Rabbits and Chickens

[FLORIDA JEFF]

Hi I am new to BYC and was looking for other Rabbit breeders who raise chickens. I don't know much about chickens but want to start raising them. Over on Rabbit Talk blog I came across the term Raken House. Raising chickens under your rabbit cages which saves on real estate and suppose to help keep the rabbit droppings and urine from going anaerobic. Has anyone had experience with this method of raising chickens.

Thanks all.

 

[cavemanrich]

If you are consider raising chickens in cages,, maybe reconsider the idea altogether.
I am familiar with the anaerobic process in manufacturing compost in closed vessels.
Rabbit droppings falling on the ground will not turn anaerobic. They will just dry up. They can be freely used in garden as fertilizer without a long wait period, like other natural fertilizers, such as Chicken droppings.
The rabbit urine will just soak into the ground, and dissipate.
Unless you are considering large numbers of rabbits in small area.
Probably not a good idea.
Anyways,, start with small numbers, and watch your experience develop.
As for chickens,, if you don't have the space for comfortable chicken keeping. Overcrowding leads to more problems than it is worth.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[FLORIDA JEFF]

Cavemanrich: Thanks for the come back. I have been raising meat rabbits for four years now. I have 2 Bucks and 4 Does for breeders. they are in 30X30 cages which is considered comfortable by some standards. I have some 24x24 cages for the grow outs until ready to harvest. I just added on to my barn to facilitate those. My barn is 22' long and L shaped with 16' wide on the new end and 8'wide on the other end. I wouldn't like to raise rabbits in colonies.
The chickens would not be in cages, I would never do that I know that much. I know some people who raise chickens who have elaborate coops. I would close in one end of the new addition with a coop and put wire around the whole barn so the chickens could use the whole barn as a run under the rabbit cages. I'm only talking 5 or 6 chickens for personal egg consumption.
I had just heard of some people who have huge Barns with 100 plus chickens and 100 rabbits that let the chickens run under the rabbits and they keep the bedding fluffed up and fly larvae down.
Like I said I am new to the chickens and I appreciate all advice I can get. here are a few pictures of the barn edition. l will have to get others off my phone.
I was thinking of putting the hutch on the end of the cages you are looking at,. the end you can't see.

 

[cavemanrich]

When you explain things in more detail, I get a better picture.
I think your operation should work out just fine.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Cavemanrich: Thanks for the come back. I have been raising meat rabbits for four years now. I have 2 Bucks and 4 Does for breeders. they are in 30X30 cages which is considered comfortable by some standards. I have some 24x24 cages for the grow outs until ready to harvest. I just added on to my barn to facilitate those. My barn is 22' long and L shaped with 16' wide on the new end and 8'wide on the other end. I wouldn't like to raise rabbits in colonies.
The chickens would not be in cages, I would never do that I know that much. I know some people who raise chickens who have elaborate coops. I would close in one end of the new addition with a coop and put wire around the whole barn so the chickens could use the whole barn as a run under the rabbit cages. I'm only talking 5 or 6 chickens for personal egg consumption.
I had just heard of some people who have huge Barns with 100 plus chickens and 100 rabbits that let the chickens run under the rabbits and they keep the bedding fluffed up and fly larvae down.
Like I said I am new to the chickens and I appreciate all advice I can get. here are a few pictures of the barn edition. l will have to get others off my phone.
I was thinking of putting the hutch on the end of the cages you are looking at,. the end you can't see. View attachment 4240735View attachment 4240738

Hi Jeff, I don't know anything about rabbits, but if you have questions related to chicken breeds or other chicken care feel free to ask me and the BYC community!

 

[NotabitaiI]

I have some escapees living under my rabbits right now, it's great, they eat any spilled feed before it becomes a soggy fermented fly magnet. My rabbits live in a barn under a tree so moisture in the ground builds up quickly, but the chickens help stir it around a bit and keep the fly population down. They're only beneficial in small quantities though, I think bantams would do best and a good ratio for me has been about four chickens for every 12-15 rabbits.

 

[FLORIDA JEFF]

When you explain things in more detail, I get a better picture.
I think your operation should work out just fine.

Thank you Sir, I will try to keep everyone informed as to the status of the project. Keep in mind the wheels of progress turn slow around here sometimes..
I want to get this done because I am excited about learning to raise chickens.
Thanks to everyone again.

 

[FLORIDA JEFF]

I have some escapees living under my rabbits right now, it's great, they eat any spilled feed before it becomes a soggy fermented fly magnet. My rabbits live in a barn under a tree so moisture in the ground builds up quickly, but the chickens help stir it around a bit and keep the fly population down. They're only beneficial in small quantities though, I think bantams would do best and a good ratio for me has been about four chickens for every 12-15 rabbits.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to start with about 5 or 6 chickens. I will look into the Bantams

 

[NotabitaiI]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to start with about 5 or 6 chickens. I will look into the Bantams

Let us know how things go!