Raising rabbits in the garden in a hot area, my project what do you think? New drawings added

[Kassaundra]

I have been doing a lot of research into raising rabbits (for meat) and wanted to figure out a way to incorporate some of my odd gardening (not squares not rows not conventional) w/ raising some rabbits as natural as I can. My husband is a huge animal lover (but also eats meat) there is no way he would find the suspended 3x3 cages acceptable. (not arguing w/ anyone w/ that set up for sure, I understand the reasons behind those set ups, less preditor access, easier cleaning etc...). I have two big hurdles heat and $$$$. I have done a lot of research into how they grow rabbits for food in poor hot climates and think I have come up w/ a doable plan for me and my family. Much of the materials I plan to use I either already have or can get for free or cheap, and in the process will have a more natural setting for the rabbits. I have made some drawings to illustrate my ideas, but keep in mind I am not a draftsperson, or artist (at least w/o a camera) and couldn't find a pencil w/ eraser to clean up the drawings.

I am hoping this will be big enough to see. This I an over view of the whole set up w/ all garden spots (the pie shapes radiating from the center) and all 4 rabbit den/runs. The very center is the 4 food grade plastic barrels that will be the under ground portion of the dens, there will be walls (old tin I already have) to act as retaining walls it will be like a large raised bed garden spot covering the barrels completely and planted in rabbit friendly food stuffs.
The 4 squares protruding from the center are the 4 outdoor run areas, these are ground level and surrounded by garden. The dotted line rectangle inside each of these runs will be a raised wire area for growing fodder on the ground so the plants can grow through the wire and the buns can have access, I can just toss more seed (as it is seasonal) for them to eat as it grows (thinking things like radish, lettuce, clover, winter oats, new Zealand spinach etc.....) Outside each run on either side of the human door will be a comfrey plant. ( a bocking variety noninvasive)

This is a more detailed drawing of the outside run, the sguare in the back is the retaining wall of the raised garden that is making the dens underground, the circle is the barrel that will be the underground den. I will put a row of cinder blocks on the ground and build my A frame pallet walls on top of the blocks, just on the inside of the cinder blocks will be the raised wire planting area for growing fodder right in the run (not their only source, I will be giving them grain fodder and garden stuff too)

This just shows a little more detail in the run and that the outside will have comfrey and a human door is planned. The rainbow looking thing in the back is the enterance to the underground den.

This will be the barrel and underground den, I will put dirt in for dirt floor, the front will be cut out in large 1/2 circle shape and I will construct something that will sit in place all the time w/ a small rabbit opening but that can easily be removed for human enterance into the den area for cleaning or ness. business.




That is basically it. I know it looks more intensive then the suspended cages and not as easy to establish or keep up with. But the pros of my idea as I see it is made of 80% repurposed stuff, a place to escape the heat w/o needing electricity or my time, it is right in the garden for easy access to humans giving them their food daily, allows for more natural setting, allows for them to graze on living growing food right in the run.


Okay so you rabbit raising gurus, what are the negatives you see w/ my plan so I can either fix or decide if it is a negative I am willing to live with?
















Here are some new drawings, I found a sharpie marker these may be clearer and easier to see. These are not drawn to size though.

This is a closer look w/o showing the garden sites that the other one did

Hope this makes what I was saying clearer.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Very interesting! I would love to see it when it is all completed! Dealing with heat and rabbits can definitely be tricky. Looks like this may work though!

 

[itsjustme]

I have been thinking about getting rabbits to raise for meat also. And have been considering my options. As of now I have no place to put rabbits so would have to build or buy something and I like the idea of them being in a " natural" environment. These are some of the things I have been pondering and wonder what your plans are. 1 waste. They have to go somewhere and they don't care where its at. I'm thinking scooping would be difficult in grassy areas and not scooping would lead to build up right? I no they can be trained to use a liter box which would be a good idea i just wonder how difficult it would be to teach them? From what ive read its not simple when you have them in the house trying to train them. You have to watch them constantly and correct them as soon as you see them go outside the box. 2. Seperation. Do you plan on having doors on all the under ground nest boxes? Or is each of the 4 pens seperate with a door between each? 3 predatos. I seen the fence to enclose the space and the wire on the ground but do you plan to have wire over the top? In my area the hawks would have them gone in days. And what size wire would you use for the enclosure itself? I'm thinking snakes getting in. I don't worry about the adults as much as i do the kits. And also does anyone know how many square feet per rabbit is needed for a design like this? I think its awesome and would love to see pics when its done. I love the idea of a rabbit garden! I've thought about doing a chicken garden if I ever get my chicken yard built and I also have plans for a guinea area wirh ornamental grasses that I ca hide nest boxes in ect. I'm trying to keep them from roosting in the horse pasture.

 

[Kassaundra]

On the waste, I have been told the adults will not go to the bathroom in an underground den, but the kits obviously will. So the dirt or bedding would need to be changed in the den w/ each new litter, but we are planning on just scooping it or most out and replacing. I plan on using just plain old garden dirt, free, easy access. The dirt I remove that has the baby poop/pee I plan on putting straight into the garden. The outside area as I understand the adult will choose a basic location and for the most part use that spot as a bathroom. When I locate that spot I intend to do some sort of litter box type set up. If that is accurate then the changing of the litter box should be fairly straight forward, if that is not accurate and they are messier w/ their elimination I plan to rake / hose the dirt ground into the adjacent garden area and if needed apply fresh garden dirt, shouldn't be to big an issue.

Each den / run will house one rabbit, or be a grow out pen for youths waiting to be processed. I would have enough space that if I got lucky and had two does that didn't mind being together I could house those two together, but that will not be likely at all and am not counting on that, it would be rare for them to be willing to share as far as I understand their behavior.

The runs will have wire or metal sheets covering them (metal sheets for the roof area) and will be an "A" frame structure. We do not have mink or weasles or anything like that my two big preditor concerns are snakes and rats. For snakes I was thinking just draping that cheap garden netting over the walls would catch the snakes in the netting before they got in. Rats I'm still pondering, likely my only prevention w/ rats will be small opening wire.

In the studies I did researching this method this was exceptionally beneficial for hot areas, however had significant draw backs to cold damp winter areas. Your location may require a different set up or modifications to this plan.

As to space most people raise rabbits in 3 x 3 cages, so anything that size or bigger is plenty of space for a rabbit.

 

[itsjustme]

You never no what your going to get as far as weather in my area so I would have to research a bit to see what wilk work best for me. I understand that. I was curious your thoughts on the subjects I've mentioned from what I read ( and I try not to believe everything I hear, but take it into consideration) they don't pick a spot and just go in that area. But I seem to remember the ones we had as kids did. Idk why I never thought of rats but I shoukd have I have one that keeps after my broody guinea. I think small wire wrapped in netting would be a good idea. I agree I wouldn't count on 2 does getting aling while they have babies. But I can't her my hens to get along since they have hatched chicks and they have always lived together. I wish you luck in your venture. After the week I have had with my birds I'm rethinking rabbits and conusder selling out all together on days like today. Uggg

 

[Kassaundra]

You never no what your going to get as far as weather in my area so I would have to research a bit to see what wilk work best for me. I understand that. I was curious your thoughts on the subjects I've mentioned from what I read ( and I try not to believe everything I hear, but take it into consideration) they don't pick a spot and just go in that area. But I seem to remember the ones we had as kids did. Idk why I never thought of rats but I shoukd have I have one that keeps after my broody guinea. I think small wire wrapped in netting would be a good idea. I agree I wouldn't count on 2 does getting aling while they have babies. But I can't her my hens to get along since they have hatched chicks and they have always lived together. I wish you luck in your venture. After the week I have had with my birds I'm rethinking rabbits and conusder selling out all together on days like today. Uggg

Dealing w/ animals can be frustrating for sure, just keep in mind your goals, the reason you got the chickens in the first place on those hard days (weeks), learn from the set backs and roll forward. Knowing your food source is important, and even more important is security in knowing you will continue to have a good food source no matter what. For me the rabbits are actually a little better for that security, since I think where I live I could feed them off my yard entirely if need be, however the chickens would be a different story, don't think I could maintain more then a couple if I had to do it w/o the feed store. I am trying to hedge my bet in that area by raising insects too for the chickens, for that the food source isn't as big a problem as the need for heat in the winter, but I do what I can and what seems practical and worth the time investment and let go what I can't control, and place my faith in my God for what is out of my hands.

 

[LovePolish2]

Very interesting! I would love to see it when it is all completed! Dealing with heat and rabbits can definitely be tricky. Looks like this may work though!

I'd love how it all turns out. Good luck

 

[itsjustme]

Dealing w/ animals can be frustrating for sure, just keep in mind your goals, the reason you got the chickens in the first place on those hard days (weeks), learn from the set backs and roll forward.  Knowing your food source is important, and even more important is security in knowing you will continue to have a good food source no matter what.  For me the rabbits are actually a little better for that security, since I think where I live I could feed them off my yard entirely if need be, however the chickens would be a different story, don't think I could maintain more then a couple if I had to do it w/o the feed store.  I am trying to hedge my bet in that area by raising insects too for the chickens, for that the food source isn't as big a problem as the need for heat in the winter, but I do what I can and what seems practical and worth the time investment and let go what I can't control, and place my faith in my God for what is out of my hands.

thank you. It can get very frustrating. I'm not sure if I could feed rabbits all winter without a feed store. I would have to do alot of research and see what I can find that would grow in the winter and be beneficial and nutritious. I have been looking into that for chickens also. I don't worry about chickens in the winter as much as I do summer weather wise. I think they have a better chance of over heating than they do freezing. My guineas and adult turkeys roosted outside last winter snow freezing rain etc. And I never lost 1. They refused to go into the coop. The chickens roosted in the coop and went outside during the day even the bantams when the snow was so deep they would have had to tunnel through it if they weren't so lite they just walked across the top hardly making a print in it. I think as far. As feeding chickens during the winter without a feed store would just take planning ahead and planting extra in the garden that can be stored. Sun flower seeds corn etc. Then fermenting will add nutritional value. I'm just starting out and right now am just trying to establish my flock. I had an episode with a dog that set me back. I had to almost completely start over.

 

[LaLa Chickie]

I have been doing a lot of research into raising rabbits (for meat) and wanted to figure out a way to incorporate some of my odd gardening (not squares not rows not conventional) w/ raising some rabbits as natural as I can. My husband is a huge animal lover (but also eats meat) there is no way he would find the suspended 3x3 cages acceptable. (not arguing w/ anyone w/ that set up for sure, I understand the reasons behind those set ups, less preditor access, easier cleaning etc...). I have two big hurdles heat and $$$$. I have done a lot of research into how they grow rabbits for food in poor hot climates and think I have come up w/ a doable plan for me and my family. Much of the materials I plan to use I either already have or can get for free or cheap, and in the process will have a more natural setting for the rabbits. I have made some drawings to illustrate my ideas, but keep in mind I am not a draftsperson, or artist (at least w/o a camera) and couldn't find a pencil w/ eraser to clean up the drawings.

I am hoping this will be big enough to see. This I an over view of the whole set up w/ all garden spots (the pie shapes radiating from the center) and all 4 rabbit den/runs. The very center is the 4 food grade plastic barrels that will be the under ground portion of the dens, there will be walls (old tin I already have) to act as retaining walls it will be like a large raised bed garden spot covering the barrels completely and planted in rabbit friendly food stuffs.
The 4 squares protruding from the center are the 4 outdoor run areas, these are ground level and surrounded by garden. The dotted line rectangle inside each of these runs will be a raised wire area for growing fodder on the ground so the plants can grow through the wire and the buns can have access, I can just toss more seed (as it is seasonal) for them to eat as it grows (thinking things like radish, lettuce, clover, winter oats, new Zealand spinach etc.....) Outside each run on either side of the human door will be a comfrey plant. ( a bocking variety noninvasive)

This is a more detailed drawing of the outside run, the sguare in the back is the retaining wall of the raised garden that is making the dens underground, the circle is the barrel that will be the underground den. I will put a row of cinder blocks on the ground and build my A frame pallet walls on top of the blocks, just on the inside of the cinder blocks will be the raised wire planting area for growing fodder right in the run (not their only source, I will be giving them grain fodder and garden stuff too)

This just shows a little more detail in the run and that the outside will have comfrey and a human door is planned. The rainbow looking thing in the back is the enterance to the underground den.

This will be the barrel and underground den, I will put dirt in for dirt floor, the front will be cut out in large 1/2 circle shape and I will construct something that will sit in place all the time w/ a small rabbit opening but that can easily be removed for human enterance into the den area for cleaning or ness. business.




That is basically it. I know it looks more intensive then the suspended cages and not as easy to establish or keep up with. But the pros of my idea as I see it is made of 80% repurposed stuff, a place to escape the heat w/o needing electricity or my time, it is right in the garden for easy access to humans giving them their food daily, allows for more natural setting, allows for them to graze on living growing food right in the run.


Okay so you rabbit raising gurus, what are the negatives you see w/ my plan so I can either fix or decide if it is a negative I am willing to live with?
















Here are some new drawings, I found a sharpie marker these may be clearer and easier to see. These are not drawn to size though.

This is a closer look w/o showing the garden sites that the other one did

Hope this makes what I was saying clearer.

I found a domestic white rabbit in my yard one day. I put her in a grassy area with a dog carrier to sleep in. I had to lock her in at night. I discovered she was a tunnel maker. She tunneled the entire area. I gave her to my cute Niece and Nephew 3 and 4yrs old. They put her in an enclosure on the ground with their Hens. She tunneled their entire back yard under the fencing. Thankfully, she would return to the main Coop with the Hens. The dogs were on the other side of the fencing but she still managed to tunnel up where they were. It's crazy to watch. I don't know if you will have to put some kind of chicken wire on the ground floor to keep them from tunneling out and escaping. My Uncle raised Angora's for a living and then harvested Night Crawlers from their droppings. I remember them being in hutches above the ground for the clean droppings and the worms kept the smell down. Everyone was happy. Best wishes in your new venture!

 

[LaLa Chickie]

OH, I guess you probably already did your plan...I just realized this post is old from 2010..