One of the ways to get into rabbit farming is to produce rabbits for the pet market. However, this is a risky business because the pet market in a particular area can become saturated. In the US, there are an estimated 5 million pet rabbits, so there is a demand for them.

The popularity of rabbits as pets is due to their cute fluffy appeal, cheaper to keep, compared to other pets like cats and dogs. Additionally, domestic rabbits require less maintenance care than other types of pets.

There are currently 47 rabbit breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. To mention a few, there are the American Chinchilla, the American Sable, the Belgian Hare, the Blanc de Hotot, the Britannia Petite, the Himalaya, the Havana, the Mini Rex, the Satin Angora among others.

When choosing a pet rabbit, you need to consider and understand a few factors.

looks and appearances

Just like humans, rabbits differ in appearance and appearance. As you may have seen, some can have short ears and others can have long ears. Others may come with short-haired coats and some with long-haired coats that require constant grooming. The color of rabbits also varies. Some may prefer rabbits in a traditional color such as the White Dutch or simply black or brown, while others may prefer the Black Silver Martin with its fine dark sable coat.

sizes and weights

Rabbits come in the following breed sizes: Giant, Large, Medium, Small, and Dwarf. Some rabbits can range from a few pounds like the Britannia Petite which weighs about 2 ½ pounds (about 1.1 kg) or the Dwarf Hotot which weighs about 3 pounds (about 1.4 kg), to the Giant German gray with 23 lbs. (10.5kg).

Temper

In addition to the appearance of the animals, you must also take into account the temperament of the animals. Do you want a rabbit that stays put all day, like the Rex, or one that is more active? Like the Mini Lops, the English Spots or even the Belgian Hare.

Gender

In rabbit production, a doe (female) that is not spayed can become territorial when it reaches maturity. She may bite you when you get close to her or her food or water dishes. Some females are not aggressive and others can become territorial with everyone, but this is rare. If you do not intend to breed your rabbit and want a female, it is best to spay her to help reduce the chances of her guarding her den.

Dollars present an entirely different problem. Males are not usually aggressive. However, spraying can be a problem. Once he reaches maturity he can start spraying urine everywhere so the world is ready for a mate! Again, not all bucks will do this, and usually if they do, it will only be for a short time. This problem can be eliminated by castrating the male.

Ambient

The environment in which you plan to keep your rabbit is also important. Domestic rabbits should generally have an indoor pen or cage and a safe place to run and exercise, such as an exercise pen, living room, or family room. If you don’t plan on letting your pet rabbit stay under the same roof as you, you can opt to have it live in an easily accessible hutch outside the house. Some domestic rabbits live in outdoor sheds during the day to enjoy fresh air and natural light and are brought indoors at night. Before you get a rabbit, the general rule of thumb is to do your research and research thoroughly to find out what options are available to you. This will help prevent a situation where you get a rabbit and, in a short period of time, start to dislike the animal.

Diet

A pet rabbit’s diet typically consists of unlimited timothy grass, a small amount of pellets, and a small serving of fresh vegetables. They also need unrestricted access to clean, fresh water.

Almost all breeds of domesticated rabbits can be adapted as pets. Pet breeds include the Holland Lop, Polish, Dutch, and Mini Lop. Show rabbits are an excellent youth development tool and are popular as a 4-H animal.

While raising pet rabbits is an income generator with limited opportunities, a more stable environment can be found by raising rabbits for meat and fur, or by using the Angora rabbit for its fur.