If you’re looking to raise meat for your family on a small homestead, chances are you’ve thought about raising either meat chickens or meat rabbits. But which is right for you? The answer depends on several factors, such as space, time, sustainability, and personal preference. As someone who has raised both, I’ll be sharing the pros and cons of each to help you determine what’s best for you!

If you would prefer, you can also watch a video where we discuss some of these things in more detail down below!

 

1. Which is easier to find in your area?

One of the first things to consider is how easy it is to get your hands on the animals you want to raise. When it comes to chickens, raising meat chickens is widely practiced, and acquiring them is relatively easy. You can even have specific breeds shipped directly to your local post office!

On the other hand, while raising rabbits for meat is a fantastic option, it’s a little less common. Because of this, you might not always find the breed you’re looking for locally. In our experience, chickens are generally easier to find locally or have shipped to you compared to rabbits, especially if you have specific breeds in mind.

2. Are chickens or rabbits quicker to raise to processing size?

Both meat chickens and meat rabbits typically take around 8 weeks to grow to processing size. However, there’s a key difference in how you raise them. When you raise meat chickens, you’re typically only growing out the chicks you’ve ordered. For meat rabbits, however, you need to maintain a breeding trio, raise their kits (baby rabbits), and then process those kits around 8 weeks old.

This adds an additional layer of work and time when it comes to meat rabbits. Not only do you need to care for the breeding trio, but you also need to ensure they breed successfully and produce healthy litters. It can be a bit more time-consuming compared to just raising a batch of chicks and then processing them in 8 weeks. If you’re up for breeding rabbits, this can be a rewarding and sustainable way to raise meat. However, if you’re looking for a more straightforward approach, chickens might be easier.

Related post:  Meat Chicken Processing Set Up, Equipment, and Tools

3. Do chickens or rabbits produce more meat?

When it comes to how much meat you can expect to get from each animal, the difference isn’t really significant. We do find that we get slightly more meat from a Cornish Cross chicken than a large rabbit. But the difference isn’t large enough that I would choose one or the other for this reason alone!

4. What kind of shelter do you need for chickens and rabbits?

Housing is one of the factors that will vary greatly depending on your homestead and existing structures. Both rabbits and chickens need protection from predators, but the type of housing will depend on your current setup. Do you have a shed that you can use for rabbit cages? Or would a movable chicken tractor be easier for your setup?

Both animals need secure housing, and the best way to do this will depend on your resources. Meat chickens often do well in a chicken tractor, which allows them access to fresh grass and keeps them safe. Rabbits, on the other hand, need solid cages that are usually elevated off the ground to keep them safe.

In the end, there isn’t a clear winner here—it all comes down to what works best for your existing space and resources. Both rabbits and chickens require predator-proof housing to ensure their safety.

5. Are rabbits or chickens more sustainable?

From a sustainability perspective, rabbits hold a slight edge. With rabbits, you have a closed breeding system right on your homestead. Your breeding trio is housed on your property, and you can breed them when you need to according to your schedule and meat producing goals. This makes rabbits a more sustainable choice, as you can produce meat without relying on outside sources.

With meat chickens, on the other hand, you’re often relying on hatcheries for your chicks, which are shipped in. While this is a great system for getting the breeds of chicken you want, it isn’t quite as sustainable since you’re still dependent on external sources for your chicks. Of course, you can raise chickens from your own eggs…but this involves working with smaller heritage breeds, which take longer to grow out.

6. Are chickens or rabbits easier to care for?

When it comes to day-to-day care, rabbits are generally easier to care for than chickens. Their needs are simpler—feeding, watering, and bedding. However, rabbits are a longer-term commitment. The breeding trio stays on your property for years, and you’ll need to manage their breeding schedule to ensure you get a steady supply of rabbits for processing. Plus, you’ll be caring for them for longer meaning that you have more of a potential to need to deal with injuries and sicknesses during that time.

Meat chickens, in contrast, are raised in short cycles. You grow them for around 8 weeks, process them, and then you’re done. You may only need to do this once or twice a year! This makes chickens less of an ongoing commitment compared to rabbits. While the daily care of rabbits might be easier, keeping up with their breeding schedules and managing them year-round can be more of a time commitment.

7. Are meat rabbits or meat chickens easier to process?

When it comes to processing, there are some notable differences. I’m not the one who handles the processing—I leave that to my husband—but he prefers processing rabbits over chickens. Overall, many people find processing rabbits to be much easier, less messy, and less time-consuming than processing chickens.

Related post: Meat Rabbit Processing Set Up, Equipment, and Tools

For chickens, you’ll need specialized equipment like a plucker and scalder to make the job easier (though it can be done without them). In contrast, rabbits require minimal equipment: a few knives and a way to dispatch them. The process is quicker and simpler. However, if you raise a lot of rabbits, you will still be doing this more often than you would for meat chickens, which might become a bit repetitive.

What do we prefer?

Despite the ease of processing rabbits and their sustainability benefits, we personally prefer raising meat chickens. Why?

Well, we’ve struggled with consistently getting our rabbits to breed, and even when we do get litters, we sometimes face challenges with smaller litter sizes. After two years, we’ve found it easier to simply order chicks, raise them to processing age, and know exactly how much meat we will be getting from those birds. There’s a level of predictability and simplicity that we prefer.

With meat rabbits, the unpredictability of breeding and the ongoing care of the breeding trio is something we don’t find as enjoyable. For us, raising two to three batches of meat chickens each year is a manageable and satisfying way to meet our meat needs without feeling overwhelmed by long-term commitments.

What should you raise?

Both meat chickens and meat rabbits can be fantastic options for the small homestead, but your choice will depend on your goals, available space, and how much time and effort you’re willing to invest. For us, meat chickens offer a more straightforward and reliable option, but rabbits can be a great choice for those looking for a more sustainable, closed system.

I’d love to hear what you think! Do you prefer raising meat chickens or meat rabbits? Or maybe both? Let me know in the comments!