Posted in Homestead Barnyard

Thank you for joining me at Homestead Barnyard.  Today we are going to talk about how to house your rabbits.  The first thing to consider is what kind of living quarters a rabbit needs.  They must be clean and offer plenty of light.  They need plenty of ventilation but protected from winds and drafts.  They need to be kept dry and do not tolerate extreme heat well.  Rabbits by nature can take the cold.  They do not need alot of space but enough to rear a family comfortably.  Having damp or wet floors in your cage is like having a first class ticket to trouble.  Your rabbits need to be secure from preditors and escaping.  Last but not least,  it needs to be easy to maintain for you-the rabbit owner--you need to be able to clean it easily, feed and water with ease, and you need to be able to quickly examine your stock.  A careful eye will allow you to see trouble early.  Wow--sounds complicated right?  Its not.  Its actually easy and inexpensive.  The all wire hutch is easy to build or buy and is considered the best way to raise rabbits today.  They are mostly self cleaning--droppings and urine fall to the ground or pan below.  An occasional scrub with a brush and disinfectant is all that is required.  Feeders and waterers can be mounted from the outside.  Great ventilation and secure from preditors and escapes.  Those things taken care of, all you need now is to decide where you want to keep them.  If you have an old shed or dry barn to hang them in-then all is taken care of.  Safe and dry.  If you are like many people starting out you may want to keep them outside at first.  There are many easy plans for ouside shelters that protect from wind and rain.  Some are as simple as a lean-to addition on an already existing building.  Just remember when you are building your shelter that they need a cool/dry place in the summer and dry/wind free area in the winter.  My first shelter was portable so I could move it under a tree in the breeze in the summer and face it blocking the cold north wind in the winter.  You may want to consider smaller multiple shelters if this is how you plan on doing it.  The easiest by far is to hang the cages in an existing structure. 

We build our own hutches here.  I have found that to be the most inexpensive route.  If I can build one, anyone can.  They are very simple.  All you need is wire, wire cutters, and C-rings or J-clips (found at any farm store).  The cage should be 18 inches high and have a floor space of 2 1/2 to 3 feet.  The wire on the bottom should be big enough to let droppings fall through but easy enough for baby rabbits to walk on.  (1 X 1/2 mesh) The smaller wire is also easier on adult rabbits feet.  The side wire should be a welded 14-gage galvanized wire with 1 inch by 2 inch squares.  Just cut your wire to length and clip together to form a rectangle.  Use your wire cutters to make an opening for the door.  Usually a foot square or a little larger depending on your breeding box size.  Cut another piece of wire one inch larger all around than the opening (your door).  Important:  It must be 1 inch larger than the door opening you cut.  Hinge your door using the J-clamps.  Most people prefer  a door hinged at the top that swings up an into the cage.  I have done mine both ways...opening out and opening in.  Its your preference.  Thats it--Simple.  If you have any questions regarding any part of what I have touched on today--just let me know.  I will be more than glad to "talk rabbit".  Blessings>faithfarm