Future shelter for hanging cages?

[Deer Heart]

At the present I have 8 cages (not counting growout) for my rabbits and 6 are in use but hung off the side of my chicken run with chain in 2 levels separated by corrugated roofing. I use 3-hole cages which are 24 in D x 96 in W with the drop-down nest boxes (Universal Sani-Nest sold by Bass equipment)

This setup is driving me crazy, I just really don't like the idea of having stacking cages with so few cages and would rather spread my cages out into rows if at all humanly possible. Not only that but butting them up to the wire of the chicken run made installing the automatic watering system an absolute nightmare (that still leaks a bit in the last cage due to water pressure :/)

I have decided that if I decide to expand at all, I will want to actually put something up for the rabbits. I can't seem to find any online instructables for my particular needs and even preconstructed ones seem to be limited. But I have determined that I want a structure that is 12ft x 16ft (this would allow for at LEAST 18 cages - single layer - in my preferred cage brand/style), something that allows the cages to be hung from chains/cable, something as cost effective as possible, and something that would work for where I live, which is central Florida. We don't get snow, but we do get scorching sun, high winds and heavy rain. I also have a lot of massive trees (and plan to construct whatever I get under a large oak tree due to shade and rain protection.

After a lot of searching, I found this. Does anyone have experience using these sorts of products for rabbit shelters? I also plan to modify it if at all possible to only cover the roof as covering the sides can be a death sentence in my climate. Baked bunnies

 

[alforddm]

I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that kind of shelter would not be sturdy enough for hanging cages. You might consider one of those prebuilt metal carports. I know those are sturdy enough as I have seen them used before.

In my area I've seen 12x21x6 Regular Style Carport (horizontal panels) Non Certified (14 ga): $595 + tax Which is larger and not that much expensive.
http://www.allsteelcarportsdirect.com/c ... ports.html

 

[Marinea]

I agree on the metal carports. I just want to add this: you'll likely never wish you had made your rabbitry smaller, but making it bigger? Lots of us wish we had more room. Going as big as you can afford and fit in up front could save you hair-pulling down the road.

 

[Deer Heart]

you'll likely never wish you had made your rabbitry smaller, but making it bigger? Lots of us wish we had more room. Going as big as you can afford and fit in up front could save you hair-pulling down the road.

That is so true. My present setup was just a test of my market here really. I have at least one feed store DYING for actual meat breeds that is very interested. I just didn't want to go in too deep if it turned out there was absolutely no market and the persons interested were full of hot air. You know, investing time, money, and space to something that failed to pan out properly (I figured I wanted rabbits and if it didn't go as well as planned, 6 cages would be more than enough for my personal use only). I plan to go with what I have until next winter and then make this purchase with next year's tax return if everything is going well enough.


I like the looks of those carports, I just can't seem to find anywhere selling them at a fair price out here. I look online, but those places want double that (Over $1000 which isn't happening just for basically a shade. I could make something out of wood for significantly less)

 

[alforddm]

Here is there price list for florida. Keep in mind i haven't used this company but the prices for florida aren't that much more.
Might not hurt to call and ask.

http://www.allsteelcarportsdirect.com/c ... ports.html

 

[Deer Heart]

Here is there price list for florida. Keep in mind i haven't used this company but the prices for florida aren't that much more.
Might not hurt to call and ask.

http://www.allsteelcarportsdirect.com/c ... ports.html

I might wait and see with that, $600 was pushing it for me since I could make one from wood for less than that if I had to (at that price was still worth me not having to do the work)... $700 is well past that line for me though, I think. There's a company here that sells fully enclosed sheds with floors for slightly more than that and at least in that case I'd get to pay it over time instead of all upfront and put in an AC window unit for the buns. I was just hoping not to spend that much on just the structure of where the cages went. What do you use if I may ask (out of simply curiosity)?

 

[Marinea]

For us, I quickly appropriated our attached covered carport. Our cars deal with the snow and ice.

 

[alforddm]

What do you use if I may ask (out of simply curiosity)?

LoL a bunch of cobbled together wire cages covered with tarps. The tarps hold in heat though so I've had to insulate everything with feed sacks. Thankfully most of them are in the shade.

Hubby has promised to build me a lean-to shed by this winter. It will be 16x16 (I'm trying real hard to talk him into 16x32) about 6ft on one side and 8ft on the other. It will be open on all sides and completely shaded by large trees during the winter I plan on putting up sheets of plywood to block the wind.

I'm really looking forward to it!