How to Sell Rabbits in the United States | PetzLover
To sell rabbits in the United States, check your state and city rules first, offer only healthy rabbits that are at least 8 weeks old and correctly sexed, and write an honest ad with clear photos and a fair price. Screen every buyer, take payment in person at handover, and send each rabbit home with its food, a care sheet and any vet or vaccination records.
A rabbit can live 8 to 12 years or more, according to the House Rabbit Society, so a good sale is one where the bunny stays in its new home. The steps below cover the legal basics, preparing your rabbits, pricing, the ad itself and safe handover.
Key points
- Some states, such as North Carolina, make it an offense to sell or give away rabbits under 8 weeks old as pets.
- Rabbits are covered by the federal Animal Welfare Act; larger pet-rabbit breeders may need a USDA license, while food-or-fiber sellers and very small breeders are exempt.
- Have a rabbit-experienced person or vet confirm each rabbit's sex before you list it.
- Ask buyers about housing, vet care and other pets, and meet in person for payment and handover.
What laws apply when you sell rabbits in the US?
Most rules are state and local, so check both. Examples:
- Minimum age: North Carolina makes it a misdemeanor to sell, give away or offer rabbits under 8 weeks old as pets or novelties, and several other states and cities have similar age rules.
- Where you sell: Boston has barred pet shops from selling commercially bred rabbits, and from displaying rabbits for commercial purposes on city streets or in parks, since December 31, 2017.
- Zoning: many cities and HOAs limit how many animals a home can keep or ban home businesses that involve livestock. Check before you breed.
Federally, the Animal Welfare Act names rabbits as covered animals, so some people who breed or deal in rabbits for the pet trade must hold a USDA license. The regulations exempt anyone dealing in rabbits used only for food or fiber, people who keep four or fewer breeding females and sell only offspring born on their premises, and sellers who earn no more than $500 a year from selling animals such as rabbits. If your rabbitry is bigger than that, contact USDA APHIS Animal Care to check your status.
How should you prepare a rabbit for sale?
- Wait until each youngster is at least 8 weeks old and eating hay and pellets on its own. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes kits are usually weaned at around 4 to 6 weeks; the extra time helps the gut settle.
- Have each rabbit's sex confirmed by someone experienced or by a vet. Wrongly sexed bunnies are a common cause of surprise litters and unhappy buyers.
- Check eyes, nose, ears, teeth, coat and bottom, and keep anything with sneezing, diarrhea or a head tilt off the market until a vet has seen it.
- Ask your vet about RHDV2 vaccination. USDA reports the virus kills 50 to 100 percent of infected rabbits; a vaccinated rabbit is safer and easier to sell.
- Handle the rabbits daily so they arrive used to people.
What records should go home with the rabbit?
- Date of birth, sex and breed (or mix)
- Vet record and the RHDV2 vaccination certificate if given
- A pedigree if you keep one, and ARBA registration papers only if the rabbit is actually registered
- A care sheet: the hay, pellets and greens it eats, how to switch food gradually, litter habits
- A small bag of its current food and hay
- A simple bill of sale with your name, the buyer's name, the price and the date, signed by both
How should you price rabbits for sale?
There is no set price for a rabbit in the US; it depends on breed, quality, age and what you have already paid for. Look at current rabbits for sale near you on PetzLover and price in line with similar listings.
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Show or breeding quality with a pedigree | Higher than pet quality |
| RHDV2 vaccinated with a vet record | Adds value; buyers save the vet visit |
| Spayed or neutered adult | Adds value; surgery costs several hundred dollars |
| Common mixed breed | Lower; compare with local listings and rescue fees |
| Older rabbit or known health issue | Lower; disclose the issue in the ad |
Do not give rabbits away for nothing just to clear them. A small fee discourages impulse buyers; giving a rabbit away for free needs extra screening.
How do you write a rabbit ad that gets the right buyers?
- A title with breed, sex and age, for example: Holland Lop doe, 10 weeks, RHDV2 vaccinated
- Three to six clear, recent photos in good light, plus one of a parent if you have it
- Temperament, handling, litter habits and diet
- Health and vaccination status, and anything a buyer should know
- Price, your general area, and whether you will take the rabbit back
- What you expect from buyers: indoor home, rabbit-savvy vet, no gifts for young children
You can post a free ad on PetzLover and buyers can message you through PetzLover, so you can screen them before you share your address.
How do you screen rabbit buyers?
Ask every buyer the same questions and listen for real plans:
- Where will the rabbit live, and how much space will it have to run?
- Have you kept rabbits before? Do you know a vet who treats rabbits?
- Who lives in the home, including children and other pets?
- Will you spay or neuter, and will you keep a single rabbit or a pair?
- What will you do if you can no longer keep it?
Be cautious with a buyer who wants several rabbits cheaply with no questions, wants a bunny as a surprise gift (rabbit rescues campaign against live Easter bunnies for this reason), or will not meet in person. It is fine to say no.
How do you take payment and hand over a rabbit safely?
- Meet in person; let the buyer see the rabbit and its setup at your home or a public place in daylight.
- Take cash or an instant payment you can confirm at the handover. A buyer who overpays by check and asks for the difference back is running a fake-check scam.
- If you take a deposit to hold a rabbit, put the amount, hold period and refund terms in writing.
- Transport in a secure carrier, and avoid long trips in summer heat, which rabbits handle poorly.
- Give the records pack and a care sheet, and invite questions in the first weeks.
If a message looks like a scam, use the Report Scam button. Buyers may also post wanted ads; see how to respond to a rabbit wanted ad. If you are placing an adult rabbit rather than selling a litter, read how to rehome your rabbit, and share our buyer's guide with people who ask what to look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell rabbits?
Not usually for a few litters. The federal Animal Welfare Act exempts, among others, people who sell rabbits only for food or fiber and those who keep four or fewer breeding females and sell only their own offspring. Larger pet-trade breeders may need a USDA license, and your city or county may require a business permit.
How old must rabbits be before I sell them?
Wait until they are at least 8 weeks old and eating solid food well. North Carolina, for example, bans selling or giving away rabbits under 8 weeks old as pets or novelties, and other states and cities have similar rules. Selling younger kits also risks digestive problems.
Can I sell rabbits at a pet store or market?
Some cities restrict it. Boston, for example, bars pet shops from selling commercially bred rabbits and bans displaying rabbits for commercial purposes on city streets and in parks. Check your city's rules before you sell anywhere public.
Should I vaccinate rabbits against RHDV2 before selling?
It is worth discussing with your vet. USDA says outbreaks are ongoing in numerous states and there is no cure, and a conditionally licensed vaccine is available through veterinarians. A vaccine record reassures buyers and protects your own herd.
What if a buyer wants to return the rabbit?
Decide your policy before you list and state it in the ad. Many responsible breeders take their rabbits back at any age rather than see them dumped or surrendered. A written bill of sale makes the terms clear.
How do I list rabbits for sale on PetzLover?
Post a free ad with the breed, sex, age, photos, health details and price. Interested buyers message you through the site, so you can ask your screening questions before you meet.
Helpful guides
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Rabbit in the United StatesBuy a rabbit in the US by meeting it in person, confirming it is at least 8 weeks old and healthy, and budgeting for spay or neuter, a rabbit-savvy vet and an RHDV2 vaccine.
Pet for FreeHow to Get a Free Rabbit Safely in the United StatesA free rabbit is rarely free: check age, sex and health, never pay a shipping fee to a stranger, and budget for spay or neuter, a rabbit vet and an RHDV2 vaccine.
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Rabbit for Free Without Risk in the United StatesGive away a rabbit safely in the US by being honest about its health, screening every applicant, signing a simple rehoming agreement and handing it over in person.
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Rabbit in the United StatesAdopt a rabbit in the US through a rabbit rescue or shelter: apply, meet the rabbits, pay a fee that usually covers spay or neuter, and prepare an indoor pen before day one.
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Rabbit for Adoption in the United StatesList a rabbit for adoption in the US with clear adopter criteria, a fair fee, an application and meeting, a written contract and a check-in after the rabbit goes home.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Rabbit in the United StatesTake in a rehomed rabbit in the US by asking about its history, health and habits, meeting it at home, getting its records and food, and giving it a quiet few weeks to settle.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Rabbit Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your rabbit in the US with an honest listing, full health and behavior disclosure, a fair fee, careful screening and an in-person handover with records and food.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Rabbit Wanted" Ad in the United StatesReply to a rabbit wanted ad in the US by checking the request fits your rabbit, describing it honestly, asking the requester about their home, and handing over in person only.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Rabbit Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesPost a rabbit wanted ad in the US that says what rabbit you want, your budget, your area and your home, then check replies carefully and never pay before you meet the rabbit.