Ravencroft Rabbitry and Urban HomesteadÂ
Written by Heloise Dixon-Warren
FARMED Chair & Owner Moose Meadows Farm
Recently, FARMED member Amy Carlson with Ravencroft Rabbitry and Urban Homestead sat with me outside over tea on a warm and windy autumn day sharing her experiences, expertise and interest in keeping a “fluffle” of rabbits. Yes, that is a real term for a group of rabbits; much like a herd of horses, a pride of lions, a murder of crows, a flock of ducks, or a gaggle, skein or plump of geese!
Amy keeps a “fluffle” of rabbits for 2 primary reasons. One so as to have a sustainable meat source that she could produce on a city lot (Amy believes strongly in food security) and two, to take them to the show ring! Rabbits, also known as bunnies, are mammals in the family Leporidae. They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated form of livestock, and a pet. In terms of livestock, they are raised for their meat, fur, and wool and have been so since ancient Rome.
According to some literature online, the world of rabbit breeds is vast and diverse with over 305 breeds recognised by the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association). For Amy, her choice of rabbit breed is “Champagne d’Argrent” (Silver [rabbit] of Champagne) which sounds rather prestigious! The Champagne d’Argent is a historic heritage breed known for its distinctive silver coat and gentle nature. As its name portrays it originated in Champagne, France and according to what I’ve read, its origin dates back to the 17th Century and was primarily raised for its luxurious silvered fur.
Amy keeps her fuffle of “Champagne d’Argents” at her home in Quesnel. She began with 2 does and a buck, in 2022, and learnt how to raise more rabbits and process them herself. From there, she decided she could increase her operation through learning, expanding her bloodlines and perhaps encourage others to raise rabbits as it is so manageable. One does not need a lot of space and the costs are relatively low. Currently, Amy is just keeping rabbits for herself, and her family, but hopes to be able to increase production in 2026 whereby she has a sufficient number of rabbits to warrant them being processed at a licenced abattoir. If this happens, she can then make rabbit meat available for sale to others.
The gestation period for a rabbit is 28 - 32 days with the number of kits being born in the 5-9 range. Amy finds her rabbits are ready to be processed between 8-12 weeks of age and when they reach about 5 lbs in weight. Feed is very inexpensive; mostly hay and some pellets with some greens depending upon the season.
Amy began attending rabbit shows to learn more and while showing is not her main focus, she has learnt that showing allows her rabbits to be evaluated for confirmation so one can breed for optimal meat production (e.g. good meat to bone ratio, good loin, well developed hips, etc.). By showing she has learnt how to judge rabbit confirmation and thereby undertake selective breeding with the goal of having better quality animals. Rabbit shows are also proven great places for rabbit breeders to network and connect with other breeders along with marketing any animals they have for sale. In 2024 and through showing, Amy was able to connect with legitimate breeders and import 2 bucks from Minnesota, USA as a means of increasing the bloodlines of her fluffle. This was a $1100.00 investment.
There are several rabbit shows held in British Columbia. A few, close to home include one in Prince George and another in Barriere. For a complete list of the ARBA shows in Canada, check out the Canadian Rabbit Breeder Directory.
It is possible that the Quesnel Fall Fair may include an American Rabbit Breeders Association sanctioned show at the 2026 Fair in September of next year.
Amy is open to selling her rabbits as breeding stock and is offering rabbits to young folks involved with 4-H at a discounted price. Currently, a Junior Doe sells for $100-$125 while a young Buck fetches $75 to $100.00. Rabbits are available to move onto new homes at 12-16 weeks of age and can typically be used for breeding at about 8 months.
Amy has made another investment by constructing a rabbitry for housing her rabbits. Rabbits do well in the cold but do not fair well in the heat due to overheating, dehydrations, etc. As such, her rabbitry has air conditioning during the hot days of summer. Another benefit of the rabbitry is that the rabbit manure is easily collectable on trays. Since having rabbits, Amy has found her garden to be amazing! Rabbit manure is known to be a “cold manure” (safe to put directly onto plants without harming vegetation) and is an excellent organic fertilizer than improves both soil quality and plant growth.
In conclusion, I wish to thank Amy for opening up my eyes to something I knew nothing about and sharing her knowledge and expertise on living with rabbits. In my life, I have cared for 1 rabbit by the name of Fritzenberger, a sweet little Lionhead bunny. With the little knowledge that I have and what Amy has shared, the rabbit hole is much bigger than I knew when it comes to keeping rabbits!
To connect with Amy, please follow her Ravencroft Rabbitry and Urban Homestead Facebook page or her website.
