Rabbit housing

[slystr]

I have been toying with the idea of rabbits now that my chickens are gone. I am wondering about the best way to keep them. I have seen Patti's set up but only briefly. I'd like to see a detailed image of a viable rabbit set up. If the cage is on the ground , does it need a wire bottom? How much space per rabbit do you need? What kind of nestbox is needed? I am thinking I need a set up that is elevated to keep snakes out. Does anyone else have rabbits and would you be willing to share images/descriptions of your set up?
Thanks!

[Garden Green]

It's been a while since I've raised rabbits, but I'll give this one a shot.

We always kept our bunnies off the ground, waist high cages and we kept all of ours solitary because rabbits are extremely, viciously, territorial and you don't want to wake up to dead bunnies because there was a fight over the warren. About three feet wide and two feet tall is what you're looking for in a cage. That is enough room for an adult and some little ones to move around or enough for two adults to have enough room to mate. We built cages with a removable top because it was much easier to clean the cage than it would be if it simply had a door on it. We also made it easy to hang hay and the like because it kept it off the floor of the cage which means cleaner cage and less likely that the rabbit will eat contaminated food that wasn't so contaminated when it went in.

Wire bottom is best because it not only lets the droppings pass through, but it helps to keep the cage cleaner. Obviously, you want to keep the cage clean because dirty cages equals diseases and pests. Thick wire, with holes that are a 1/2 in. square, is best. Don't use chicken mesh, because it is too thin and will hurt the rabbit's feet or worse, break and injure the rabbit's feet. The walls can have larger spaces in them than the floor. You'll need to make sure to keep them sheltered from the elements and make sure they have good air flow because they will get hot.

As far as a nesting box, it is a warm dry place for the little ones and for the doe to give birth. You can make it out of ply wood and line it with astro turf or hardware cloth or something durable like that. I'd make it a good foot wide and a foot and a half long with a four or five inch opening for the critters to get in and out. Leave the top open (you know because your cage will be shelter for them, too) so you can get fresh bedding in there easily.

I don't have pictures of the set up we used when I was a kid, but the cages we built could house three rabbits in one unit but each one in a separate space and their view of the other rabbits was blocked with wood. After breeding, there was a different cage away from the others that was used for the doe and her litter only. Additionally, we had individual cages, as well. I guess it is a preference sort of thing. I would rather have the individual cages, personally. They are easier to move and easier to handle and far easier to clean.

Hope this helps.

[boyd3]

Here is part of our setup. Each cage is 2x3.. similar to what GG is referring to

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee134/boyd3_2007/S5300005.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee134/boyd3_2007/S5300004.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee134/boyd3_2007/S5300003.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee134/boyd3_2007/S5300007.jpg
This one is a larger grow out cage, about 4.5 x 4 ish.. for big litters.. I don't like this one as much as the startled ones have enough room to run about quick enough to injure themselves. This is going to the burn pile this year.