The east half of the goose house has been cleared, a partition erected, two nest tunnels made by recycling our old chicken nest boxes (community style). I need to set up one or two more possible nest sites, since there are three does.
I made a hay silo from a section of 4x6 inch fence wire by bending it into a cylinder. I filled it about half way today and I think it is going to work very well. Should last them quite some time and I won't worry that they are out of food. I feel much happier now that I have some really good alfalfa hay as well as the grass hay.
Part of the wire panel partition swings outward. To prevent escapes I will put a step-over partition across the gap. Water will be in a large rubber pan set on a patio stone to the right, within reach from outside the colony. Grain will go in a crock to the left, also within reach. Fresh foods will go into a pan between the two. One "normal" days I will be able to feed and water the buns without going in, which is a bonus when the ground is messy with mud or snow.
I'd like to give them more "furniture" but at the moment there are three bales of this year's hay stacked in one corner. It's not great hay and will be used for bedding for the critters this winter and garden mulch in the spring. But this is the only really dry space I have for it at present. I expect the rabbits will bounce around on it and use it for a perch.
Total cost of this project? Five dollars for a bale of wood shavings. I'll be putting straw and/or hay down as well, but a layer of shavings really helps absorb any moisture. Everything else is recycled or has been kicking around the place, cluttering things up.
The shavings were a bit aromatic, so I'm letting the place air out for a couple of days while I finish the details. Then I will put our buck, Jasper, in to establish his territory. Once he is settled in, I will add the three does. Alice is the mother of the other two, Sage and Rosemary. I expect there will be some chasing at first, but I do not anticipate major problems. I'll make sure they are a little hungry and scatter some yummy greens for distractions.
I made a hay silo from a section of 4x6 inch fence wire by bending it into a cylinder. I filled it about half way today and I think it is going to work very well. Should last them quite some time and I won't worry that they are out of food. I feel much happier now that I have some really good alfalfa hay as well as the grass hay.
Part of the wire panel partition swings outward. To prevent escapes I will put a step-over partition across the gap. Water will be in a large rubber pan set on a patio stone to the right, within reach from outside the colony. Grain will go in a crock to the left, also within reach. Fresh foods will go into a pan between the two. One "normal" days I will be able to feed and water the buns without going in, which is a bonus when the ground is messy with mud or snow.
I'd like to give them more "furniture" but at the moment there are three bales of this year's hay stacked in one corner. It's not great hay and will be used for bedding for the critters this winter and garden mulch in the spring. But this is the only really dry space I have for it at present. I expect the rabbits will bounce around on it and use it for a perch.
Total cost of this project? Five dollars for a bale of wood shavings. I'll be putting straw and/or hay down as well, but a layer of shavings really helps absorb any moisture. Everything else is recycled or has been kicking around the place, cluttering things up.
The shavings were a bit aromatic, so I'm letting the place air out for a couple of days while I finish the details. Then I will put our buck, Jasper, in to establish his territory. Once he is settled in, I will add the three does. Alice is the mother of the other two, Sage and Rosemary. I expect there will be some chasing at first, but I do not anticipate major problems. I'll make sure they are a little hungry and scatter some yummy greens for distractions.