Why Meat Rabbits are better than Chickens
As a concerned and skeptical consumer of our modern day food supply. I, like many other homesteaders, have done our research to learn how to produce the best quality meat we can for our families. This post is going to be from a prepping and control of your own food perspective. Personally, and you most likely agree, the whole reason I want to opt out of the industrial food system is to be more sustainable, to be more resilient, to have more control over our food!
The benefits of raising meat rabbits far out ways raising meat chickens. For many reasons. Let me explain. Unlike meat chickens, rabbits can quickly reproduce and you do not have to rely on outside sources. They are easier to process, quieter and have more uses. Rabbits are more sustainable all around but more specifically with feed efficiency and sourcing . For homesteads looking for a steady, low-maintenance, and sustainable protein source, meat rabbits stand out.
Key Takeaways
- Rabbits are more efficient and sustainable for meat production compared to most chickens.
- Rabbit meat is more nutritious, with higher protein and lower fat content than chicken.
- Raising meat rabbits is a reliable, low-maintenance, and sustainable option for homesteads.
- Rabbits can be bred and raised on-site, allowing for a closed-loop, self-sufficient system.
- Rabbits are easier to process in comparison to chickens.
Introduction to Raising Meat Rabbits vs Chickens
Both raising meat rabbits and raising meat chickens can work for homesteading. But, they offer different benefits. Rabbits are easier to care for. They need less work and you can get meat from them constantly, without buying new animals often as compared to chickens.
Chicken is a more socially accepted meat than meat rabbits. You can use their meat in many dishes. But, keeping chickens needs more specific tools like brooders and heat lamps. As posed to rabbits where the Does do most of the work raising their young.
Advantages of Homesteading with Rabbits or Chickens
When deciding to raise rabbits or chickens for meat on your homestead, there are a few things to consider. Rabbits do not take up much space. You can either house them in a hutch system like I do or you can raise them in a colony style system. Either way Rabbits and chickens both do not take up much space which makes both of them ideal for small to medium sized scale homesteading.
Chickens are usually loved by many and their meat is well-received. If you raise both chicken and rabbits for meat it provides variety. And chickens offer pest control without the use of harmful pesticides being sprayed all over your land. But, we have egg-layer chickens for this purpose.
Challenges of Choosing Between Rabbits and Chickens
Deciding on meat rabbits or meat chickens brings some hurdles. Chickens are more desired, but they require a lot more expense and care when raising them, especially when starting out. Chickens are nice because you can supplement their feed with food scraps to cut the cost down. But with rabbits, they have more sensitive digestive systems than chickens. Chickens can eat more of a variety of things as opposed to rabbits. Rabbits are more sustainable though because they do not require grain to feed. Back to my prepping perspective, this makes me less reliant on buying pellets from stores. So if a supply chain issue happens, I will not be affected when raising my rabbits. They can easily be put on pasture in rabbit tractors and eat local vegetation and hay and survive just fine.
Getting Started: Rabbits vs Chickens
When you think about meat farming, the amount of supplies you’ll need up front is important to consider. Let’s compare what you need to get started with both rabbit and chicken farming.
Equipment for Raising Meat Rabbits
Starting with meat rabbits needs some upfront investment. But, the good news is, you can use the equipment for many years. For a good start with meat rabbit housing, you will need hutches or a colony style set up. This will obviously require lumber and hardware. Don’t forget about feeders and water bottles. You can also start with more affordable, homemade options, lowering your initial cost. When we first started we discovered that store bought nest boxes are expensive. So we decided to build our own which saved us a lot of money. Now we have about 10 nest boxes on hand and we made them the way we wanted. We also built our own hutches. When it comes to processing rabbits, all you need is a way to dispatch, which can be done with an old broomstick or a hopper popper, and a hanger and knife. Simple and easy. Requires little set up.
Equipment for Raising Meat Chickens
For those interested in meat chickens, the start-up equipment is also important. You’ll need a brooder that’s safe and warm, like a big plastic tote. A coop and or a chicken tractor. Other gear to get includes a heat lamp, bedding, feeders and water containers. Raising meat chickens requires you to have a chicken plucker, a scolding pot with a gas heater underneath along with other miscellaneous supplies that goes along with processing chickens, adding to the startup costs for raising meat chickens.
Ongoing Costs of Raising Rabbits vs Chickens
The costs of keeping meat rabbits are usually less than raising meat chickens. It takes about 3 pounds of feed for a rabbit to grow 1 pound. So, a 5 pound rabbit can be fed with roughly 15 pounds of feed, which costs around $7.20. Rabbits give about 60% of their weight in meat, meaning you get 3 pounds of meat from each one. This makes the cost roughly $3.06 per pound of meat. Rabbits can eat grass, which cuts food expenses, but they may grow a bit slower as a trade-off.
Feed and Growth Costs for Meat Rabbits
Raising meat chickens is more expensive than raising rabbits. Jumbo Cornish Cross chickens need 14 pounds of special feed each to reach 6.5 pounds by 8 weeks. This feed costs about $11.78 per chicken, making their meat cost around $3.80 per pound. Heritage chickens grow slower and give less meat than meat breeds, even though they are more sustainable.
I personally feel that if I were to raise Cornish Cross chickens for meat, like I have before, I mind as well just buy my chicken from the store. The Cornish Cross breed is a mostly factory farmed animal that is bred for the sole purpose to grow in a short period of time. All of their energy goes to producing body mass rather than its energy going to producing a well rounded healthy chicken. Plus when small scale homesteads raise this breed of chicken their efficiency lowers due to different factors. A Cornish Cross has no survival instinct and cannot take the stress that a homestead may present like they would be able to in a factory climate controlled setting. They also have a high mortality rate and you cannot reproduce them. So you would have to always rely on getting your stock from the industrialized system.
Feed and Growth Costs for Meat Chickens
| Metric | Meat Rabbits | Meat Chickens |
| Feed Conversion Ratio | 3:1 | 2.5:1 to 2:1 |
| Feed Cost per Animal | $7.20 (for 15 lbs of feed) | $11.78 (for 14 lbs of high-protein feed) |
| Live Weight at 8 Weeks | 5 lbs | 6.5 lbs |
| Dress-Out Percentage | 60% | 70% |
| Meat Yield per Animal | 3 lbs | 4.5 lbs |
| Cost per Pound of Meat | $3.06 | $3.80 |
Feed comparison to Average rabbits compared to Cornish Cross.
Meat Yield from Rabbits
Rabbits, specifically New Zealands or Californians, can hit 5 lbs in 8 weeks. You get about 3 lbs of meat from them. They dress out to about 60% of their live weight, which is pretty efficient.
Meat Yield from Chickens
Commercial meat chickens, like the Jumbo Cornish Crosses, reach 6.5 lbs by 8 weeks old. This gives you around 4.5 lbs of meat. But, processing chickens is harder. It needs scalding to remove feathers, which is tough and takes time.
Ease of Processing Rabbits vs Chickens
Processing rabbits is much simpler than chickens. You only need a sharp knife, a table, and cold water to wash them. Whereas with chickens you need multiple people to help make the process smoother and extensive set up and clean up after.
Nutritional Value: Rabbit Meat vs Chicken Meat
The difference in the nutrition of rabbit meat and chicken meat is clear. Rabbit meat is full of nutrition, with the highest digestible protein in any meat. It has the least amount of fat too. A 3 oz serving of rabbit meat has 147 calories, 3 g of fat, and an amazing 28 g of protein.
On the other hand, diced or chopped chicken meat has more calories – 335. It also has more fat, with 19 g, and slightly higher protein, 38 g. Yet, rabbit meat is rich in important vitamins and minerals, like iron and vitamin B6.
| Nutritional Value | Rabbit Meat (3 oz serving) | Chicken Meat (1 cup serving) |
| Calories | 147 | 335 |
| Fat (g) | 3 | 19 |
| Protein (g) | 28 | 38 |
| Iron | Higher | Lower |
| Vitamin B6 | Higher | Lower |
The outstanding nutritional benefits of rabbit meat are clear. It has fewer calories and less fat than chicken meat. But, it offers more protein and essential nutrients. This makes it a top pick for those wanting a healthy, low-fat meat.
Why meat rabbits are better than chickens
Rabbits are a better choice than chickens for sustainable meat. Meat chickens, being hybrids, can’t breed. They depend on us to make more. On the other hand, rabbits are natural breeders. A pair can yield a lot of meat each year for 3-5 years. This makes a closed herd system possible. In this system, the risk of disease is lower. Plus, you save money by not constantly buying new animals. Rabbits have a distinct advantage over chickens when it comes to sustainable breeding and reproduction.
Low Mortality Rates in Rabbits
Rabbits beat out chickens in survival rates. Chickens for meat purposes can lose between 10-25%. Yet, rabbits often have almost no deaths in their young. This is because rabbits are quite tough. They do well in clean places with good food and water. This low death rate means you get more meat with fewer losses. Rabbits have significantly lower mortality rates compared to meat chickens.
Feed Efficiency and Conversion Rates
Rabbits excel when it comes to turning feed into meat. It takes 3 lbs of feed to create 1 lb of rabbit meat. In comparison, it takes 2.5 to 2 lbs of feed for chicken meat. What’s great is rabbits can eat a variety of foods. They turn things like grass and garden scraps into top-quality protein. This makes them even more efficient and sustainable. Rabbits have one of the best feed-to-meat conversion ratios.
Urban and Suburban Suitability
Rabbits are better than chickens for those living in cities or suburbs. They need small spaces and can be kept in hutches. On the other hand, chickens need a lot of room for roaming. This can be hard to find in small backyards.
Space Requirements
Rabbits are perfect if you don’t have a big area. They can live in small hutches. This means you can keep them in your backyard or patio. Chickens, in comparison, need more space, something small areas often lack.
Noise Levels
Rabbits are very quiet. They might make noise if scared, but it’s rare. Chickens, on the other hand, are loud. They cluck often, and roosters crow. In tight locations, this noise can be too much. So, rabbits are a better option for a quiet homestead. You can have rabbits and no one would ever know.
Odor Management
Rabbits and chickens both create waste. But, rabbit waste smells less and is easier to manage. With regular cleanup, it’s not a big issue. Chicken coops smell stronger and need more cleaning. This makes keeping your space pleasant harder. And let’s face it, chicken poop is runny and gross, but rabbit poop is the complete opposite.
Fertilizer
Rabbits and chickens produce great fertilizer for gardens. Chicken fertilizer has to sit for a year and be composted before you can put it directly in your garden. Whereas rabbit fertilizer can be added to the garden right away.
Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency
Using meat rabbits is good for the environment and makes you less dependent on others. You can grow almost all their food yourself. This keeps things running smoothly even if there are problems with getting food from stores. Meat chickens need a lot of pellets and you always have to rely on a hatchery. Plus you have to care for the chicks daily until they are old enough to go outside. Rabbits do not require any extra supplies to produce and they do all of the work for you! This makes chickens harder to take care of compared to rabbits.
Eating rabbit meat is a big step towards being independent. It makes your home stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, raising meat rabbits is a better choice for many homesteaders than chickens. Rabbits cost less to start and maintain. They eat less food but produce more meat.
Rabbits are easier to handle than chickens. Their meat is also healthier. If you live in a city or suburb, rabbits are more practical. They need less space, are quiet, and don’t smell as bad.
Rabbits beat chickens in both green and self-reliance points. You can breed and keep them all at home. This reduces the need for relying on outside sources. For those serious about providing their own meat, raising meat rabbits is an excellent choice.
Choosing between rabbits and chickens means looking at your space, money, and what you like. But rabbits come out on top for several reasons. For a steady protein source, seeking a sustainable and self-sufficient source of protein with rabbits is a great idea.
rabbit tractor
FAQ
What are the advantages of raising meat rabbits compared to meat chickens?
Meat rabbits offer several benefits. They have lower start-up and ongoing costs. At the same time, they are very efficient with their feed. This results in significantly lower mortality rates. Meat rabbits also are more nutritious than meat chickens.
They are a great choice for urban and suburban areas. They need less space, are quiet, and easier to manage odor-wise.
How do the start-up costs for raising meat rabbits compare to raising meat chickens?
The cost to start raising meat rabbits can seem high at first. You’ll need hutches and feeding equipment. The good news is you can use this setup for years.
On the other hand, starting with meat chickens is also a significant investment. You’ll need a brooding cage, coop, and other items that can cost several hundred dollars.
What are the ongoing costs of raising meat rabbits compared to meat chickens?
Maintaining meat rabbits is generally cheaper than keeping meat chickens. Rabbits are efficient, needing 3 lbs of feed for 1 lb of growth. This makes the meat cost around $3.06 per pound. Meat chickens are more expensive to feed, costing about $3.80 per pound of chicken meat.
How do the meat yields and processing differences between rabbits and chickens compare?
Rabbits give out 60% of their weight as meat, around 3 lbs per rabbit. Processing them is easy, needing just a few tools and cold water.
Meat chickens yield more meat, about 4.5 lbs per bird. But preparing them involves more work. You need to scald them to remove feathers, which can be tough and messy plus many other steps.
What are the nutritional differences between rabbit meat and chicken meat?
Rabbit meat is very nutritious, with lots of protein and little fat. A 3 oz serving has 147 calories and 28g of protein. In comparison, a cup of chopped chicken meat has 335 calories, 19g of fat, and 38g of protein.
Rabbit meat also contains more vitamins and minerals, such as iron and vitamin B6, than chicken meat.
How do rabbits and chickens compare in terms of sustainable breeding and reproduction?
Rabbits outdo chickens when it comes to sustainable production. While commercial chickens can’t breed, rabbits can easily reproduce. This allows them to keep providing meat for several years. A rabbit pair can yield hundreds of pounds of meat yearly for 3-5 years, operating in a closed herd style or hutch system.
What are the differences in space requirements, noise levels, and odor management between raising rabbits and chickens?
Rabbits need less space and can be kept in small areas. They’re a good fit for smaller living spaces. They are also quiet animals. Chickens, in contrast, need more space. They also make sounds more often.
Chickens make noise through clucking and crowing. But, rabbits are mostly quiet. Odor-wise, rabbit droppings smell less strong than chicken manure.
How do the environmental impacts of raising meat rabbits compare to raising meat chickens?
Raising rabbits has a smaller environmental footprint than chickens. They eat efficiently, can eat forage, and require less transport. Rabbits also do not use up any electricity, saving you money.
