I’m Kayla, and I raise meat rabbits on a small homestead. I’ve tried fancy fur buns, hard-charging fryers, and one buck so big I named him Moose. I’ve kept notes. I’ve weighed kits. I’ve cried over a few losses and cheered more than a few litters. Here’s what actually happened in my hutches. For the full photo-heavy rundown—including my weigh sheets and pelt grades—you can jump to the long-form post on my site: everything I’ve learned about meat rabbit breeds.
If you want to compare my hands-on results with broader extension-style data, check out the free PDF, A Complete Handbook on Backyard and Commercial Rabbit Production; it walks through breed traits, feed conversion, and housing with charts that echo many of the numbers in my notebook.
What I look for (and why it matters)
- Fast growth to 10–12 weeks
- Calm moms, big litters, good milk
- Dress-out around half the live weight
- Heat or cold tolerance (we swing from humid summers to icy snaps)
- Easy to source, easy to handle, easy to feed
You know what? Cute is nice. But steady growth and clean cages save time and money.
My setup, quick and plain
I use wire cages and a small tractor on grass when the weather plays nice. I feed 16–18% pellet (Purina or Manna Pro), hay, and fresh water on nipples. I keep a scale on a hook. I cull late growers. It sounds harsh. It keeps the line strong.
New Zealand White — the dependable workhorse
If you start here, you’ll be fine.
- Real story: In April 2024 my doe, Blanca, kindled 10. She weaned 9. At 10 weeks the kits ran 4.8–5.2 lb on pellets and hay. Dress-out was 2.6–3.0 lb. Calm, even in storms.
- Pros: Big litters, fast gain, easy to find, sweet moms.
- Cons: Not fancy; some lines get lazy in heat.
I keep coming back to them. They just get it done.
Californian — the muscle maker
I use a Cali buck for crosses. He stamps the kits with thick shoulders.
- Real story: My buck, Cisco, threw litters of 8–10 with two different NZ does last summer. At 9 weeks, the cross kits hit 4.2–4.6 lb. Meat was mild and tender.
- Pros: Great growth, great hybrid vigor with NZ.
- Cons: Can be jumpy; not my calmest handlers.
If you want meat fast, NZ x Cali is a strong lane.
TAMUK Composite — built for heat
Hot July? Fans on high? These guys keep eating.
- Real story: July 2024 hit 98°F for a week. My TAMUK doe still fed 8 well. At 10 weeks, kits averaged 4.6 lb. No heat stress signs, just long ears and steady munching.
- Pros: Heat hardy, solid moms, good feed conversion.
- Cons: Harder to find pure lines in some areas.
I reach for TAMUK when the forecast screams.
Silver Fox — the steady mother with pretty pelts
They’re chill. They foster like champs.
- Real story: My doe, Maple, took on four extra NZ kits after a first-time mom failed. She raised 12 total. Growth was a tad slower: 12 weeks at 5.0–5.5 lb, dress-out about 2.7–3.1 lb. Great in cold wind.
- Pros: Gentle, good milk, pelts tan well.
- Cons: Slower to finish than NZ/Cali lines.
If you value fur and mothering, they’re a joy.
Champagne d’Argent — silver grace and rich flavor
Starts dark, silvers with age. Meat tastes clean and mild.
- Real story: A June 2023 litter of 8. By 12 weeks, most hit about 5.2 lb. Dress-out around 3.0 lb. My best fryer from this line made the crispest confit I’ve ever done.
- Pros: Beautiful hide, nice carcass, easy temper.
- Cons: Not the fastest at 8 weeks; shines closer to 12.
I keep a pair for the table and the craft bin.
Rex — plush fur, small frames, sweet pets that still feed you
Not a classic meat breed, but they work on small lots.
- Real story: My broken black Rex doe raised 6 steady. At 12 weeks they landed 4.5–5.0 lb. Meat was tender. Fur? Like velvet, obviously.
- Pros: Quiet, great fur, decent meat for tiny spaces.
- Cons: Smaller litters, slower gain.
I use Rex for specialty meals and winter hats.
American Chinchilla — the sleeper hit
They look old-school because they are. Thick, round, and useful.
- Real story: Spring 2022, a litter of 9. At 11–12 weeks, weights ran 5.2–5.8 lb. Good dress-out, nice bone.
- Pros: Cold hardy, sturdy bodies, good flavor.
- Cons: Harder to source; some lines are shy.
When I can find them, I keep them.
Creme d’Argent and Cinnamon — friendly middleweights
They behave well and raise decent pans.
- Real story: My Cinnamon doe in March 2023 weaned 7; at 11 weeks they were 4.8–5.1 lb. Creme ran similar but a hair lighter.
- Pros: Calm, nice color, good moms.
- Cons: Not as quick as NZ/Cali; fine for homesteads, not for max output.
They won’t wow you. They won’t fail you either.
Flemish Giant — I love Moose, but he eats like a teen boy
I tried a Flemish buck once. Big bones. Big bills.
- Real story: “Moose” sired kits that looked huge by 10 weeks, but dress-out lagged. Lots of frame, not enough meat. Feed costs jumped. Cage space too.
- Pros: Gentle giants; fun to show the kids.
- Cons: Slow to finish, low efficiency, bigger cages.
Fun? Yes. Great meat math? Not for me.
Crosses that made me smile (and fed my freezer)
- NZ White doe x Californian buck: 8–10 kits, 8–9 week fryers at 4.0–4.8 lb, mild taste.
- NZ or Cali doe x TAMUK buck: better summer gains without babysitting the fans.
- Silver Fox doe fostering NZ kits: saved a whole litter; no lag in growth.
Hybrid vigor is real. My notebook proves it. For a quick side-by-side comparison of the most common fryer lines, Rabbit Meat Breeds: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide lays out weights and temperaments in an easy chart you can keep on your phone at the feed store.
Taste notes, simple and honest
- Fryers (8–10 weeks): tender, pale, quick cook. Great for skillet meals and pressure canning.
- Roasters (12–14 weeks): fuller flavor, holds up to slow braise, smoke, or stew.
- Older culls: grind for sausages, chili, or pot pie. Don’t waste good protein.
If you’d like to see how rabbit measures up against true wild game, read about the day I cooked squirrel meat so you don’t have to—though you just might want to try it after all: my full squirrel taste test is here.
Season with mustard, thyme, and a splash of cider. You’ll thank me.
Feed, space, and little lessons I paid for
- A 16–18% pellet plus grass hay keeps gains steady. I add a pinch of black oil sunflower seeds in winter.
- Clean wire floors and dry nests cut losses more than any fancy supplement.
- Weigh your keepers. Don’t guess. A $20 scale pays back in one season.
- Heat kills; shade and airflow matter. TAMUK helps, but fans still run.
- Cold bites; Silver Fox and Chinchilla shrug it off with a thicker coat.
By the way, after a long chore list that ends with checking nest boxes under a headlamp, the hutches can get mighty quiet. If you ever crave some grown-up conversation completely unrelated to feed conversion, you might appreciate this late-night resource—the Best Chat Line to Find Hot Sex—which compares trustworthy services, lists free trial minutes, and covers safety etiquette so you can unwind before the next dawn feeding. For those of us out on Colorado’s Front Range who’d rather swap the phone for an in-person meet-up after chores, the community listings at Backpage Greeley connect locals looking for casual company, giving you a quick way to trade rabbit talk for real-world conversation (or more) without driving all the way to Denver.
I learned the hard