Meat Rabbits

I started doing research into raising rabbits for meat.  I recently got into rabbit hunting through my neighbor and my family LOVES eating rabbit.  However, it is cheaper and less time consuming to raise rabbits than it is to raise a beagle.  Plus, I have a food source I can count on, even though I love hunting, I can not count on my ability to hit game or for the availability of game.  I think I have 8 - 10 in the freezer right now from 5 or 6 trips this year.

Looking through Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits, I saw a lattice house that held the rabbits.  I think we are going to build something very similar.  We have an area of the property that is over run by vines and located amongst some small trees.  The vines can grow up the lattice and provide protection from elements and the shed will fit in very nicely with the natural environment.

As far as the number of rabbits, I think we will start with 2 bucks and 2 does.  That should give us 1 meal of rabbit meat each week through the year plus allow us to build/replace our breeding stock.  Right now I'm leaning toward New Zealand or Californians.  Pretty basic rabbits with a body weight of 8-10 pounds.  The manure will be a great addition to our compost, which is mostly horse manure now (left over in the barn from the previous owner).  I still have to research housing facilities, food costs, etc. before we commit to raising rabbits, but right now we are strongly leaning toward it.