Can I see your rabbit tractors & mowing plans?

[Secuono]

I am wanting to make a few tractors for my rabbits and wanted to move them around the yard all growing season so they can cut the yard for me!

The front yard is way too close to the street, so I will still have to use a real lawn mower for that, hehe! But the 1/3 acre or so that is behind the house I'd love to have them munch on.

I was just thinking, would it be possible to make a tractor in such a was as to flip it onto it's short side and it would become a regular hutch for the night? Idk if that's practical, but better than constantly risking them jumping out when I move them from hutch to tractor. Would also be better for when it's pouring rain and maybe even safer from predators. Originally, I wanted to make 2 hole hutches under each of the pine trees lining the horse fence. And then make 2 or 3 tractors to put them in for the day to mow everything down. Heck, I guess the flipping tractors would work if I had a pulley on each tree to lift them up so it would be harder for predators to get them.

I'll draw up some plans and add them so you guys can help me find the best solution.

Until then, please show me your tractors and how you move them around the yard. How much grass can they eat in how much time? How often do you need to move the tractor? The ones I will make will be 2x4ft so they will be easy to move. How well do they eat up the grass? I will be using meat rabbits for this, adults as well as growers.

Thanks!
Oh! Please keep pics on the smaller side, some of us have dial up and they really slow things to a sleeping slug of a pace....

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

My 5 pound rabbits can eat the square footage your are mentioning to the dirt in less than two hours- each!!! You can make a tractor that has a hutch built in-- so that the rabbits have a hidey hole when they feel the need, or if the weather suddenly changes. The hutch area sits over an area the rabbits have already grazed-- If yu move the tractor often enough, the chances the rabbits will want to dig out are greatly decreased.

 

[Secuono]

Hum, guess I will have to make it even larger, but I can't mix rabbits. 4x8ft any better? But that would only work for the growers and not the adults.

 

[MaggieJ]

Just a few thoughts...

It is possible to make a successful rabbit tractor, but it isn't easy. It must be sturdy enough to keep out predators (including neighbourhood dogs) but still light enough to move. You have to keep the rabbits from digging out but any wire bottom must allow the plants to come through rather than mash them flat. You need to know your plants and get rid of any that are toxic. You must give the rabbits protection not only from rain but also from excessive heat and sun - and this will be your biggest challenge.

I believe at Polyface Farms, they lay down wire mesh over the area in early spring and allow the plants grow up through it. This means they can use bottomless tractors and solves one problem. But I have found it far easier to gather the weeds for the buns, mowing the area in sections just occasionally to stimulate new growth. The rabbits are safe in their shaded colony and it takes no longer to gather the greens than it would to move multiple tractors. Just my two cents worth on the subject.

 

[Secuono]

My dog keeps predators away. I was going to use 2x3 wire for the bottoms, top and one long back would be covered, other 3 sides open for air. There's nothing in the bigger yard that is bad for them, only the dog yard has the mass amounts of the weird plant you guys said nothing ever eats. I won't be using them in winter and any time we have rain for several days or real bad weather. Don't think I'll make them 24/7 pens, but rather just daily grazing pens, so the rabbits won't be in them when I'm not home and at night.

 

[MaggieJ]

It might work fine, then, ChickiesnBunnies.

I must be getting old. It sounds like a lot of work moving the bunnies in and out of the tractors every day.

 

[Secuono]

It is, but I don't want anything fancy, no hutch on top or w/e. Idk, maybe I can find a way to make tractors that they can live in full time w/o spending too much and making them heavy.

 

[MaggieJ]

You might consider using a pair of thrift store skis as runners. And make sure the bunnies have a place to perch so their feet don't get caught.

 

[DanaYares]

We build a really cool rabbit (wheelbarrow) tractor for moving the little one around. This could also double as a hutch as long as you put the wood side to any prevailing wind or rain. OR you can just wheel the whole thing into your garage for the night.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Ok, that is super cool! What a great idea...

 

[MaggieJ]

It's very cool but I don't think the rabbits are going to be able to get much in the way of plants since the mesh on the floor is so small. Wooden slats might work better. The Polyface video just posted shows the placement of the slats.

 

[DanaYares]

I agree Maggie. This was our first prototype, and the wire on the bottom is 1'. I think on the next one, we'll use 1'x2' wire. I'm just worried about their feet falling through when it's wheeled around. I'll check out the Polyface video too.

 

[Secuono]

I think I'm going to do, 1x2in frame, 1/2in thick 2x4ft plywood for the roof, 1x1in wire on sides and 2x4in wire for the bottom. Unless I can find better wire for the base.
Use two 2x4ft plywood for each tractor and that is what will open up to the buns. But that has me thinking, if they scatter, they might escape, no? Huh, so what could be an easy fix for that??
Over all size 1x2x8ft and divide it in half for an adult on each side. Make another pen for growing out kits. May have a 3rd for any does that get along w/a removable divider.
Hopefully that will work.