Cage set-up thoughts

[Secuono]

I will be moving the wood hutch that the Silver Fox pair are in out under the trees at the fat right. Drew on the hutch in the picture. The hutch will be used for breeding bucks.
If I cannot get cages, I will make them. Two 12ft x 2ft x 2ft cages w/3 holes each. They will have large doors for easy access. I will be using 7ft T-Posts pounded into the ground and the cages hooked onto them. I will either use tarps for the tops and backs to cover from rain or use plywood. Either way, I will be slowly doing the latter as I can afford to.

What do you guys think?

 

[MaggieJ]

Looks like a good place to put the cages. I do have some concerns about predators, but maybe you have that covered.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I think I would be a very happy rabbit living there under the trees!

Some friends of ours get old garage doors and make the roofs of their pasture shelters (for horses)out of them. I think they just post on Craigslist wanting old doors when people replace them. I bet you could cut them to size to fit, and you would only need a couple.

 

[5dognightfarm]

I do suggest a roof of some sort or a wind break, maybe put those cages up and then enclose them on the back and sides?

 

[Secuono]

Dober keeps the free ranging chickens and guineas safe, ducks are always in the open and our sheep are also out all the time. Last spring we had an issue w/foxes, but that was before we fully moved in and our dog lived here full time. They will also be fairly high off the ground, 3.5ft.<br /><br />__________ Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:39 pm __________<br /><br />Yes, I will use tarps for the top and backs until I can start putting in permanent roofing and backs.

 

[5dognightfarm]

Oh! Sorry. For whatever reason my computer pulled the original post out really weird and some of it got cut off the screen. I see now where you mentioned that. My bad!

 

[Secuono]

I like the garage door idea, I forget if they are 2ft tall or smaller. But I will check. Too bad I didn't save my mother's old door sections...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

If they are smaller you could overlap them like roof shingles. I am wracking my brain trying to think of other disposed of items that you could use!

I hate tarps- it gets super windy here and they just get ruined.

 

[Secuono]

Early this morning I was thinking of the cages and Carpet Runners flew into my mind. Duh!
I have them for my Guinea pigs and it will work great for the cages, too! I just have to be careful in the way I attach the rubber to the cages and over edges.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Early this morning I was thinking of the cages and Carpet Runners flew into my mind. Duh!
I have them for my Guinea pigs and it will work great for the cages, too! I just have to be careful in the way I attach the rubber to the cages and over edges.

OMG! That's too weird... we were going to an event early this morning, and it had to be between 6:00 and 7:00 or so here, which would be 7-8 RabbitTalk time, and I was thinking of your problem. I thought of carpet runners too! I thought that might still be kind of pricey, but maybe linoleum remnants from one of those carpet/flooring outlets would be cheaper or even free esp. if you settled for really small sections.

But I had another idea. I don't know if they make this style of above ground pool anymore, but it has a rigid plastic outer shell and the liner goes inside. When our liner died, I cut the rigid part into 4 sections and made composters out of them. The kids ruined one one year using it as a slip-n-slide, but I have 3 left and they have been exposed to the elements for probably 10 years. Ours was gifted to us when the people no longer wanted it- maybe you could find one that is no longer being used. Here is a pic:


But wait, there's more! (Now how much would you pay?) There are places that sell odd-sized windows or you can get them when people are demo-ing a house. If the sun slants in under the trees you could paint the glass to prevent refractive rays from roasting your bunnies. We were driving through farmland, and I kept seeing those big vinyl banners they put on unused cargo containers advertising fruit and vegis... I noticed some looked very worn and would need to be replaced eventually... they look sturdier than tarps.

Those are my ideas so far. Hope you find something workable for your project!

 

[Secuono]

I believe it was about $2.50 or something like that per foot of the 2ft wide runner I used for the pigglies. So It's not too much for at least the roof.

I can't find 14 gauge wire in any real store, so I'll either wait until I have fast internet again so I can browse catalogs or just cave and get the 16 gauge. Lowes is cheaper than TSC, same wire. Will check the lfs for their prices tomorrow. Really want to start the cages tomorrow or when ever it is nice out again like it was today!



Nov 21st
Started the cage today, going to make it one long 24ft cage divided into 6 holes. Didn't get too far, deer hunter kept shooting at the same deer next door. Then he couldn't find it and he passed it 3 times, the 4th time he finally found it. :/ And then it started to rain, so I went inside right before it got dark.
I got two rolls of the floor flattened and then front and back sides folded up 3in. Got one roll of wall flattened as well. Tomorrow I will finish flattening and attaching the back & top rolls.
I'm not sure how to do the front walls w/the doors. It's really stressing me out. I want to find a way that will waste as little wire as possible. Ideas?<br /><br />__________ Mon Nov 21, 2011 8:06 pm __________<br /><br />I think this is the best way of using the wire or just what I'll do and hope it turns out well.
I am using the J clips every half inch on the bottom wire, every 2in on everything else.
It will be 24ft solid cage, not 12ft and another 12ft cage.