Rabbit tractor plans.

[currituckbun]

Does anyone have a favorite type of rabbit tractor? My husband has some wood leftover from the barn redo and some other scrap wood. We have a roll of chicken wire . I had originally wanted a fenced area to let them run but my silver fox buck, now nick-named Hodini, scaled a fence not too long ago and I want a lid on things now.
This would only be to give time outdoors. Not to live outdoors. We have a fox and coyote problem in our area so outside colonies are not an option. My friend down the road had 5 hens and two kittens killed not too long ago. The cats were in a barn and the hens in a coop. There is nothing those animals can't get into. :evil:

 

[Secuono]

I'm thinking for Coyotes you will need heavier gauge wire and a more sturdy frame.
Could always do two layers of wire, one over the inside frame and then another layer over top the frame, giving an inch or two of space.
I think the large flat rectangles would be harder for them to flip. You'd need a wire bottom and/or stake the tractor into the ground when it's in place.
A nice hiding place would also help keep the rabbit from freaking out if a predator did come for a visit.

 

[currituckbun]

I like the stake idea and I went on line and found one that looks real sturdy used at Weathertop Farm in Virginia. They also suggested the wire going in at least the corners to prevent them from digging out.
Can you believe they have released a bunch of Coyotes in this area to reintroduce them to the "wild" . Many farmers are not happy.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

The coyotes here will go through fences, but they don't jump over them... people here will shoot them and they know it well. The cattle ranchers consider them to be vermin and shoot them on sight. The rule up here is "Shoot, shovel, and shut-up."

We've only had a coyote in our yard once, and it had chased our manx cat through the open gate (oops!) and up the hill. Almost nailed him too.

Personally we haven't tried to kill any, but if they get within a couple hundred feet of our perimeter fence we shoot near them and that keeps them polite for a while.

 

[bassvivi]

I am new to all this. I am the wife of a disabled vet and we are getting ready to move to the mountains of NC to homestead. After doing a lot of research, we have built a rabbit tractor. It is not quite finished but we are using it. At this time we only have two rabbits in it and we are still in Northern Florida. In a month we will add 3 more...
It is made of 2 -feedlot cow panels lined with the little square mesh. For the roof, for now we just have the very thick plastic and a travel airplane cage without the door for the little shelter. The 2 rabbits are quite happy and quite safe. on the bottom, we have a foot all around with the little mesh so they won't dig out and in the middle is is wider fence so they can still snack on the grass.

__________ Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:50 am __________

Here is a picture to illustrate the bottom. Total dimensions 4 X8 X 2 high. The feedlot panels will last forever.<br /><br />__________ Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:51 am __________<br /><br />One side doesn't have the little mess yet as we ran out Both rabbits also love to jump on the little house.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Very nice sturdy unit! It looks like it will last a long time.

Be cautious if you get mushrooms in your area- we had a pet mini Rex that was kept on the ground, and she ingested the caps of 3 or 4 tiny mushrooms and died.

 

[schmitty]

what about shelter from the rain? or is there something on the top. really good idea!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

They have access to the carrier, although wind blown rain and snow can still get in. The mini Rex I mentioned had a couple of hollow oak logs, open at both ends, and did fine in all weather. She kept cool in the summer, and warm and dry in winter.

 

[bassvivi]

For now as we will soon be moving, we have 2 layers of the thickest plastic available at Lowes. We've had some bad rain storms and they did really well My husband also added a couple wheels as the tractor is not light...Still a work in progress! :bunnyhop:

__________ Thu Mar 01, 2012 5:39 am __________

So here it is. Until we move, we can't put a long life roof. So we have the thickest plastic available at Lowes, attached all around with wire ties. Yesterday, my husband added 2 wheels. There is also a little portable corner piece for now that we put in the corner above the doggie carrier.

 

[5dognightfarm]

I'm very thankful that we have a very "professional" coyote hunter down the road. He'll be patrolling up and down the back roads around here for another month or so. No coyotes here!

Your rabbit tractors look pretty sturdy. I don't think anything could get into them, if you're really worried about it, keep a big dog

 

[miscellaneous]

For now as we will soon be moving, we have 2 layers of the thickest plastic available at Lowes. We've had some bad rain storms and they did really well My husband also added a couple wheels as the tractor is not light...Still a work in progress! :bunnyhop:

Are there any updates to your tractor? How is it working? Any suggested modifications?
Thanks,
Misc.

 

[rittert3]

Very nice tractor, Bassvivi! We have Coyote problems here but season is open year-round and there are almost no regulations on killing them as long as you are 300 yards from a paved road and have a hunting licence you can shoot them. Fox, *****, hawks and owls are another store not to mention stray cats and dogs.

 

[Piper]

I like the stake idea and I went on line and found one that looks real sturdy used at Weathertop Farm in Virginia. They also suggested the wire going in at least the corners to prevent them from digging out.
Can you believe they have released a bunch of Coyotes in this area to reintroduce them to the "wild" . Many farmers are not happy.

-- edited - this thought. I have an tractor (I like), that is like "bassvivi's", which I am using for my quail (right now) but I am at the edge of the city and have some large dogs in the yards around me. My suggestion is because you are in coyote and ??? country! ---

this video is actually a chicken ark, but could give an insite on how the coyotes might attack. What I like best about this is the motion detector. I read the comments and it turns out that the door bell you hear in the background is the coyotes triggering the motion detector. For your area (with coyotes) I do not think I would recommend a flat roof or a plastic carrier that might be torn into.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A20PVog0ra0