Help on building

BlueRose · #1 05/28/13, 06:49 PM

I need to build a lean to to cover rabbits.

I was thinking of using old electric and phone poles from the city. They charge $0.25 a foot.

Then 2x6 around top and bottom to hold together. I am trying to figure out how to do the roof.

I am alone and am having to do this as money comes available.

Any suggestions? Or tips?

frankva · #2 05/28/13, 06:52 PM

Why not just use 2x4s?

Fire-Man · #3 05/28/13, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueRose

I need to build a lean to to cover rabbits.

I was thinking of using old electric and phone poles from the city. They charge $0.25 a foot.

Have you got some way to set a electric pole? A 8 to 10ft pole is usually to heavy to set by hand Unless you got plenty of strength or its a small pole. I think I had rather pay $8 for a treated 4x4x8ft.

jwal10 · #4 05/28/13, 07:54 PM

How big?

....James

MichaelZ · #5 05/28/13, 08:14 PM

Those poles would be very heavy and difficult to move around. To make some very inexpensive 4x4's, stagger 2x4's and nail together. Use connector plates to fasten edge to edge.

PlicketyCat · #6 05/28/13, 08:53 PM

Electric/phone poles are way overkill for a simple lean-to for a rabbit hutch. They're extremely heavy and hard for a couple to set by hand, much less someone alone (even with equipment).

You'd be much better off with treated 4x4's, either dug in or on concrete pier blocks.

Purina has an easy plan for a covered hutch http://www.rabbit.purinamills.com/st...d2-0024693.pdf

If all you need is to keep the rain off, NDSU has this awesome plan for a "hutch" with suspended wire cages that uses very little material: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/6277.pdf

And a similar style, but with "double-decker" box cages from LSUAg:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonly...ForRabbits.pdf

For the roof, your cheapest option (if you can't find something reclaimed) is probably going to be painted OSB... a few coats of exterior oil paint will last for at least 2-3 years. Next cheapest would probably be asphalt roll roofing.

BlueRose · #7 05/30/13, 07:36 PM

Thank you. I went to the suggested websites. I will look into the cost of 2x4 and 4x4. I would like to just build a pole barn and be done with it. I have to make a decision about trying to find more land close to here. I am .38 acre of qualifying for ag taxes. Right now have to pay 'lot' taxes. A difference of about $200.

Until I make that decision I am holding off any major building projects.

PlicketyCat · #8 05/31/13, 01:22 AM

Wait - you want to put up a pole barn (with utility poles) but you want to hold off on any major building projects? Does that include the rabbit pole barn? A pole barn is certainly more of a major building project than slapping together some 2x4s and a sheet or two of OSB. How many rabbits are you looking to house? You can pretty much make the NDSU & LSUAg versions as long as you need by just adding another unit onto the other side of the post and adding another post at the end.

You can always take both those hutches with you if you use Simpson E-Z Spikes to set your posts, no digging or concrete required so it doesn't have to be permanent. Come winter, if you're still there, tack a tarp around it to block the wind, add some extra straw and a nestbox and your buns should be just fine.

Or are you looking for more of a colony style enclosure with all the rabbits together instead of in individual cages?

ETA: I priced the LSUAg double decker post model out under $50, with a painted OSB roof, hanging mosquito screen for summer, and a 10mil poly enclosure for winter. A 90LB asphalt felt roll roof adds around $40; an aluminized self-stick roll roof adds around $80; and 2 E-Z Spikes adds around $30. And that's for everything new at crazy Alaska prices... I'm sure you can find better retails prices and a good bit of salvaged materials on Craigslist or Freecycle down in MO.

o&itw · #9 05/31/13, 06:56 AM

Don't build a hutch! it is a poor place to raise rabbits! Build a shed even if it is just a small shed open on one side, then hang your cages. The poles are a great idea, and you can cut them to length with a chain saw.

To give you answers about the roof, we need to know the size of the shed, and what roofing material you are going to use. 2 x 4's may be enough if it is a short span. My rabbit shed is 24' long, but only 9 feet wide, because I got some old utility pole cross arms to support the roof and they were 10'. With the slant and minimum overhang that gave me a 9" foot wide shed. Find any flat scrap 1" x boards you can to lay across your raters to mount the roofing on.

A well built 10 x 12 ,open one side, slant roof shed can be used for a lot of other things if you get out of rabbits, and when you get more cash you can always close up the open side if you wish.

At $2 for an 8' post, the telephone poles would make terrific corner posts for a fence. The butt end, (the part that was in the ground) always has a lot more preservative in it, and if you can get those sections, they will last almost forever.

BlueRose · #10 06/07/13, 09:54 PM

I am planning on building a pole barn big enough for 100 does + babies + bucks and feed. I would also have a milking pallor and stalls for other animals on one end or maybe I should build 1 barn for each? I know big dreams and shadow pockets.

PlicketyCat · #11 06/08/13, 12:45 PM

OK - a pole barn for 100+ does with several bucks and grow-out pens makes a lot more sense than a lean-to or freestanding hutch.

For that many rabbits, this plan may be better for the dimensions and interior layout, using one end or side of pole barn like this one or this one (especially if you go with the double-decker cages back-to-back).

With that many rabbits, you may want to consider keeping them in a barn by themselves, or at least closing their section off from the other animals. Depends on how many and what type of additional livestock you intend to get in the future. If you add a milk parlor later for goats/cow, I would make that a separate attached shed to any larger barn you might build since it's easier to keep clean that way.

o&itw · #12 06/08/13, 03:09 PM

I hope you have a buyer contracted for your kits before you build. What you're talking is a commercial operation. There are more in southwest MO, and NW Arkansas than almost any other place in the country. By all means visit one, talk to the owner, and see his set up before you start making decisions!

PlicketyCat · #13 06/08/13, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o&itw

I hope you have a buyer contracted for your kits before you build. What you're talking is a commercial operation. There are more in southwest MO, and NW Arkansas than almost any other place in the country. By all means visit one, talk to the owner, and see his set up before you start making decisions!

That's what I was thinking as well. An average homestead operation for DIY meat is usually a dozen or so breeding does unless you have a really big family or really like rabbit meat (A single doe can produce 1000% of her body weight in meat per year!). A simple shed or hutch would be fine for something like that... but 100 does is way into commercial territory.

Sounds to me like the OP hasn't raised meat rabbits before, or he'd already know what setup was needed. Jumping into 100 does might be a shocker. I'd suggest a breeding triplet or quad (2-3 does and a buck) in one of the smaller shed/hutch designs to start with. You can always build up to something larger later on.

BlueRose · #14 06/08/13, 08:59 PM

Thank you all for your advice. My ex and his family has a commercial rabbitry they sell to Pel-Freez in Rodgers. I have 21 NZ and NZ cross does. Pel-Freez isn't do new sellers at this time. I contacted Iowa Rabbitry, will be selling to them. I was trying to figure out a easy way to to start a barn and then add on. I am by myself so the building will be a little at a time as I can afford it. Right now they are is hanging cages in a old greenhouse and dog pens. My neighbor and I butchered 35 this afternoon, and will butcher the other 91 starting in the morning. His mom is teaching me how to can them. I love bartering.

BlueRose · #15 06/08/13, 09:01 PM

Is there any rabbit raisers out there that would be willing to show their set up to me and my neighbors. It is hard for me to describe the way the ex's was.

Thank you

BlueRose · #16 06/08/13, 09:05 PM

PC thank you for they links. I download one off the LU website. I took it to the lumber yard and the materials alone they said would be $4000 that doesn't include the siding and the roof. I can buy a pole barn kit for with everything for $3800 according to the ad in Horsetrader.

Pony · #17 08/03/13, 05:41 PM

You are most welcome to see our rabbit set-up, but it's the sort of horror against which o&itw advocates.

We plan to build something more suitable before the snow flies.

Hopefully. LOL!

Which lumber yard did you check? There are ways to glean materials or spend lots less than that.

Where does Iowa Rabbitry pick up?

BlueRose · #18 08/03/13, 08:04 PM

Unforunately I did not get the #. Iowa Rabbitry picks up in Norwood as well as Licking. I am weighing fryers in the morning. Hope I have some that will make weight 5 3/4 to 6 3/4.

That reminds me I need to call tomorrow and double check on the weights. I would Love to see your set up.

I checked Meeks. Ms Connie's son was suppose to check the others.

We decided to get one of those carports that the company installs for a temporatly rabbits barn. I hope to find enough scrap lumber to build like a leanto for the others.

Pony · #19 08/03/13, 09:09 PM

Ah. You know what? I think the neighbor does sell to IA in Norwood, not to PelFreeze. Is IA as ... um... particular about housing as PelFreez?

Really, our set up is pretty sad. T-posts holding the cages up, tarps to cover. It's effective, but certainly no rabbit Taj Mahal.

But you're welcome any time.

You live close to Rosina?