Rabbit Starvation: The Myth and the Truth About Eating Rabbit
Every so often, someone hears the word rabbit and brings up something they read or saw online: "rabbit starvation." It’s usually said as a warning, or a reason not to eat rabbit meat at all.
Let’s clear this up once and for all: rabbit starvation is real—but it has nothing to do with eating rabbit as part of a normal diet. It’s a survival issue, not a food safety issue. And it definitely shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying rabbit meat, especially when it’s locally raised, clean, and affordable like it is here at Carlton Hill Farm.
So What Is Rabbit Starvation?
The term comes from old wilderness survival stories—trappers, explorers, and soldiers who, for long stretches of time, had nothing to eat but wild rabbit. The problem? Rabbit is extremely lean, especially in the wild. If your body gets nothing but lean protein for too long—with no fat, no carbs, and no other nutrients—it can start to break down. That’s called protein poisoning.
Symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, and eventually serious health issues if nothing changes. It’s rare, and it’s only seen in extreme survival situations—not in normal life, and definitely not in a home kitchen.
Why It Doesn’t Apply to You (or Anyone Eating Real Meals)
Here’s the thing: no one is living off rabbit meat and nothing else. You’re cooking it with sides. You’re using oil, butter, herbs, sauces. You’re eating vegetables, grains, eggs, and more alongside it. Your body is getting everything it needs.
Let’s break it down:
Farm-raised rabbit isn’t wild rabbit. The rabbits we raise at Carlton Hill Farm have more fat and grow in a controlled environment. They’re still lean—but they’re not dangerously lean.
You’re not eating only rabbit for weeks. This concern doesn’t pop up with chicken or turkey or tilapia, even though they’re lean too.
The warning is about survival, not nutrition. You’d have to actively avoid fat and carbs for a long time to get close to “rabbit starvation”—and no one eating a normal diet is doing that.
Where the Confusion Comes From
The phrase “rabbit starvation” has stuck around because it sounds serious—and because so few people in the U.S. eat rabbit regularly. It gets repeated without much explanation, and people assume it means rabbit meat is dangerous or unhealthy.
But let’s be clear:
Rabbit is one of the cleanest, most nutrient-dense meats you can eat.
It has more protein per serving than chicken, less fat, and no weird additives.
It’s a great option for families looking for real food raised locally and processed responsibly.
The real danger isn’t rabbit—it’s misinformation.
Our Approach at Carlton Hill Farm
We raise rabbits because they’re efficient, ethical, and affordable to grow on a small farm. Our goal isn’t to scare anyone with buzzwords—we want to feed people well and offer an alternative to overpriced, factory-farmed meat.
At Carlton Hill Farm, we focus on producing Hearty Roaster Rabbit—processed at 12 weeks for a fuller flavor, larger size, and rich, tender meat that holds up beautifully in slow roasts, braises, and classic rabbit dishes.
Each rabbit is locally raised and processed right here on the farm, then frozen to preserve quality until you’re ready to cook.
Bottom Line
Rabbit starvation is a survival problem—not a food problem.
It has nothing to do with eating farm-raised rabbit as part of a balanced diet.
At Carlton Hill Farm, we believe rabbit meat deserves a place at the table. It’s clean, affordable, and versatile. And the more people understand it, the more they realize: this isn’t a fringe food—it’s just good food.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Check out our Hearty Roaster Rabbit and see why more families are bringing rabbit back to the dinner table.