BackYardHerds Forum

theawesomefowl wrote:

Okay, I don't like rabbits very much, and am somewhat allergic to the fluffy Angora bunnies. But I know they are good livestock and would consider raising a few if it was profitable. And I am sure I would learn  to like them if I kept some.
So go on. Convince me to get rabbits! I probably won't but why would i? 
Thanks! p.s. I would not be interested in showing as I much prefer poultry in that respect.

EVERYONE I talked to said rabbits is a money-loosing hobby.  This coming from a lady with hundreds of rabbits, spending $20K/year on shows.  I did and still do think she is crazy. 

I have angoras.  You *can* sell wool, but it is very hard to find a market for it.  I find it to be a good bartering item, tough to sell.  However, if you happen to spin, angora blend yarns can sell for a premium.

If you can get into a 4H/ARBA show market, show buns are easy to sell.  I sell a few rabbits for $80+, I'm trying to breed a certain color that will sell at $150+ each.  If you can get a reputation for good temperament rabbits, you can sell pets at a premium.

Selling to the dog food market can be profitable at $4/lb.  There is one place that did this that just about put themselves out of business because they couldn't keep up with demand.  I initially raised mine for dog food.

Of course, you can butcher them to lower your food bill.  Does make money, but saves it from your grocery bill.

I think the secret to rabbits it to start small.  Only add cages as you sell rabbits.  MAKE them pay for themselves. 

Look for a breed that isn't the most popular in your area.  I am literally hours away from any other breeder with my breed.  That gives me a huge market.  Lionhead rabbits are popular, but they only fetch $5 - $15 in the pet market.  ...  Mine sell at $60 for the pet market. 

Rabbit breeders are in the dark ages with internet.  I've made most of my sales with cute fluffy bunny photos on a free site.  It's so easy.  I sit around with fluffy bunnies.  If they sell, I get money.  If they don't sell, I get dinner. 

If you are clever, yes, you can make a little money off of them.  But it won't come easy or automatically.

tortoise, your bunnies are cute! Nice blog too!
But those dust-bunnies would make me sneeze myself into oblivion..... :lol
I had a really bad reaction after handling some English angoras last summer.

I sort of like the looks of Lops, but should make sure I'm not too allergic to what ever breed before I get them IF IF IF I get them!

I would say if you don't care for rabbits, then don't do them. All animals are a lot of work and you better like them with all the care that they need. And this is any animal, not just rabbits. To make money in any animal business, you have to put A LOT of time and effort along with money into it. Marketing your farm and selling takes just as much of your time as does caring for them. It is not for the faint hearted or for people just interested in the money end. Not trying to be mean here, this is coming from someone who has been in alpacas for 13.5 years and goats for 1.5 years full time and the majority of my day is spent caring for animals and at night working the marketing end of it.

Last edited by ksalvagno (12/31/2010 1:06 pm)

Here are my two cents on this subject - it depends on how you define "profit." If you are looking for profit with a cash value, then I would agree, you aren't necessarily going to get ahead with rabbits, unless you find a niche and then spend a lot of time cultivating your herd to fit that niche. However, if you think of profit like being able to eat healthier meat, that costs less cash than it would if you bought comparable meat at the grocery store, then, I think, you'd profit in that way. Also, it could make a good barter item if you have a market for it - we plan on trading our excess rabbit meat for BF's family's grass-fed beef, and I can trade with my family for free range eggs. It all depends on how you calculate profit, because it does profit when you think about health (yours and your animals), self-sustainability, and gaining real respect for the food on your dinner table. As someone who has a difficult time with the cute factor associated with bunnies, these are things I have to remind myself every so often, because for us, it's worth it. Plus, it tastes better than any chicken I've every had! For us, raising our own meat rabbits, butchering and processing them ourselves for our own consumption... it's totally worth it. Their value is worth more this way than it could be if converted to cash, because the value of money is fickle, but we, and other people, are always going to need food. This is just how I look at it.

Making a profit is possible with any kind of livestock - but you must have a demand, a steady market, and be profit oriented.

As a HOBBY, animals in generall are NOT profit making. As a BUSINESS they can be.