Pen Size

[tygermystyc]

I am getting my new bunnies in a few days and have been doing A LOT of research lately. A few days ago, I came across the colony way of raising them and I LOVE it. There is only one question I cannot find ANYWHERE. I will be breeding New Zealand meat rabbits primarily for selling to a local processor. I would like to eventually have at least 40 producing does. I will be starting with 2 does and a buck, and at least at first, will be housing them together. I intend on removing the kits at weaning to a grow out area if need be. I will probably end up with 10 does per pen, but cannot figure out or find how big each pen needs to be. I have 7 acres of property, so size is not the issue, but I dont want to make it too small or really to big for money reasons. Can anyone please advise what size I should start out with for 2 does and a buck minimum and for 10 does and a buck maximum? :bunnyhop:

 

[Secuono]

One buck to cover 10 does isn't likely to work out.
I can see the 12x13 pen I have housing a trio w/o too much issue. Double it to have 6 adults and so on.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Well i cant really answer your question on the size as i dont colony raise rabbits. But you want to raise 40 does in colony set up. I dont know if that is a good idea. YOu are going to run into allot of problems with that many...

 

[Secuono]

Yea, I can see a lot of issues with moving them to clean fresh land if not pasture.
Then the possibility of incompatible does, they can kill other litters or rabbits.
Lots can easily go wrong, so start with one pen, then add another once that one is doing well and so on.

 

[tygermystyc]

Well, I will be starting out with sisters and keeping their female kits till there are 10 in a pen and expanding to include more pens from there. My question is, with 10 breeding does in one pen, how big does the pen need to be?

 

[Secuono]

Just because they grew up together doesn't mean they won't fight.

I just moved my growers into the 12x13ft pen. Total of 11 young rabbits, from 3.5 to 6.5 pounds. So, I'd say roughly 24x26ft pen for 10 adults.

 

[akane]

I had 8 in 12x24 and started to have problems which led to us dividing it in to 6x6' sections and putting 2 does each. Then we just rotate the buck around. Much more efficient space. The more you try to put together the more space per rabbit you need. 24x24' would not be out of the question for 10 does and a buck having kits until weaning age. It might even be too small.

A buck should be able to cover 10 does easily. When one of mine got out in to colony he covered 5 does in 24hrs and only one, probably the hardest and last to catch, had a small litter.

 

[toastedoat37]

If your gonna sell to a local processor, the processor is the one to ask. They may have guidelines that you are required to follow in order for them to buy from you.
Grumpy has pictures on here somewhere of his operation, he raises meat rabbits, you might read his posts. But he grows his in cages. Hes been doing it for a long time and knows his stuff.

 

[GBov]

I had 8 in 12x24 and started to have problems which led to us dividing it in to 6x6' sections and putting 2 does each. Then we just rotate the buck around. Much more efficient space. The more you try to put together the more space per rabbit you need. 24x24' would not be out of the question for 10 does and a buck having kits until weaning age. It might even be too small.

A buck should be able to cover 10 does easily. When one of mine got out in to colony he covered 5 does in 24hrs and only one, probably the hardest and last to catch, had a small litter.

Do you grow them out with the does or take them out when weened?