rabbitries , Please show me yours

[Wolf-Kim]

Chin, how are those cages stacked? A few look like they were built that way. I want to update my "rabbitry" and am collecting ideas. Thank you.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Quote:
This is what my rabbitry looks like. i have two, 3-teir wire cages/pans, two doubles w/pans, and a single with a pan on a table in a new metal shed. However, it's a bit cramped and there is a wood shed with a bit more space I'm renovating to move all the buns in. I saw a neat backyard setup locally where the guy had a 6 ft wood slat fence around his rabbit cages, the cages were all-wire and setting on a wood frame on legs with a roof built over...and he had plastic behind the cages to cut down drafts and urine splash, and plastic sheeting with a board on the end to drop over the front like a curtain when stormy weather hits...also had heat lamps for each cage because sometimes it can get 30 below here. way cool!

 

[dragonchick]

Quote:
I love the look of this and may be able to incorporate some ideas from it. That water container looks like its gravity fed, is there a problem with it freezing? or are you in the low frost zone?



Keep those ideas coming please.

 

[dragonchick]

Do any of you also breed in your present setup, with only the addition of a nest box. Since I plan on breeding I also have to think from that angle. From what I have read I will need 6 cages/hutches for the 2 does and 1 buck I will be using.

 

[Sammimom]

I was just reading about someone using a chicken-tractor like arrangement for their meat rabbits, but I can't remember where--it was a recent issue of some magazine, though. The trick was in giving it a "floor" that would keep them from digging out, but not make it too heavy to move or prevent grazing. The author did prefer the "tractor" arrangment over the cages he previously used, particularly regarding cleanliness. Perhaps if you search around online you'll come up with some other ideas...if I can remember or find the magazine I'll post it.

My own two bunnies won't ever be eaten...I doubt anyone wants to eat a ten-year-old rabbit!

 

[dragonchick]

Thanks for the option but a rabbit tractor is definitely out of the question. With the lay of our land the rabbitry would either be too cold and drafty or too wet, because the chickens will have the only well draining high ground. Where the rabbits are going has water when we get heavy rain but the cages/hutches will be several feet off the ground.

 

[chinbunny]

Hi kim. Most of those are hand biult cages. there is a couple of rabbit cage companies that make them. Though I bought most of mine from them at shows. The one hand built stacking cage is in the middle was practically free. They cost about $120 brand new, I won it with $10 worth of raffle tickets a a show a few years ago. The only thing i had to buy for it was the urine gaurds.

The ones in the back were built locally by a friend of mine. I got them for $20 each when she got out of her rabbits.

 

[kenman]

Here is some free advice from someone whose made mistakes. The main thing about rabbit housing is keep them dry, out of drafts in the winter and ventilated in the summer, and keep them safe. You have seen several very nice set-ups and there are many more out there. However, if you want to start with meat rabbits this is where I would start. First, look for used cages at flee markets, yard sales, Craigslist, etc. I either bought or had gave to me seven 24" by 24" cages for a total cost of $12 dollars. If you find that these are too small for your meat rabbits, like I did, then you can easily combine three 24" by 24" and make two 24" by 36" inch cages. I used some J-clamps, J-clamp pliers (which you will need if you have rabbit cages) and wire cutters. I had purchased some nice big cages from the local farm store and wasted my money. My point is, think outside the box. Second, do some research before you buy your rabbits. Two does and a buck will produce plenty of rabbit meat for one family to eat. Buy white rabbits if you think you may have trouble killing them, it's easier to process if they all look the same. Third, do not spend a ton of money for your starter stock. If you do not plan to show them, do not buy show quality. Go to a local swap meet or find someone (Craigslist) who has good rabbits and buy your starter does from them. I recently bought two replacement does and spent $4 apiece. They were about 12 weeks old and are cross-bred. I will finish raising them and when they are old enough (5-6 months) I will incorporate them into the rotation. Buying young gives them time to acclimate themselves to their surroundings and you won't get "took" by someone trying to pawn off their old stock. I sold a young doe to a guy back last year for $5 dollars because she didn't raise large enough babies. I was upfront about why I was selling her. This same guy had that doe (now two years old and worn out) at a swap meet a few days ago trying to sell her as a young doe for $10. Fourth, don't over breed your does. Your does will last longer if you give them a break of 1-2 weeks between weening and re-breeding. The temptation will be to re-breed as soon as the babies come out of the nest box, don't. Fifth, do not allow yourself to fall into the temptation of getting or keeping more does than you can handle or feed. You will have thoughts like: "people will surely buy my rabbits", you may sell some, however, your freezer or your cages will get full in a hurry. Sixth, some people will criticize you for killing "poor, defenseless, cute" bunnies, I tell them that when they become hungry enough, they can join me for dinner. Finally, remember, the purpose of "meat" rabbits is to have extra meat on the table at a minimal cost, shop around for feed, supplies, and stock. Keep your costs down.
I hope this helps.

 

[dragonchick]

Thanks kenman.
Your points are valid and we had already considered some them. You have offered some very good ideas too.

the cages/hutches are being built from scrap so there's no cost there except the wire. I have an almost unlimited supply of free lumber and just have to go pick it up. Most is 2x2's and 2x4's of various lengths. The mutt, mixed breed rabbits are $5 a piece plus the gas to go get them., and the rabbits are young @ 6 to 8 weeks. I don't think I will have a problem with the butcher, and if I do I have an alternate to do it for me. I have an ad on craigslist for unused/unwanted cages/hutches. I have tried to think this out by researching and deciding if this is for me but will never know unless I actually do it. My family is on-board with the idea so that helps. I also have a place to re-home the rabbits if I decide its not for me. The cages/hutches will then be recycled for the chickens or sold to recoup the wire money.

When you talk about the cages from flea markets, are you talking about the small hamster/bird type wire cages?

 

[kenman]

They are rabbit cages, made by Bass Equipment, Hav-a-hart and Little Giant. I put out the word to some outdoor flea market folks and it was no time that I had several nice used cages for very little money. The most I spent on a used one was $2. I could have also have bought some outdoor hutches but my rabbits are in my shed.
Sounds like your are doing your homework!