Colony Raised Meat Rabbits: How We’ve Built a Thriving Rabbitry

Are you considering colony raised meat rabbits but not sure where to start? We’ve been doing just that for over 10 years on our homestead, and we’ve learned a lot along the way. Out of all the systems we’ve tried, colony raising has been the most natural, low-maintenance, and sustainable method by far. Instead of juggling cages and breeding calendars, our rabbits live together in a shared space where they can dig, raise their young, and behave like rabbits. It’s not the only way to raise meat rabbits — but for us, it’s been a total game-changer.

---

🐇 The Herd

Our rabbit herd is a hardy, productive mix built primarily from:

• Silver Foxes – great mothers and excellent meat-to-bone ratio
• American Blues – good size and heat tolerance
• New Zealand Whites – classic meat rabbit, fast growers
• And a touch of Rex for that velvet-soft coat

We recently added a young Flemish Giant buck to bring in more size and hybrid vigor. So far, he’s doing his job well.

---

🏠 The Colony Setup

Our rabbits live together in a 10×20 chain link dog kennel, reinforced with hardware cloth around the bottom 3 feet. This setup helps keep predators out and rabbits in.

We also added shade cloth to the back and sides, which serves two important purposes:

• It blocks the view of our rabbits from predators in the woods behind our property
• It prevents the rabbits from seeing those predators and our livestock guardian dogs patrolling the perimeter — which helps keep them calmer and less stressed

The roof is an A-frame made of heavy-duty tarp, but we plan to upgrade to a metal roof for long-term durability. We’re also looking to pour a concrete slab to stop digging escapes. Originally, we laid field fencing flat around the bottom as a dig guard, but after several years, it’s rusted through in spots — and we’ve had a few adventurous escapees.

For nesting boxes, we use large Rubbermaid totes turned upside down, with a hole cut into the side for entry. They’re affordable, easy to clean, and the rabbits seem to love the cozy interior.

---

🌱 Feeding and Management

We feed our rabbits 16% protein pellets from our local feed store, which gives them the baseline nutrition they need to grow well and stay healthy. On top of that, they get:

• Hay
• Veggie scraps from the garden and the kitchen
• Wild greens like chickweed, dock, dandelion, and bolted brassicas

Watching a group of rabbits dig into a pile of greens is one of those simple homestead pleasures that never gets old.

Breeding happens naturally in the colony. We don’t separate does for kindling unless we have a specific reason. It’s a hands-off, seasonal, and instinct-driven process — and it works just fine for us.

---

🔪 Harvesting

We harvest rabbits as needed — whether that need is managing the population or putting meat on the table. If you’ve ever processed poultry, you’ll find rabbit pretty straightforward. In fact, skinning a rabbit is much easier than plucking a bird, and there’s less mess overall.

It’s not a fun task, but it’s an important part of our food system. We believe in giving our animals a good life and a respectful, humane harvest.

---

♻️ Waste Not, Want Not: Using Every Part of the Rabbit

One of our core values on the homestead is making sure nothing goes to waste — and that absolutely applies to our meat rabbits. We do our best to use every part of the animal, honoring the life that was given and getting the most out of our harvest.

We process our rabbits by hand, ensuring every part is used with care and purpose.

• Feet get turned into rustic lucky rabbit’s foot keychains — a nod to tradition and a fun homestead craft.

• Ears are dehydrated and used as long-lasting, protein-rich dog treats.
• Tails make perfect fluff for cat toy wands — our barn cats give them five stars.
• Hides — we’ve only tanned one so far…

Our first tanned hide — soft, warm, and great for lining homemade winter gear.

We used that first hide to line the inside of leather moccasins. Winter toes approved.

• Bones go into the pot for nourishing bone broth.
• Scraps go to our dogs, who gladly finish what we can’t use.

---

🧠 Final Thoughts

Colony raising isn’t without its challenges. You’ll need to manage:

• Overcrowding
• Buck aggression – this hasn’t been an issue for us, but we do keep an eye on things just in case
• Digging out – concrete floor is on the upgrade list for a reason

But overall, this system works. It’s more natural, less time-consuming, and provides our family with reliable, homegrown protein year-round.

Whether you’re looking to feed your family or build more self-reliance into your homestead, raising meat rabbits in a colony can be a smart, sustainable solution.