Ideas for free reange setup?

mountainman_bc · #1 12/29/05, 09:05 PM

I hear rabbits do really well when on pasture. I don't want them running loose, and there are enough predators here that they'd just dissapear anyhow.
Anyone try this? I'm looking for ideas, ideally low budget ideas for 1 buck 2 does, and all their young. Thanks.

Up North · #2 12/29/05, 09:50 PM

For my chickens I used a pen that was 10x13 feet and 3 feet high. I made it out of recycled PVC pipe. Then I covered it in chicken wire. Why wouldn't that work for rabbits? Then just move them to a fresh patch of grass everyday. I imagine they would like being on a nice fresh patch of grass everyday vs. the typical wire pens that I see rabbits in.

ONThorsegirl · #3 12/29/05, 09:55 PM

I ahve had my rabbits kept out side I had an area 7 feet by 12 feet and 7 feet high. I only had 3 rabbits and in about 4 days the grass was all eatten and they would dig very large holes, to dig out of the pen. I don't keep them in the kennel(it was an unused dog kennel) I now have them in cages.

Melissa

outofmire · #4 12/29/05, 11:52 PM

I've wondered about this as well. My daughter wants rabbits, but I just can't stand to keep them in cages. I've heard that you shouldn't eat them if they are free ranging because of diseases. Is that true? I've also heard that you shouldn't eat wild rabbit until after a hard freeze because of the same thing, but then I heard that was a myth. Which is true?

mountainman_bc · #5 12/30/05, 12:05 AM

For some reason I don't like the chicken tractor method. I had considered it. I think if they could burrough they'd be a lot more comfortable.
I would keep them in cages in winter as we get lots of snow. But cages are aweful. Mine are in 3' x 18" cages (singly) and that isn't enough space for anything. It's cruel. But they need to wait till spring when I can get them on pasture.
I would have to assume that is a myth about pasture rabbits being diseased. Of course they're more likely to have worms and WHY, but in a cage they are stressed and fat. Meat quality would certainly be higher on pasture. My motto is 'you are what you eat'.
Any more ideas, please bring em on! Thanks.

Thatch · #6 12/30/05, 08:03 AM

If your not interested in the "chicken tractor" approach it seems like your only option would then be a colony. Now this wouldn't be true pasture raised in that even in a very large pen they would wipe out the grass fairly quickly but it is a very good way to keep rabbits (in my opinion). We colony raise our rabbits, feeding pellet feed heavily augmented with greens (both from the yard and the kitchen) and hay in the winter. I would say that your one comment about keeping them in cages in the winter because it's cold seems a bit backasswards to me. Rabbits burrow and are much more comfortable in those borrows that your likely to be able to get them in any cage. It's up to you of course but heat is a much bigger problem for rabbits than cold if they have proper shelter from it.

If you want information on my colony set up I've written more than my share of posts on here so I'll just link you to those posts... The setup has matured over time and these posts cover that development.

initial pen
http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=89720

one way door
http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=89538

remote controlled catch pen
http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=94026

What ever you decide to do, best of luck to you. Cage raising has it's place and many folks like it. For my family it just wasn't the answer. Thankfully, as with most things there is more than one way to do it, hopefully my expearience can help you figure out your way.

J

mamajohnson · #7 12/30/05, 11:41 PM

My bunnies have been in a colony for awhile now. (a couple of years or so) I love it.
Spent about an hour out there this evening watching the new crop of babies discovering the world. They burrow, and basically live underground. My next goal is to get enough girls in there (and maybe expand a bit) to let my other male go, so they can be one big happy family.... right now the guys fight, so more girls and room and I think it will be all better!!
To me, cages are the pits. Too hot in summer, cold in winter and wet when it rains.
Have fun!!

PS,, mine only dug out once, and we just covered the hole with rocks, and they have never done it again.

mountainman_bc · #8 12/31/05, 01:26 AM

I'll check out the links, thanks for posting them.
About cages in winter- it's not that I want them in cages, it's just that my watertable gets really high in fall/spring. Once frozen it's ok of course, but not ideal. Right nowwe are having a strange warm front, and the field has turned to a huge wet swamp.
I know you're right that they'll be more comfortable on the ground especially in cold but hot too. I need to work out how.
I expect to build up some raised areas, but that is a huge project. I don't have any buildings aside from my chicken house- I need a barn!!

arctichomestead · #9 01/01/06, 05:55 PM

I did hear once of a 'triangle' or 'teepee' about 12' long covered in chicken wire and wheels one end so you can pick up the other end and move to a new patch of grass occasionally. I believe it was orginally used for chickens but it should work for rabbits. I don't think I'd let them live like this but it would make a good 'play pen' for the day so they would be safe.

outofmire · #10 01/01/06, 09:46 PM

Kencove has some 2' high wire mesh fencing that is made to be electrified. You'd need a .25 joule charger per section of 164' mesh...plus ground rod(s). I don't know how well rabbits do with electric fence.

Kencove portable fencing

mountainman_bc · #11 01/01/06, 11:35 PM

Thatch- Your rabbit run is awesome! The pics are very helpful, thanks for posting them. I can learn a lot from your setup.
And your one-way rabbit door... genious.

Thanks very much for posting this.

outofmire · #12 01/02/06, 04:30 AM

I might add that the kencove setup said it could be used for rabbits. They also have something for poultry.

rabbitgal · #13 01/04/06, 01:19 AM

Domestic rabbit is about as safe a meat as any other. Follow normal precautions for handling and cooking meat, and don't eat a rabbit that looks sick. Domestic rabbits are a different species from any of our wild rabbits, so tularemia is a very minor concern with domestic rabbits.

We did a rabbit tractor last summer. The basic idea seems to work well, and since ours were moved at least once a day, I think we had much smaller chances of the rabbits contracting coccidiosis (since the parasite needs to sit for about 24 hours to infect the rabbit). I think the key is to move the pen often enough to give the pasture time to rest and naturally cleanse itself. (Same principal used in chicken tractors and rotational grazing.) Escapes were a problem originally: then we put fewer rabbits in the pen and made sure the edges were flush with the ground. That seemed to help. With lots of fresh greens to munch on, the rabbits appeared to be much less interested in escaping. Another guy who was doing pastured rabbit layed down chicken wire on his field and allowed the grass to grow up between the wire.

For this coming year, I'd like to build several more pens and hopefully put more of our weanlings on pasture.