Here's my RakenHouse setup

[Amy]

Finally I got some pictures taken and uploaded!!
I just wanted to share our setup, a version of the Rakenhouse.
Dimensions are 7 1/2' x 20', which are perfect for the 14 chickens. We just have our trio of rabbits so far, but once they have litters we'll install 2 grow out cages.
I'm also interested in colony raising the rabbits, and am thinking of putting a divider in the front half of the hoophouse for the rabbits, the back half would stay for the chickens. That would give us 7 1/2'x 10' for each. Wondering if that would be sufficient space?
The nice thing about this style of building is that it was so easy to build, and fairly reasonable in cost, I think. For the frame it's just cattle paneling bent from end to end (as many as you want to make the length you want) and attached to the base frame. NExt year, we'll upgrade the tarps (there are 2 heavy duty ones now, but summer got too hot in there) to an insulated tarp. For ventilation, both ends are chicken wire, but we can add tarps when it gets colder.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

That is awesome!

You did a great job securing the tarp and chicken wire- it looks so nice and tidy.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I love it!!! That is a great building idea.

 

[wsmoak]

I have a similar setup only it's a chain link enclosure. I put up a sturdy tarp to keep them dry this winter and now I'm wondering... will the lack of daylight affect the does coming into season? It's really dark in there!

We'll have to see how they do this winter. I might have to make some clear plastic 'windows' for it.

-Wendy

 

[Miss M]

That is so neat! And, as MSD said, very tidy looking!

 

[AnnClaire]

Looks great Amy, however, I would suggest that you may simply want to add wire to the length on the inside of the cattle panels up to about 5' and raise the sides of the tarps in the summer to catch the breezes if you want to colony raise them They will get more ambient light and still have the sun/rain protection.

WMSOak, there are tarps that are blue on one side and silver on the other that you may want to switch to. This will definitely "lighten up" the interior.

 

[dragonladyleanne]

Looks great Amy, however, I would suggest that you may simply want to add wire to the length on the inside of the cattle panels up to about 5' and raise the sides of the tarps in the summer to catch the breezes if you want to colony raise them They will get more ambient light and still have the sun/rain protection.

WMSOak, there are tarps that are blue on one side and silver on the other that you may want to switch to. This will definitely "lighten up" the interior.

That kind of tarp can also be used reversed in the summer, as the blue side absorbs heat, and the silver side reflects it. BTW, is it called a RakenHouse because of it housing RAbbits and chicKENs, or does that mean something in another language?

 

[Amy]

Good point on the wire on the inside, we would have to do that for colony raising. And it would allow more ventilation in the summer, you're right. I was surprised how hot it got in there, even with the reflective tarp, we had to move the rabbits out for a couple of weeks. When they are in colony, on the ground they stay cooler I assume?
Yes, Raken is Rabbit + Chicken!

 

[AnnClaire]

Amy, it seemed that all my rabbits did much better in our 100+ weeks this past summer when they were in the runout pens rather than the cages. I also hosed down the pens before putting the buns in so the soil was cool in the morning, then soaked it down again at noon and midafternoon. They also seemed to like having some bricks/concrete pavers sunk flush into the soil to lay on. If I had to do it again, I would simply line the inside of the edges with pavers (8"x16"x1.5") to help keep them from digging next to the edges. Also, if you would rather encourage them to dig in the middle, put some logs in the middle ... ones with a "hump" in the middle or a branch that raises part of it off the ground and they will dig there ... and they are definitely earthmovers! I would fill the hole in every couple of days and move the log to a different location for them to dig in LOL

I also had my 3 senior does and various ages of kits in a 9'x7' runout pen and they did just fine once the does had settled who was Top Doe and who was Second Doe and who was Last Doe

Now, I have 2 Senior does, 2 junior does and 2 6-week old babies in with the herd buck in one pen and 3 Silver Fox does with the SF buck in a second pen. All have enough room to get away from anyone they are having an issue with ... I also put pet taxi's in for hidey holes (tops seperated from bottoms) and they will jump up on them and over them and dig in them

lso, what kind of leaves are those on top of the cages?

 

[Amy]

It's nice that you can raise rabbits in cages, but it seems they are more Rabbity if they get to be in a colony or pen, at least part of the time....the playing, digging, climbing, etc. that you describe AnnClaire is what makes me want a colony for them. I like the idea of the log, as they could still dig, but if it was in the middle they wouldn't beable to dig out. So you think 10'x 7' is big enough for my trio + kits? If I needed to, I could keep some of the cages suspended for either kits &/or the buck. My buck is also a SF, he's so soft and sweet!
I harvested and dried some willow branches and rasberry canes this summer, which is what is on top of their cages.

 

[AnnClaire]

MMMMMMM, good wabbit munchies unk:

Here is my set up:

East cage with Silver Foxes

West cage with English Angoras and Satin doe w/EAxSatin kits

Both these runout pens are 9'x7': one is laid perpendicular to the other ... since the sun is so far to the south right now, the tarps on the south side are providing shade, but in the summer, they are in full shade most of the day except for a couple of hours midday, so the tarps are shifted to overhead.

In the summer, when it rains, the little varmints don't go in the (cat litter) hutches (more added since photo), nope, they dance around out in the rain :cheesysmile:

When I built these pens, I did floor it completely with wire to keep the Satin doe from digging kindling tunnels ... she will dig, dig, dig So that is one thing to keep in mind for colony raising ... where do you want the does to kindle??? Also, the only reason I have for growout cages is to house the growouts at night as they will all (adults and kits) be caged at night as soon as we get the shed and new cages built, just going into the pens during the day. Once we get the SFs out of segregation (won't call it quarantine as they are penned next to each other), all the does will go in one pen with kits and juniors. The bucks will be in the other pen, seperated from each other to keep them from fighting. Bucklings will go in with the senior bucks if they will not fight, otherwise, they will get a seperate (moveable harware cloth) pen or cages.

Essentially, I am still caging the rabbits overnight, and letting them out in the runout pen during the day, but since I don't have enough cages right now, and I wanted all to breed so they would kindle at the same time, they are in the runout pens 24/7 right now while the weather is still warm.

And just to show you how entertaining a hollow log can be, can you say how many kits are in this photo:

 

[dragonladyleanne]

Squooshed Kits!!!! They're so cute!

 

[ZRabbits]

Really nice set up! Love seeing the rabbits and chickens living together.

AnneClaire, love the pics of the kits in the log!

Karen

 

[Amy]

They are so cute, are they asleep in there? or so squished they can't open their eyes??
How is it catching all the rabbits to go to their cages at nite? I like that idea as long as it's not a chase every nite.

 

[AnnClaire]

Amy, they are asleep :bouncy: it was a shoving match to see which ones would get to be in the log for the short time they were small enough to fit inside :lol:

As for catching them at night, the only adult I had any problem with is the snaarky Satin doe and one of her daughters I was considering keeping as a brood doe. I would just let them "run away" from me until they gave up and let me get my hands on them It started out with the round and round the cage until winded, but after a few days, it was just a token run down one side of the cage or around me a time or two, then they would stop and let me get them ... they just wanted to be "wild bunnies" so bad :mbounce:

The EA buck, EA doe and all the kits and growouts were no problem except if I tried to round up the kits when they thought it was play time, so I would wait until I saw them all laying down. Of course, at one time or another, an individual kit just had to make a game of it, but not enough to be frustrating and only for a minute or so. The 2 kits I have now are "groomers" and always at my feet as soon as I step into the pen.

I will say that I see a lot more relaxation in personalities all around!

I also have a small grazing pen on the winter wheat (3'x9') and they all got a turn in that yesterday (was entirely too windy for that today )

Cassanova eatin da wheat:

 

[ZRabbits]

I think once they get the routine down, you won't have too much trouble rounding them up. My husband built a beautiful outside run for my bunnies. They absolutely love being outside and I think it's a wonderful idea. Rabbits do need fresh air and sunshine. All of mine now know when I say "it's time" they will hunker down and let me pick them up. They understand the routine. Rabbits are very smart and being consistent really pays off with rabbits.

Karen