Arizona Chickens

[bethany83]

I'm considering having DH build a rabbit hutch with its own small run right next to the chicken coop, but having a small connecting door that attaches to the chicken run. So they could roam around both if they wanted to, but the chickens couldn't come in their area. We are going to bury chicken wire under the hutches, so hopefully digging won't be too much of an issue. Maybe we'll have to go deeper, like 1-2 feet. Then they can at least make a small burrow for when its hot. Will they have issues with the sand??

We will be getting the bunnies and chicks around the same time, sometime in May, so I'm not too worried about them getting along since they'll grow up together. But we're getting the bunnies altered, too.

We'll definitely set up a mister system, and I'm considering getting some white canvas to attach to the side of the house and then over to the wall, to help keep out some of the heat. Oh, and we'll plant some grape vines over the run, too. I'm hoping that will be good enough. If it gets too bad, we can always move them into the garage for awhile.

 

[5pinkarrows]

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You can dig down 1 to 2 feet?!?!!!?? Wow! You must have very different soil than us. Just to sink posts for a fence 6 inches here takes a sledgehammer.

 

[turkeybreeder]

putting shipped eggs under a broody
how many hours to wait when receiving eggs
to put them under a broody hen

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

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Dirt with straw floors should work for a buck (they don't dig as much as does) and walls aren't a concern. Hollow straw can be a breeding ground for mites and other parasites, though, so I'd recommend preventative care (ear drops, flea bath etc.) and changing it fairly often. Alfalfa hay is another option, if you can keep it out of his "potty area" so he doesn't eat soiled hay. (May not be harmful, but ewww anyway.)

I'd be surprised if a rabbit ever ate chicken feed if it had rabbit pellets available.

Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits http://www.amazon.com/Storeys-Guide...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304013685&sr=1-1 is my #1 resource, and I highly recommend it.

The Homesteading Today forum has a wonderful and active rabbit group. It's geared more toward meat rabbits than pet and show rabbits, but there are some very smart and knowledgeable folks on there. http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/forumdisplay.php?f=14 There are also rabbit topics on BackYardHerds.com (BYC's sister site) but it's nowhere near as active.

Have fun with your bun!!!!

Ours' favorite human-rabbit interaction is to explore the sofa while one of us is reading on it during quiet hours. They'll lay with us for a while, then go off to sniff and explore for a while, repeat.

 

[Struebelchicks]

Three eggs have hatched.

I'll post pictures when I have a chance to take some.

Thanks again for the eggs, Laree.

 

[tball chicky]

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Hey Smiles!

Thanks for the info. That's a great idea; I'll check out the Ideal website & see what they've got that my family might be interested in. Although, I'm still curious about your Australorp x BR's.

I didn't even know about that feed store; where is it? I'd love to check out their feed prices...

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

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Rabbits lick themselves clean as cats do, but cannot vomit. They have a very specialized digestion system which allows them to eat grass, and it doesn't take much to upset it. I expect fine sand would get into their fur more than coarse sand.

I have some info at home on how they raise rabbits in other countries, but couldn't anything online to share with you. I remember one system uses basically a small underground (barely) wine-cellar-looking room lined with large stones and covered with sod, and attached to a "standard" cage above ground. I'm wondering if that would work with cinder blocks instead of stones?

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

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Here ya go: http://www.sanpedrofeed.com/map.html

I'm not sure how San Pedro's feed prices compare to Ramsey Canyon (especially if you factor in gas from Sierra Vista to Palominas), but their customer service is much better IMO, and they aren't quite as horse-centric as Ramsey. San Pedro also has sales four times a year, and has an espresso machine so you can enjoy a tasty cappucino while they load up your truck.

 

[bethany83]

I have some info at home on how they raise rabbits in other countries, but couldn't anything online to share with you. I remember one system uses basically a small underground (barely) wine-cellar-looking room lined with large stones and covered with sod, and attached to a "standard" cage above ground. I'm wondering if that would work with cinder blocks instead of stones?

Ahhh, interesting! Kind of like a little basement for them!

That would definitely be cooler! I'm going to try to work that into our plans!​

 

[tightwad]

Quote:
Thanks for that info on the Newcastle-Bronchitis vaccine!