Hey Seasoned Rabbit-ers!!

[DutchBunny03]

I bet they'll enjoy the run, and the greens.

I have an old baby jail i use for a "run" at the moment, but it is falling apart(bailing twine can only do so much!). I plan to build the run a bit like most chicken runs are built, with a ramp going from the hutch to the run, with a door that can be opened or closed. Have any suggestions or ideas?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have an old baby jail i use for a "run" at the moment, but it is falling apart(bailing twine can only do so much!). I plan to build the run a bit like most chicken runs are built, with a ramp going from the hutch to the run, with a door that can be opened or closed. Have any suggestions or ideas?

Will they have access to the run at night or will they be closed in their hutches? If they're going to be in hutches at night, I'd just recommend using rabbit wire, not poultry netting, in the run for security. I know some people use poultry netting (chicken wire) in their tractors and runs - a predator can breach it without too much trouble.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Rabbits will bite through chicken wire. Had that happen...

I made rabbit sausage this year. The secret is that rabbit meat is dry and rabbit fat is bitter and gamey. So you cut it with fatty pork belly. We made ours with about 1 part pork belly to 3 parts rabbit but it did not grind smoothly. I suspect more pork belly would allow it to grind smoothly. The stuff that did grind smoothly was perfect. The stuff that didn't was chewy but good.

You could probably use chicken or beef fat instead.

We made breakfast, links, and itallian. It was very good. Very lean. Almost no fat came out when it was cooked, but it didn't stick.

 

[DutchBunny03]

I've had rabbits almost escape through a temporary chicken wire fence, and know people who have had that happen, so already counting on not using chicken wire(is there really a good use for chicken wire?) I already built hutches, using hardware cloth for the top and sides, rabbit sure for the bottom, and a wooden frame supporting it all. I plan to, when I am ready to let them go in the run, cut a door in the back of the hutches abd put ramps down and into the run. There would be a door, and yes, the rabbits will be in the hutches at night. I have had too many problems with bears and raccoons to let them out at night. Would staggering 2 layers of larger spaced wire fencing be ok for the run walls and top? It is a lot cheaper to buy than hutch wire. Staggering it would, in theory, eliminate possible means of escape.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Rabbits will bite through chicken wire. Had that happen...

I made rabbit sausage this year. The secret is that rabbit meat is dry and rabbit fat is bitter and gamey. So you cut it with fatty pork belly. We made ours with about 1 part pork belly to 3 parts rabbit but it did not grind smoothly. I suspect more pork belly would allow it to grind smoothly. The stuff that did grind smoothly was perfect. The stuff that didn't was chewy but good.

You could probably use chicken or beef fat instead.

We made breakfast, links, and itallian. It was very good. Very lean. Almost no fat came out when it was cooked, but it didn't stick.

Thanks for the tips! What wouldn't fatty pork complement nicely?

Have you canned any rabbit meat? I'm interested in trying that, too.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I've had rabbits almost escape through a temporary chicken wire fence, and know people who have had that happen, so already counting on not using chicken wire(is there really a good use for chicken wire?) I already built hutches, using hardware cloth for the top and sides, rabbit sure for the bottom, and a wooden frame supporting it all. I plan to, when I am ready to let them go in the run, cut a door in the back of the hutches abd put ramps down and into the run. There would be a door, and yes, the rabbits will be in the hutches at night. I have had too many problems with bears and raccoons to let them out at night. Would staggering 2 layers of larger spaced wire fencing be ok for the run walls and top? It is a lot cheaper to buy than hutch wire. Staggering it would, in theory, eliminate possible means of escape.

What kind of wire would you use? Like a welded fencing type?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I can't say I have, though I do have instructions for it it my presto canner canning booklet. Oh! But I did can some rabbit soup. It came out good.

 

[DutchBunny03]

I have some wire laying around that is a bit too largely spaced, and I don't want to deal with another rabbit escape, so I would stagger the larger wire. I would probably have to buy more, though. I want to use up what I have around here first. It is a welded fence type. It reminds me of cattle or hog panels, but more flexible.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I can't say I have, though I do have instructions for it it my presto canner canning booklet. Oh! But I did can some rabbit soup. It came out good.

I bet canned rabbit soup is awesome. I love the idea of just heating up a meal.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have some wire laying around that is a bit too largely spaced, and I don't want to deal with another rabbit escape, so I would stagger the larger wire. I would probably have to buy more, though. I want to use up what I have around here first. It is a welded fence type. It reminds me of cattle or hog panels, but more flexible.

Ok, I think I'm getting the image - it sounds like it would work as long as the final spacing wasn't big enough for a predator to reach the rabbits.