How to Raise Rabbits: Practical Points on Environment, Feeding and Breed Selection

Rabbit keeping is the practice of raising domestic rabbits, covering both small-scale keeping as family pets and productive farming for meat rabbits, wool rabbits and the like. Rabbits are docile in temperament but timid and sensitive, easily startled, and they are especially intolerant of damp and unclean environments. For this reason, the first requirement in rabbit keeping is to ensure the hutch is quiet, dry and well ventilated.

Common breeds kept are broadly divided into three categories: meat rabbits, wool rabbits and pet rabbits. Meat rabbits are represented by New Zealand White rabbits, California rabbits and others, and they grow relatively fast; wool rabbits are most typically represented by the Angora rabbit, which needs regular shearing; pet rabbits include small breeds such as the Dutch Lop and the Dwarf rabbit, which are petite in size and suitable for keeping at home.

Daily feeding should be based mainly on hay, paired with an appropriate amount of rabbit pellets and a small amount of fresh vegetables, and food with too high a water content or that has spoiled should be avoided to prevent diarrhoea. The hutch should have droppings cleaned every day and be disinfected regularly, keeping the bedding dry. A rabbit's incisors grow continuously, so gnawing wood or hard feed should be provided to help wear the teeth down.

Common problems for beginners in rabbit keeping include diarrhoea, coccidiosis and skin diseases, mostly related to poor hygiene conditions or a sudden change of feed. Feed changes should be made gradually, and young rabbits in particular need attention to warmth and dietary stability. As long as environmental management is done well, daily observation is maintained, and a vet is consulted promptly when abnormalities are found, rabbit keeping is not hard to get the hang of.