09/24/2026
All good points to remember!!!
🐇📚 MARKET RABBIT TIPS FOR NEXT YEAR! 📚🐇
We’ve had a lot of questions from families this week about how they can improve their market rabbit projects, so we wanted to share a few tips that we hope will help everyone have a successful year next year!
📅 1. PAY ATTENTION TO BIRTH DATES
Check your fair rule book at the start of every year for the required birth-date window for market fryers.
Being born too early or too late can put you at risk of having a pen that is overweight or underweight at weigh-in. Knowing your dates before breeding or buying can help you plan your litters and give your rabbits the best chance of hitting the desired weight range.
🌾 2. QUALITY FEED MATTERS!
One of the most important factors in growing out a market pen is feeding a QUALITY commercial rabbit feed.
Market rabbits need a diet containing approximately 16–18% crude protein to support healthy muscle, bone growth, and development.
Look for a commercial, alfalfa-based pelleted feed where the feed tag clearly lists the crude protein percentage.
Show-Rite feed sold by M&M Feed is one option we recommend.
And remember, when you’re trying to grow a market pen, you want those rabbits eating their feed! Avoid filling them up on unnecessary fillers such as fruits, vegetables, and treats. Those things can be fun in moderation for pet rabbits, but your market rabbits need to be focused on a quality, balanced diet designed for growth.
⚖️ 3. WEIGH, WEIGH, WEIGH!
This is something I cannot stress enough.
Weigh your rabbits at least once a week and KEEP A LOG of their weights. 📖⚖️ Your average market rabbit should be gaining around a half a pound a week.
Check Amazon for infant or kitchen scales.
Tracking their weights allows you to see how quickly they are gaining and gives you time to make adjustments. If they aren’t gaining as expected, you’ll know you need to look at their feed intake and management. If they are gaining too quickly, you’ll have time to adjust before weigh-in.
Don’t wait until fair week and fair weigh in to find out where your rabbits stand!
💧 4. FRESH WATER AT ALL TIMES!
This one seems simple, but it is incredibly important.
Your rabbits should have fresh, clean water available at all times. Especially during hot weather, water intake is critical.
🧹 5. KEEP THOSE PENS CLEAN!
Rabbits are much more likely to thrive when they have a clean, dry environment. Dirty pens can contribute to unsanitary conditions and create an environment where disease can spread. Sometimes you don’t see that disease bloom until those rabbits go through stress (fair week)!
We hope these tips help some of our families get a jump start on next year! If you have questions, ask! We are always happy to help our 4-H families learn and improve their projects.
Here’s to next year’s crop! 🐇🌾💪
