The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Other => Rabbits => Topic started by: Bright Raven on January 07, 2011, 07:51:25 pm
-
I am considering keeping rabbits but have some concerns about them digging out of the enclosure and eating my veggies. Does anyone have any tried and tested methods of keeping them from breaking out and digging under?
I am thinking, prep the ground with small mesh type chicken wire....
Lay a small wall around the edges and fully trap the wire between two sets of bricks, then start with the vertical enclosure....
And when that inevitably fails....
Small search towers with revolving lights and ferrets on sentry duty.........
-
For young, or small breeds, i use a small wood frame pen, with it's sides and floor covered with fine wire (so that the cannot catch their feet), that stops the rabbits digging out, also things digging in, yet lets grass etc poke through and killding them etc, i have a a lid that is solid perspex with a woo fram so it provides a little shelter, inside this pen they haveand upturend dog/cat bed to hide under.
For larger or adult animalsthey run with the hens, with the basic builders pannels ans the surface fram, and chicken wire abuot 2feet up the pannels and dug down about a metre. DO NOT FORGET TO DIG WIRE UNDER THE DOOR
.
hope this helps
I have nver had a rabbit escape through the mesh, or under it, but i had one a good few yers ago climb 6foot to escape, after that he was kept in a run with a lid
-
Our bunnies outdoor run has a galvanised floor which consists of appx 4" squares. It is attached to the floor so as the run gets moved onto fresh grazing, so does the floor.
-
our pet dwarf was loose in orchard with the chickens in summer, really well fenced in and very large and plenty to eat, but he still burrowed right under and out. grass is always greener!!