next day, I noticed something strange.

They were now 8.

At first, I thought maybe one had wandered off. I searched everywhere—no sign.

Then later that same day, I witnessed something I will never forget.

Browny was eating her own babies.

Before I could intervene, she had already eaten four of them.

It was shocking. Confusing. Painful.

This was the same rabbit I trusted… the same excellent mother.

What could have gone wrong?

A Question Every Farmer Must Ask

As a farmer, I couldn’t just be emotional—I had to understand.

Why would a good mother suddenly behave this way?

I eventually found answers.

And in my next continuation, I’ll share what I discovered—because this is something every rabbit farmer needs to understand.

I’ll be back soon.

Please be careful of scammers claiming to be me to the unsuspecting members of this forum. You can check my profile to contact me if there is any need at all.

oliverwrites:
I sent you my WhatsApp number. Maybe you should send me your own number.

Apologies. I got notified of the email but I have lost access to the email address used for my Nairaland account. Please check my profile.