What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[LittleLaneFarm]

I have 3 Californian does (sisters) in one over-sized hutch that is attached to our Chicken coop. I grew up raising (was in 4-H for several years) NZ's,Florida White's and Californians, with a few odd ball breeds thrown in I had as many as 80 at one point and they were show and/or meat rabbits...well, I could never eat them, still cant stomach rabbit LOL Here is our coop/hutch, their nesting box is actually inside the storage part (not in the coop) of the building for protection and warmth. We have it set up so you can slide in dividers from the front if we ever want to separate them later...you might be able to see the small gaps between the door frames. Here is our front summer cover to keep the sun and heat off the girls *Ignore the unfinished roof, it's a work in progress Here is one of my girls from May at almost 4 months old and still coming into her coloring.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

H

I have 3 Californian does (sisters) in one over-sized hutch that is attached to our Chicken coop. I grew up raising (was in 4-H for several years) NZ's,Florida White's and Californians, with a few odd ball breeds thrown in I had as many as 80 at one point and they were show and/or meat rabbits...well, I could never eat them, still cant stomach rabbit LOL Here is our coop/hutch, their nesting box is actually inside the storage part (not in the coop) of the building for protection and warmth. We have it set up so you can slide in dividers from the front if we ever want to separate them later...you might be able to see the small gaps between the door frames. Here is our front summer cover to keep the sun and heat off the girls *Ignore the unfinished roof, it's a work in progress Here is one of my girls from May at almost 4 months old and still coming into her coloring.

How lovely it all is. Congratulations.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Now that I have almost a year of raising chickens under my belt. Still consider myself a newbie -
I am interested in raising rabbits. Having a few for pets and a few for meat. Just like
when I wanted chickens, am doing my research to insure the safety and health of
the rabbits. We live in the low desert of Arizona where it can get to 120 degrees in
the summer time. So far our chickens are handling the heat with the accommodations
we have come up with. I am not going to extremes, I want a heat tolerant flock.
Am hoping to be able to do the same for rabbits. Is that possible or am I kidding myself?
Based on the research I've done so far, I am interested in New Zealand reds. they
seem hard to find in this part of the state. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[redrstr29]

Now that I have almost a year of raising chickens under my belt. Still consider myself a newbie -
I am interested in raising rabbits. Having a few for pets and a few for meat. Just like
when I wanted chickens, am doing my research to insure the safety and health of
the rabbits. We live in the low desert of Arizona where it can get to 120 degrees in
the summer time. So far our chickens are handling the heat with the accommodations
we have come up with. I am not going to extremes, I want a heat tolerant flock.
Am hoping to be able to do the same for rabbits. Is that possible or am I kidding myself?
Based on the research I've done so far, I am interested in New Zealand reds. they
seem hard to find in this part of the state. Any suggestions are appreciated.

I have NZ whites, and their bodies are very meaty, even if it might not look like it. Some get hotter than others..just like humans, here in CT the temps have been up in the high 90s this past summer, and with out frozen water bottles in their cages...a cold tile for the does to lay on... and a constant fan running on the cages , and them being in the shade I honestly believe I would on lost some...My friends have who did not take those measurements...So in your case at 120 it might be easier to keep them in a cooled garage or shed..lol.. or you'd be out there all the time changing frozen bottles...I.M.O. I def need a new plan if summers are gonna keep bein this hot...I might have to move them to a better shaded area... I hate seeing them panting

 

[Lynzi777]

Does anyone know if it's safe to use DE on or near my rabbits and their cages? I've been a wreck over mites/lice on my birds as of late. The last time I cleaned coops I threw a bunch of DE in them to keep mites from coming around. When I have my silkies a bath the other day I notices mites and what I think was lice on them so I dusted them with DE. I have to look these critters up because I'm not even sure that's exactly what it is. (The lice) anyway, I noticed these teeny tiny round bugs crawling on my rabbit hutches and I want to dust the cages but wasn't sure if it was safe to use near rabbits.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Does anyone know if it's safe to use DE on or near my rabbits and their cages? I've been a wreck over mites/lice on my birds as of late. The last time I cleaned coops I threw a bunch of DE in them to keep mites from coming around. When I have my silkies a bath the other day I notices mites and what I think was lice on them so I dusted them with DE. I have to look these critters up because I'm not even sure that's exactly what it is. (The lice) anyway, I noticed these teeny tiny round bugs crawling on my rabbit hutches and I want to dust the cages but wasn't sure if it was safe to use near rabbits.

X2. I was wondering the same thing. I have the DE but was afraid to use it around by rabbits.

 

[Lynzi777]

X2. I was wondering the same thing. I have the DE but was afraid to use it around by rabbits.

I just googled it and many cases said it was safe to use.

Sorry tried to edit from my phone and it wouldn't let me copy and paste so I'm on my PC now...That was the "food grade" amount to use. I have the kind that you use to keep bugs away by sprinkling where ever it's needed. I sprinkled less than that amount on them as you would with chickens.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Th

I just googled it and was brought to the DE website saying it was perfectly safe to use, especially since small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, etc are difficult to treat for mites-said to use half a table spoon for rabbits so I dusted them with it just to be safe and also sprinkled some on the walls and in the corners of their hutches.

Thanks. I'll go ahead and use it.

 

[Lynzi777]

Th
Thanks. I'll go ahead and use it.

Sounds to me that using DE on rabbits is the same as using Sevin on chickens. Some people use it and some people would never attempt it. I've read both opinions on the DE and rabbits. So since people have used it with no negative results, I have it a try. I am one that uses Sevin in my coops and directly on my chickens. I have never had a problem with them after use. My bunnies are still doing fine after sprinkling them with it this morning. Nobody's coughing, sneezing or showing signs of irritation or illness.

 

[kacklinkelly]

I have NZ whites, and their bodies are very meaty, even if it might not look like it. Some get hotter than others..just like humans, here in CT the temps have been up in the high 90s this past summer, and with out frozen water bottles in their cages...a cold tile for the does to lay on... and a constant fan running on the cages , and them being in the shade I honestly believe I would on lost some...My friends have who did not take those measurements...So in your case at 120 it might be easier to keep them in a cooled garage or shed..lol.. or you'd be out there all the time changing frozen bottles...I.M.O. I def need a new plan if summers are gonna keep bein this hot...I might have to move them to a better shaded area... I hate seeing them panting

Thanks redrstr29.