Rounding out our discussions of the use of rabbit manure and rabbit manure tea as outstanding fertilizers and soil amendments (links below), we wanted to also cover some interesting information about Uses For Rabbit Urine.
Rabbit Urine is used as both a fertilizer and a pest repellent.
Although not very mainstream in the United States, rabbit urine is gathered, sold and used in many small scale farming operations around the world. In 2022, the use of rabbit urine in farming seems to be focused in Kenya and other parts of Africa.
Uses for Rabbit Urine
The primary uses of Rabbit Urine are as a fertilizer and as a bug and pest repellent.
Rabbit Urine for Fertilizer
Rabbit Urine High in NPK – When rabbit urine is properly diluted, it is a beneficial, low cost, fertilizer that can be sprayed directly on your plants.
Note that the rabbit urine should be diluted in a 1 part urine to 5 parts water (1:5 ratio) in order to be used as a fertilizer. Applying rabbit urine to your plants without diluting it will burn your plants.
We recommend this only for outdoor plants!
Credit to Michigan State University for the following regarding NPK.
- Rabbit Urine (like rabbit manure) is packed with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, minerals and micronutrients.
- Further, the NPK ratio in rabbit urine is an excellent blend or balance for the needs of most plants.
- Nitrogen (N) – Plants need nitrogen to produce strong green growth.
- Phosphorus (P) helps with the transformation of solar energy to chemical energy. Phosphorus also helps plants to withstand stress and contributes to more and bigger blossoms, and is great for root growth.
- Potassium (K) – Potassium helps reduce plant disease; plants will not grow without it.
Rabbit Urine for Pesticide Or Repellent
Rabbit urine, when properly diluted, is also a beneficial, low cost, bug and pest repellent. At Hobby Farm Heaven we hesitate to say pesticide, because diluted rabbit urine is more of a deterrent for bugs and pests than a true pesticide. The important part is that it’s effective and it’s cheap.
To use rabbit urine to deter bugs and pests, use one part rabbit urine to 2 parts water and spray directly on the leaves and stems of your plants.
We recommend this only for outdoor plants!
Further, we recommend you be careful with rabbit urine and other repellents and pesticides. Repellents and pesticides discourage the good and helpful pollinators as well as the bad bugs.
Pesticides actually kill many beneficial pollinators.
Is Rabbit Urine Good For Gardens
Yes, properly diluted rabbit urine is good for your gardens, orchards and pastures, because it adds NPK and other micronutrients. Further, the micronutrients encourage earthworms and other microorganisms that live in healthy soil.
Rabbit urine seems to have found a use in organic farming. It reduces the costs of bug and pest repellents and improves the health of and bounty from the plants.
Is Rabbit Urine Harmful To Humans
Generally speaking, in the context of normal rabbit rearing paradigms, the urine of a healthy rabbit poses little risk to healthy humans. Rabbit urine typically flows through the cage or hutch floor and ends up being absorbed by the rabbit manure pellets.
Clearly, if a rabbit sprays urine on a human, we should readilyl wash the clothes and the skin so that irritations do not result.
Rabbit urine does have a significant amount of Ammonia in it. If rabbit urine and rabbit manure accumulate in a small area without much ventilation then the ammonia fumes can become significant. If you spend enough time with the fumes then they may begin to bother your eyes, nose and throat.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Uses For Rabbit Urine
This video shows James of Kibuku Rabbit Farm in Nukuru Kenya. James explains that rabbit urine is a cash crop for his business! Link to Video.
Rabbit Urine Fertilizer
This video shows mixing rabbit urine and water in a 1:5 part ratio and foliar spraying it on your crops as a fertilizer. Frequency of foliar spraying is as often as every 5 days.
Rabbit Urine Pesticide Pest Repellent
This video shows how to mix rabbit urine and water in a 1:2 part ratio and spray it on your plants as a bug and pest deterrent.
What Is Rabbit Urine Used For?
Rabbit urine that is properly diluted may be used as fertilizer and as a bug and pest deterrent for gardens, orchards and pastures.
Can Rabbit Urine Kill Grass?
Yes, undiluted rabbit urine is high in nitrogen and can kill grass. The nitrogen burns the grass.
Is Rabbit Pee Dangerous and Hazardous?
If you are healthy and practice good hygiene by washing up after being near rabbit urine, then rabbit pee is not dangerous.
If you have a compromised immune system or open sores, then you should not work with rabbit urine.
Here is a post for more info: Is Rabbit Pee Toxic?
Final Thoughts on Hobby Farm Uses For Rabbit Urine
The benefits of Rabbit Urine include:
- Naturally high in NPK and other plant micronutrients
- An effective bug and pest repellent that is not a true pesticide
- Fosters worms and microorganisms in the soil, increasing soil health
- Friendly to the environment – not an industrial chemical product that pollutes water resources, etc.
- Low cost and readily available (if you or a friend raise rabbits)
- Appropriate for small scale businesses, hobby farms and homesteads
- Diluted Rabbit Urine may be sprayed every 5 days
- Mix only what you will use that day
You may also be interested in the Benefits of Rabbit Manure “Tea” for your gardens, orchards and pastures and How to use Rabbit Poop As A Fertilizer.