Any of you guys raise rabbits?
Many years ago we used to. Kids in 4H
Never could get it to be profitable.
Cost of feed was the same as what we could get for the butchered rabbit. $5.00
Got young grandkids entering the 4H age now.
I'd like to help them get started and am wondering if any of you guys have been able to make your own feed at a cost less than buying feed.
I played around with it back then but never really made an progress at it.
just

You can off set feed cost some by feeding good alfalfa hay. A 8$ bale of hay goes a long way. It gets added and they get feed as well. Draw back is when they pull it out and if not removed from the bottom of the cage it buds up and poo won't fall through.

A bale of hay is a very cost efficient rabbit supplement.

Great minds think alike.

Tried that.
I had 4 -6 does and 2 bucks. When the kits were weaned they went into a growing cage. Approx 4' wide & 6' long. Hay in a funnel shaped feeder the middle and feed on both sides. Water in soda bottles fastened to sides.
Kept feeding til bucks realized they were bucks. then butchered. IIRC about 5 pounds.
Still costs were the same as I could sell them for.
just

How hard are you willing to work for it? One could incorporate a lawn mowing service and with a mowing and bagging you could cut the feed bill a lot. When we raised them they always went after the fresh green rather then the dry stuff.

I think we sell them for 20 to 30. Don't know the rabbits are my daughters thing. $5 rabbit are so 2010.

Since I don't keep track of the cost I can't say for sure yet I can't believe a a bail of hay doesn't out last a bag of feed that's 2x the price. I do know there is a bigger mess.
Did you cut the feed back when you added hay. Do you measure feed or just fill the feeders. They like to dig in the feed at times and it ends up in the compost instead of in the rabbit. So wee only feed what they will finish not leaving extra or much at least to be throw on the ground.

And don't forget to throw a bucketful of red wigglers under the cages.

I can't count the number of times I have gotten in and out of rabbits. Got eight right now. Standard rex. Not quite breeding age yet. The main reason I got some this year is I wanted the poo for my tomatoes. I'll probably go ahead and try to raise some to eat as I do like rabbit meat. I'm sure I'll get tired of them again and sell out one day. I always keep my cages and crocks for some reason though. lol

I have 6 new zealanders right now. I've been selling butchered whole vacuum sealed for $30. I stay sold out.

I have Flemish Giants, Florida Whites, New Zealands, Californians and 1 Dutch buck.

Keith