How to Purchase Breeding Rabbits

Breeding rabbits can be a fun, rewarding and time-consuming hobby whether you plan to raise them for their meat, as pets or for showing. There are numerous places you can purchase rabbits for breeding, but be wary "bargains"; there's a reason quality is usually a little more expensive. Quality rabbits tend to be healthier, and if you have specific needs, they'll be better met by a specific breed developed with those qualities in mind.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine why you want to breed rabbits: for meat, for pets or for show. This will determine the breed and the type of rabbits you purchase for your first pair of breeding rabbits.

    • 2

      Contact a reputable rabbit breeder in your area. Rabbit breeders are your best bet for purchasing quality breeding rabbits and should be able to suggest breeds that are right for you based on your needs. Most breeders not only have "show quality" rabbits, but also those without the necessary characteristics to be suitable for showing, considered "pet quality"; these types of rabbits would be suitable if you're looking to breed rabbits for meat or pets, and they are more affordable.

    • 3

      Check that you have a male and a female, and that the rabbits are healthy, before you bring them home from the breeder. The breeder should easily be able to sex the rabbits for you. A healthy rabbit's coat will be soft and shiny and free of fleas or ticks. There should be no discharge from the ears, eyes or nose. The rabbit's teeth shouldn't protrude from its gums, and it shouldn't have any abscesses around its mouth. The rabbit shouldn't be thin or overweight, shouldn't have labored breathing and shouldn't have lumps or growths on its body. There should also be no feces or urine stains on its rear.