Gardening w/ rabbits and heat, my new project, new drawings added

[Kassaundra]

That is one of the articles I studied and drew inspiration from. I didn't have access to the kind of pot they showed easily or inexpensively, so decided on the barrels, since I need access to the barrels from the end instead of the top the outside portion of my runs needed to be bigger, big enough to allow human enterance and since they had to be that big might as well use some of the space to grow their food for them to self harvest.

I am trying to figure out supplies to use that are free or inexpensive for me to obtain, like tin sheets I already have, pallets I can get free, cinder blocks I already have, the barrels were only $10 each. I looked at all kinds of plant pots and the only things they had big enough were much pricier and still had to make some sort of a weather tight lid, and tunnel, the 8 inch pvc was going to be an additional 10-15 per den.

 

[hoodat]

You have to adapt to what you have available. Barrels on their sides is something I hadn't considered but they solve the problem of a top lid leaking during a heavy rain. They may be bigger than is needed though. The main thing is to provide for your rabbits to go underground when the heat above ground gets too much for them.

 

[Kassaundra]

You have to adapt to what you have available. Barrels on their sides is something I hadn't considered but they solve the problem of a top lid leaking during a heavy rain. They may be bigger than is needed though. The main thing is to provide for your rabbits to go underground when the heat above ground gets too much for them.

That was my thinking to hoodat, and bigger is always better the to small (well usually anyway) and in this case I'm thinking bigger will be better then too small.

 

[hoodat]

I seldom have heat problem here in San Diego but I use permanent nest boxes on the ends of my breeder doe cages rather than moveable nest boxes just because I can make them bigger. There is less chance of the mama stepping on the kits in a larger nest box. The only drawback to having a really big nesting spot is that the doe may not feel the kits are hidden.

 

[Kassaundra]

If the barrel (underground area) has kits in it will the mom go in to get out of the heat?

 

[hoodat]

I don't think that would be a problem. In something as big as a barrel she can avoid having them bugging her constantly for milk. If there's a tunnel (like large sewer pipe) between the cage and the barrel she can use that as a loafing spot.

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't think that would be a problem. In something as big as a barrel she can avoid having them bugging her constantly for milk. If there's a tunnel (like large sewer pipe) between the cage and the barrel she can use that as a loafing spot.

Great thanks, there may even be a way to put a "shelf" area in the barrel. How tall does the birthing box need to be? Maybe there would be enough room on top for her to get away from them. I had not planned exactly on putting a box in since she was already going to be underground, but if that would make her more comfortable or give her more use of the den, that would be simple enough.

 

[hoodat]

I make my doe cages 2 feet high and put a shelf half way up just to give mom a place to get away from the kits. By the time the kits are big enough to jump up on the shelf they are pretty much weaned anyway.