₦airaland Forum

Do People Eat Rabbits

Got me thinking of how Rabbit peppersoup will taste.

Nackzy:
Do People Eat Rabbits

Smh.
People do and rabbit is not only for menu, there is a decent demand for them in animal study models.

Please drop update so know.

Also tell us how to prepare them.

Do you skin them or you burn the fur with fire when you slaugthem to eat?

A certain person will read this piece and suddenly decide to be a rabbit farmer. If you don't have the passion and patience and if you are not internally motivated, don't engage in what you cannot sustain.

Keep it up OP.

Redman44:
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.

How can you miss their most obvious food - carrots?

OP: Tell me, have you noticed 'large-sized' snakes in your surroundings by virtue of you breeding them rabbits?

A different question for the whole house to consider: Is there a viable market for rabbits in your neighbourhood beyond keeping them as pets? Do Nigerian buy them for meat?

Very entertaining, engaging, and educative thread I must say. Not those hungry information marketers that wants to bill people with their useless ebooks. Carry on op you too much.

Rabbits are very cool animals

I bought 3 rabbits late last year & they all dyed one after the other. I think I caused it & it was so painful. I constructed a cage that can contain 3 of them, they were all doing fine until one morning, one of them was lying lifeless not knowing what happened but I overlooked it since I still have 2 left. When I made my research, I was told they all dyed of heat paralysis. I used tampolin on their cage instead of a zinc to prevent sun

I’m keeping them as pet (free range)
I have three doe and two of them just gave birth to 15 babies

Really interesting thread, keep it coming please

Peterobiisathie:
I’m keeping them as pet (free range)
I have three doe and two of the just gave birth to 15 babies

wow

Pls op also talk about the market....I don't think rabbits are a thing here in northern Nigeria

Do people eat rabbit, or its bush rat that they do eat!

I saw rabbits sometime ago and i couldn't think of eating such a cool and calm soul. They were looking like angels.

oliverwrites:
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.

Thank God for you.

The same guy almost scam me too when I mentioned that I wanted to buy Azolla. I was lucky the bank reversed the payment after complaint

https://www.nairaland.com/8221131/need-unlock-device/1#136473473

Na Glo he dey always use

Very good meat taste like chicken

Also its a white meat a protein good for the body

99thEnemy:
Got me thinking of how Rabbit peppersoup will taste.

The crown Jewel of the farm, Ṣadé.
My current screensaver.
Cute weaners
Upcoming artistes

I have up to 20 Rabbits. Getting sales for them is the problem

After my Nysc.. because of the little fund I have I started rabbit farming.. reasons: I feed them with only potato leave and it went very well.... Not until I lost all after many years of training them due to illness then...

lekkymich:
I have up to 20 Rabbits. Getting sales for them is the problem

Where's your location?
If you don't mind,my WhatsApp number is on my signature. We can discuss further on Whatsapp

AnI77:
How can you miss their most obvious food - carrots?

Carrot is not what should be served to them frequently but rather it can be given to them occasionally as a treat.

I'm ready to engage this kind of farming. My uncle used to train them, but sooner than later, he lost interest in them.

mightiersa:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>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.

brownie oloriburuku alatenuje nitori olorun 😭🤷‍♂️
Weyrey cannibalist 😱🙆🏿‍♂️
Chukwu nna mere Brownie Ebere 🥺😭

We got two rabbits in January. They're so cute.

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....

where are you located?

My question, are they aggressive?

BlvckSoul:
where are you located?

Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

PETUK:
My question, are they aggressive?

Under normal circumstances, they are not aggressive. Although, if you don't handle or carry them carefully, especially if the way you carry them is painful, they may use their nails.

To answer straightforwardly, they are not aggressive.

My story continuation.... >>>>>>>>>> part 4 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<



What Really Happened to Browny

I’m sure you all remember where I stopped in my last post—Browny, the once excellent mother that suddenly turned into a baby eater.

Immediately I rescued the remaining babies and transferred them to another nursing doe, I began to reflect.

Not emotionally—but critically.

What did I do wrong? Where exactly did things go off track?

Mistake #1: Overbreeding Without Rest

The first thing I realized was this:

I didn’t give Browny enough time to rest.

On paper, you will hear that a rabbit can give birth up to six times in a year.

But on the farm, reality teaches you something different.

Let me show you what I did to Browny:

She was still breastfeeding her babies
At just two weeks, I crossed her again
She continued nursing for another two weeks
I weaned the babies
Within another two weeks… she gave birth again

Looking back now—

That was too much for her body to handle.

I later understood that what happened could be linked to stress and exhaustion, even something close to postpartum breakdown.

And that stress…

Pushed her to do the unthinkable—eat her own babies.

Mistake #2: Poor Feeding Balance

The second mistake was feeding.

I depended too much on pellet feed.

Yes, pellets help rabbits grow fast and look big—but that is not the full story.

Rabbits need balance.

Browny needed:

Hay
Fresh grasses
Greens

But I didn’t provide enough of those.

And that nutritional imbalance likely contributed to her stress and abnormal behavior.

Pellets should support feeding—not replace natural diet.


The Story of Ester

Now let me introduce you to another rabbit—Ester.

Ester was part of my parent stock, but she had her own personality.

While other rabbits were already preparing for their second litters…

Ester refused to mate.

At first, I gave her time.

I told myself:

“Maybe she’s not ready yet.”

But weeks passed.

Nothing changed.

Ester was comfortable—

Eating
Resting
Avoiding every buck

And that was when reality hit me:

This is a business, not a relaxation center.

In rabbit farming, productivity matters.

If rabbits are not breeding, the system is not working.

Taking Control of the Situation

After several failed attempts, I had to intervene.

I carefully restrained her using a rope—just enough to:

Lift her tail
Prevent her from covering her vulva

This made it easier for the buck to mate successfully.

You will know mating is successful when:

The buck makes a sharp sound and falls to the side.

That moment is very clear—you can’t miss it.

Interestingly…

The same Ester that used to run away now mates freely without assistance.

And today?

Ester is one of the best mothers on my farm.

She has successfully given birth and raised multiple litters.

Helping Rabbits Prepare for Birth

Naturally, rabbits prepare for birth—especially in the last week of pregnancy.

But in a farm setting, they are not in the wild.

So as a farmer:

You must support their natural instincts.

My Nesting System

To make things easier, I built wooden nest boxes.

Because of the small cage doors, I designed them to be:

Collapsible
Easy to insert and remove

Since I keep proper mating records, I can predict delivery dates.

So what I do is simple:

I introduce the nest box 3 to 4 days before delivery.

Once placed inside the cage, the doe takes over.

She knows exactly what to do:

Pull fur
Arrange the nest
Prepare for her babies
The Reality of Rabbit Multiplication

Since I started this journey, I’ve seen different litter sizes.

The smallest litter I’ve had: 5 kits
The largest litter I’ve seen: 15 kits

And that brings me to a simple truth:

Rabbits multiply—fast.

But multiplication alone is not success.

Management is what turns multiplication into profit.

What This Stage Taught Me

From Browny and Ester, I learned lessons that changed how I run my farm:

Don’t overbreed your does—rest is essential
Balanced feeding is not optional
Some rabbits need intervention—but do it carefully
Systems and records make everything easier
Good mothers are assets—protect and manage them well

I’ll pause here again.

In my next continuation, I’ll share more practical experiences—including deeper insights into management, mistakes, and how to run a rabbit farm that actually makes money.

Stay with me.

Can I use a block house for the rabbit house