pics of my barn

[rabbitgal]

I know you like seeing others rabbit setups....here's some of mine, finally! We have a larger backyard herd, so we needed something more substantial than a collection of hutches. We eventually put up a large heavy-duty carport and hung two rows of cages down the length of the new "barn". (If you decide to use a carport, make sure you calculate exactly how much all those cages and rabbits will weigh plus the snow load BEFORE you start hanging cages. A lot of carport roofs aren't strong enough to support the weight.)

Feed is stored in metal trash cans to keep insects and rodents out.



Some of the Creme d'Argent bucks hanging out in their cages. Most of the cages have a little extra "head room" so the rabbits can stretch up on their hind legs in the "periscope" position. We may install an automatic watering system eventually to cut down the chore time and provide the rabbits an unlimited supply of fresh water.



View of one end of the barn looking down to the far end. Normally bedded with a layer of straw or sawdust, the used litter had been JUST removed from the barn in these photos.



This is a view of one end of the barn, taken around dusk. The barn is enclosed on the side of the prevailing winds, while the other three sides are shielded by trees. We will temporarily enclose the ends to provide additional protection during the winter months. Leaving the barn largely open allows a cross breeze (during the summer) and natural lighting.



Of course, I'd love to COMPLETELY get rid of all the cages and set up a modified colony because I believe it would be better for the rabbits' psychological wellbeing, but this housing is working well for us right now.

[Reauxman]

Looks good.

I am against colonies. Just too much work and I don't believe the production numbers. I have no problem raising cage rabbits and have been doing it the same way for a dozen years. I doubt you could show anything out of a colony.

Go with the automatic watering system. It makes life easy. I also have over 150 holes, so guess it's not as bad with less.

[furholler]

Great set up!

[turtlehead]

I like it a lot. Airy, convenient, spacious.
Thanks for sharing those photos!

Originally Posted by Reauxman

I am against colonies. Just too much work...

Really? I thought cages would be a lot more work. What's your reasoning on this?

I doubt you could show anything out of a colony.

Absolutely not! They are always dirty and getting their fur messed up.

[MaggieJ]

Very nice set-up, Rabbitgal. Reminds me of one I saw in France. One thing I was wondering about, however, is protection from predators. You don't have problems with raccoons reaching into the cages or dogs terrorizing the rabbits?

[rabbitgal]

Actually, one of the reasons I *am* interested in colonies, or at least a modified system like Tracy's, is because I suspect it might be more efficient to care for a group of rabbits! Commercial rabbit production is definitely labor intensive and the reason generally given for this is because each animal has to be cared for individually. I'm guessing that a GROUP of rabbits would take less time to care for, since you're filling only ONE feeder/waterer. Most other livestock are raised in groups, so why not rabbits too? Thoughts?

Anyway, Maggie, I am scared to death of something attacking the rabbits. So far, we haven't lost any that I know of yet, although I do suspect a coon filched a newborn or two. (I saw tracks just inside the barn after a rain storm last week.) I'm definitely going to invest in some fencing to enclose the barn, but I do think our house dogs being down there helps deter would-be predators.

[Reauxman]

I am about optimum production, to me if a colony produces 20 rabbits per year per doe and takes an average of 45 seconds per doe per day and a cage system takes a min per doe, but gives 35-40 young a year, a cage system is more than worth it.

Colonies are asking for problems. Disease will run rampant if brought in. Genetics will be skewed as you'll have no control over them if you have more than one buck or a few does. The rabbits breed when they want, which we know as breeders may not be but once a year. They aren't pushed by humans, which often is the breaking point for them and leads to them being bred. A buck will push and push and push without rest. A human will push and rest, push and rest and the combination of attempting to breed and resting will usually result in a breeding. Bucks are relentless.

Colonies are prone to fighting, which doesn't appeal to me. As someone mentioned, colony breeders look like crap. If we are to keep a good image in this country as people who breed the cute, fuzzy rabbits for meat, we need to keep the image of healthy, clean breeders.

Furthermore, if something goes wrong with one animal, it is far less likely to be noticed in a colony. One cannot tell if an animal is eating or not. I always hear people say that they don't like auto waters as they don't know if their animals are drinking. If our animals are not drinking, they won't eat either, which validates the point that auto waters very rarely jeopardize the outlook on a herd. Feeders do.

Everything I've read point to high kit loss in a colony. I rather my doe have 4 larger kits than 8 smaller and loose 4. You are still left with 4 kits, but 4 smaller kits.

A colony takes no longer than cages if done right. The key to a successful rabbitry IMHO is uniformity. If you keep uniform cages, chances are you can feed and check your animals over a lot faster than a colony.

Just my 2 cents and over a dozen years experience.

[KSALguy]

honestly there are bad and good in EACH method, if you compair the bad colony practicis to the best cage methods then yes of corse it will make colony raising look bad, but if you compair the best to the best and the worst to the worst it is fairly compairable, and you also have to realize that if it works for one person thats great, if it doesnt work for you then do what works, simple as that,

[white eagle]

rabbitgal you have a very nice setup. I was looking at your photos and the waterers you have are they 2 liters bottles used for water or what? I had found a place I can order a thing to put on 2 liters bottles instead of having to run outside all the time to put water back in the rabbits bottles.

[SILEIGH]

i'm totally envious!!
lots of room rabbits look healthy --pleny of air
very nice