Stormy
Well-known member
Hi all, I've really been enjoying being illuminated by the wealth of collected experience and info on this site! What a terrific site! One of the reasons I never went back to raising rabbits since I was a kid is because I don't like keeping animals in cages. And then, on this site, find out all about pasture- and colony-raising rabbits! Terrific! Seems like a much kinder lifestyle to me.
So I am wanting to raise my does in a social environment and work towards pen or pasture raising outside. I am planning to move my house soon, so I don't want to put my resources to developing an enclosed pen outdoors, sinking the wire etc, until after I move. However, I'm getting at least a couple does (Belgian Hares) at the end of the month. I can keep them inside the house in a pen for a couple months without too much trouble at that size, but what I'd really like, is to be able to also get 2 American Blue does to produce meat, also ready at the end of the month, and have them all be able to live socially together. I understand its best to introduce them when they're all young. The buck will be kept separate, I already have him free-roaming in my house, and the idea is I would stagger who is having babies so I wouldn't be taxing any doe with too many litters.
So now what I'd really like is 4 does, (since Belgians aren't such good meat rabbits I hear, and slower growing), and that I can't do in my spare indoors room. I'm concerned about waiting on the American Blues and trying to introduce them later - if the two Belgian does would accept them. Plus, meat production is already pushing a year out before I get a ROI and I'm forking over a lot of cash on raw meat diet for my cats - hence the inspiration (about $180/month!)
Does anyone have any brilliant suggestions for me, for temporary housing of young does socially? I haven't thought of a solution yet on my own so I am hoping the collective brain might have one Hutches would be too small. ps. I do have predators - raccoons, foxes.
Thanks guys! I appreciate it.
So I am wanting to raise my does in a social environment and work towards pen or pasture raising outside. I am planning to move my house soon, so I don't want to put my resources to developing an enclosed pen outdoors, sinking the wire etc, until after I move. However, I'm getting at least a couple does (Belgian Hares) at the end of the month. I can keep them inside the house in a pen for a couple months without too much trouble at that size, but what I'd really like, is to be able to also get 2 American Blue does to produce meat, also ready at the end of the month, and have them all be able to live socially together. I understand its best to introduce them when they're all young. The buck will be kept separate, I already have him free-roaming in my house, and the idea is I would stagger who is having babies so I wouldn't be taxing any doe with too many litters.
So now what I'd really like is 4 does, (since Belgians aren't such good meat rabbits I hear, and slower growing), and that I can't do in my spare indoors room. I'm concerned about waiting on the American Blues and trying to introduce them later - if the two Belgian does would accept them. Plus, meat production is already pushing a year out before I get a ROI and I'm forking over a lot of cash on raw meat diet for my cats - hence the inspiration (about $180/month!)
Does anyone have any brilliant suggestions for me, for temporary housing of young does socially? I haven't thought of a solution yet on my own so I am hoping the collective brain might have one Hutches would be too small. ps. I do have predators - raccoons, foxes.
Thanks guys! I appreciate it.