The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Other => Rabbits => Topic started by: alang on January 13, 2019, 03:37:25 pm
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I am going to be keeping my rabbits outside so that will rule out cages to keep the rabbits in(i don't like them anyway).
Just wondering if anyone has a guide as to what size is should make the male and female hutches. I was thinking of doing the female on two levels so they have more space to run around.
Any ideas?
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I go by at least 10 sq ft plus at least 30 sq ft excercise space for a few hours or permently if its secure enough. For 1 - 2 rabbits. Depending on the breed, size weifht etc of the rabbit. And the specific needs if there are any.
But dont know if Im being too generous or not??
Does and bucks together may need bigger spaces to start with during intro process.
Does this help at all??
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Any advice is a help. I was going to build the hutches 4ft x 2ft x 2.5ft (L x D x H). So 16 sq ft for the females ex runs. They would all have access to personal outside runs during the daytime.
Could i also ask what breeds you have and where you got them from? I am having a mare trying to find meat breeders
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My cages are 2x3 ft - Overground cages with wire bottom.
One is 2x4 I think - this one is on the ground and moved on fresh grass daily.
They are all around 2ft high.
You read in the books that for meat rabbits (new Zealand etc.) You need 2x3 ft floor space
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My cages are 2x3 ft - Overground cages with wire bottom.
One is 2x4 I think - this one is on the ground and moved on fresh grass daily.
They are all around 2ft high.
You read in the books that for meat rabbits (new Zealand etc.) You need 2x3 ft floor space
Do you keep the cages in a shed or just under a roofed section (sort of log store design)?
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I dont have meat rabbits, but I did do lops about a year ago. Mainly dwarf lops, mini lops, french lops etc, and a couple of english lops. ;D their ears!!! :roflanim:
I used preloved .and gumtree to get mine but not sure if that would be helpful for meat breeders. ???
Those sorts of size cages were more for the french and english lops, but I had a few dwarf lop lapins and neurted does in together in one as well
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I saw the English Lop and Angora talked about in this months Country smallholding mag. Good read with some interesting info
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My cages are 2x3 ft - Overground cages with wire bottom.
One is 2x4 I think - this one is on the ground and moved on fresh grass daily.
They are all around 2ft high.
You read in the books that for meat rabbits (new Zealand etc.) You need 2x3 ft floor space
Do you keep the cages in a shed or just under a roofed section (sort of log store design)?
All outdoor with just a roof - all year round. Don't ever listen to people who say rabbits get cold in winter - no problems at all 3xcept for keeping their water from freezing - last year I had to change their water bottle couple of times a day to defrost, but that's it! If you keep them inside the shed on the summer they will probably cook - they are still wearing thick fur remember.
I'm planning on moving the rabbit cage inside the chicken run. That way all rabbit poo will be scratched, aerated and composted but the chickens.
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Look up the RSPCA suggetions for ideas . The rabbit ought to be able to sit up on it's back legs and it's ears be a few inches from the hutch roof. Same for it to take a loping step .. ..Which ever measurement is the greatest use it .
In the day area it should be able to lie at full stretch with is fore & rear legs full stretched out plus at least six inches more ..same the width .
Make a division in the hutch so the rabbit can go though to lay down in a bed area to allow it to stay out of draughts .
As a young lad all my four hutches were at least 2.5 foot wide by 2.5 foot high by five feet long .
The sleeping area was made with a partition pull out board with an 8 inch dia hole in it placed so there was a three inch lip from the floor to help keep draughts off the rabbit & to help keep any kits inside the nest area for the first 28 days
Dad convinced me to put the hutches on 12 inch legs to help dry off any wet wood and stop rats getting in .The top was a three inch slope from back to a lower front hinged with two pairs of 8 inch T hinges .. made it easy to lean over and scrap the hutches clean . It also meant that I could never leave the hutch door open as it was a top opener only
In winter when it was cold and windy I had some old axminster carpetting that ws big enough to hang ove the cage front and hold in plce with three house bricks per hutch
My rabits were kept in a partially enclosed lean-to shed no glass in the window light area and no door which I built to dads drawings .
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My block of cages is 6ft tall 8ft long and 2ft deep and has 6 hutches 4x2ft
I had Californians and New Zealand’s
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As i mentioned earlier i am not really keen on cages. Maybe i'm just old fashioned or think that a rabbit should have more privacy and protection from the elements. I am in noway condemning people that do though. Just a choice i have made regarding my rabbits (when i get them).
On a side note though. Where do people get their meat breeders from? I have tried all over. Sent many emails to 'commercial' website but never hear anything back. I don't want to go to 'pets at home' type places as i know they will not have the traits of meat breeders that i am obviously after.
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Not sure where you are but Devon Rabbits do new zealands and californias sometimes they cross them.
www.devonrabbits.co.uk (http://www.devonrabbits.co.uk)
Also www.pets4homes.co.uk (http://www.pets4homes.co.uk) normally has its fair share of meat bucks and does
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Not sure where you are
Morayshire, North Scotland :wave:
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;D :wave:
Ok so guess that wouldnt work for you then
I would keep looking at adverts if theres nowhere near you that sell meat breeders then
Sorry i cant help
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I've emailed Devonrabbits to see if they can offer any advice regarding breeders in Scotland. I'm not optimistic but you never know.
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Give me a call when you are around Leicestershire!
Also I'm getting some professional rabbit cages from Poland - really nice stuff. Let me know if you want some.
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Give me a call when you are around Leicestershire!
Furthest south i go is Lincolnshire to visit family i'm afraid. But thanks for the kind offer
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Well still not heard back from Devon rabbits so i guess that is another dead end :(
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As i mentioned earlier i am not really keen on cages. Maybe i'm just old fashioned or think that a rabbit should have more privacy and protection from the elements. I am in noway condemning people that do though. Just a choice i have made regarding my rabbits (when i get them).
On a side note though. Where do people get their meat breeders from? I have tried all over. Sent many emails to 'commercial' website but never hear anything back. I don't want to go to 'pets at home' type places as i know they will not have the traits of meat breeders that i am obviously after.
Sorry when I say cages I meant hutch they are made out of plywood and 2x1.5 inch timber and the partitions come out so you can have 3 8x2 cages rather than 6 4x2 I think they cost me about £100 to make about 11 years ago and are still going strong ( I use them as ferret hutch’s now )
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I've actually got the wood for my hutches now. I've got hold of some weatherboard (same used on pig huts) and i'm making the female hutches D 4ft x H 2.5ft x W 8ft. It will be two levels so this should give the female and kits more than enough space to move around. They also will have access to run. The male hutch is going to be D 2ft x H 2.5ft x W 4ft and he will have access to separate run too.
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Thanks SD :thumbsup:
I'll see if i can find some more local first and if not i'll try them. It's getting to be a right PITA trying to find them. I might actually just have to buy a 'normal' pet one and start the breeding from there. Not the best way i admit but given the seriously limited selection anywhere north of the border it might be my only choice.
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If you can't find any of the meat types, then standard Rex make fairly good meat rabbits, and Dutch grow quite well, though pretty small. We're trying a cross of Belgian Hare and New Zealand white/Californian at the moment, which should be interesting.
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If you can't find any of the meat types, then standard Rex make fairly good meat rabbits, and Dutch grow quite well, though pretty small. We're trying a cross of Belgian Hare and New Zealand white/Californian at the s moment, which should be interesting.
Hi can I ask what benefit the Belgian hare will bring ?
My Californians and newzelands was very good eating and grow very well indeed
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It's likely you'd get a bigger rabbit so more dress out weight, however the feed conversion rate might drop considerably and not be profitable if you are using commercial feeds .
You'd also likely need bigger housing our Belgian hare was almost two feet tall when sat alert on his haunches . When he stood on his back legs to take a carrot out my hand he front feet were on my belt ...............… some 36 inches from the floor
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Sorry I didn't reply sooner, mainly out of interest. Hoping to increase the size, though it will take longer to grow them. But we have plenty of free food and can run them on grass.
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My Argente de Champagne babies are 4 weeks old atm. They spent every day of their life on grass (cage moved every day). They also have access to some commercial feed (heygates).
So far I like this breed although they are not near as fast growing or big as new Zealand white
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Sorry I didn't reply sooner, mainly out of interest. Hoping to increase the size, though it will take longer to grow them. But we have plenty of free food and can run them on grass.
An enclosure that uses less wood & wire is a " Mordant rabbit cage run" that can be attached to the front of a cage / box sat on the grass. Being three sided with a closed end the rabbits can't dig out . It's a cheap way of getting the lawn cut and is moved every other day . Don't put it back in a place that's been used till four or five weeks have elapsed .
I used to run 16 female guinea pigs pregnant & kits like that .