PulpFaction
Well-known member
Hey guys, I am putting together a new colony pen and wanted advice. This may be better in the "colony" thread, but it's not really a conventional straight colony so, I don't know...
Anyway, after feeling like my truck-bed colony was a good success, I am trying to think of ways to emulate it on the cheap without having my truck full of rabbits all the time.
What I've come up with so far is this:
A pen utilizing a 4'x8' floor area (the size of a standard piece of plywood)
The pen will have the back and two 4' sides made out of plywood, a 1"x2" wire front, and a wire floor most likely made out of 1/4"x1/4" hardware cloth. I have a piece of plywood to place on top as well, hinged for access. The colony will sit 4" off the ground. (2"x4" frame.)
I will have insulated nest boxes for each doe, plus an extra for winter warmth if the rabbits just want to "hang out". These will not be permanently attached to the hutch, so I can bring the babies in if I need to in very cold weather.
The reason for the 1/4"x1/4" floor is so that I can still fill the colony with straw, but urine will drain out, as well as some poo. I don't want such a large diameter that I lose too much bedding. I realize typical hardware cloth is not very good quality and may not hold up well, so I have plans for the entire floor to be on a frame so I can remove it to replace the hardware cloth, or if I want to set the colony down on forage for a bit, or for cleaning. (Thinking I can just pull the pins on the floor and lift the entire structure off, carry the floor over to the compost bin and dump it.)
My question is...how tall should this cage be? I'd like for it to house at least two does with litters for grow out, or three does and a buck, pulling litters to grow out separately. The more I can house in each structure, the better. Would I be able to house more rabbits comfortably if I put some kind of shelf along the back wall? I could have a 2' wide removable shelf going the entire 8' length.
I was thinking of making the entire thing 2 feet tall, but that seems very short. However, the shorter structure would hold heat better in the winter with less head room. If I went 3' tall, I could put the shelf along the back and there would be 18" head room under the shelf and above the shelf.
I'm on a budget and did not buy treated lumber. I figure rabbits will chew it down pretty well before it rots, anyway. I'm trying to decrease the potential for chewing by keeping the frame on the outside so there are no extra enticing corners to nibble on.
Not sure what I will do with the roof, hopefully these will be in a shed so I don't have to worry about weatherizing it for rain and snow.
Any advice, input?
Will post pictures as it comes together! If this prototype works, I hope to have a bunch of them made before winter, maybe stack versions, too. (3' wide, though, for reach in.)
Anyway, after feeling like my truck-bed colony was a good success, I am trying to think of ways to emulate it on the cheap without having my truck full of rabbits all the time.
What I've come up with so far is this:
A pen utilizing a 4'x8' floor area (the size of a standard piece of plywood)
The pen will have the back and two 4' sides made out of plywood, a 1"x2" wire front, and a wire floor most likely made out of 1/4"x1/4" hardware cloth. I have a piece of plywood to place on top as well, hinged for access. The colony will sit 4" off the ground. (2"x4" frame.)
I will have insulated nest boxes for each doe, plus an extra for winter warmth if the rabbits just want to "hang out". These will not be permanently attached to the hutch, so I can bring the babies in if I need to in very cold weather.
The reason for the 1/4"x1/4" floor is so that I can still fill the colony with straw, but urine will drain out, as well as some poo. I don't want such a large diameter that I lose too much bedding. I realize typical hardware cloth is not very good quality and may not hold up well, so I have plans for the entire floor to be on a frame so I can remove it to replace the hardware cloth, or if I want to set the colony down on forage for a bit, or for cleaning. (Thinking I can just pull the pins on the floor and lift the entire structure off, carry the floor over to the compost bin and dump it.)
My question is...how tall should this cage be? I'd like for it to house at least two does with litters for grow out, or three does and a buck, pulling litters to grow out separately. The more I can house in each structure, the better. Would I be able to house more rabbits comfortably if I put some kind of shelf along the back wall? I could have a 2' wide removable shelf going the entire 8' length.
I was thinking of making the entire thing 2 feet tall, but that seems very short. However, the shorter structure would hold heat better in the winter with less head room. If I went 3' tall, I could put the shelf along the back and there would be 18" head room under the shelf and above the shelf.
I'm on a budget and did not buy treated lumber. I figure rabbits will chew it down pretty well before it rots, anyway. I'm trying to decrease the potential for chewing by keeping the frame on the outside so there are no extra enticing corners to nibble on.
Not sure what I will do with the roof, hopefully these will be in a shed so I don't have to worry about weatherizing it for rain and snow.
Any advice, input?
Will post pictures as it comes together! If this prototype works, I hope to have a bunch of them made before winter, maybe stack versions, too. (3' wide, though, for reach in.)