rabbit tractor thoughts...

ohiogoatgirl · Mar 24, 2012

so i am thinking as for general shape something like this:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZqP8KdLeAk/T ... 00/014.JPG OR LIKE
http://www.weathertopfarm.com/sitebuild ... nField.jpg

one by one inch wire for the sides and top. but for the bottom what do you all think of using 1x2 inch wire? this way it is bigger holes between the wire for them to eat from. they might dig at the ground a bit this way still but they wouldnt be able to dig out. i'm not planning on putting any rabbits in a tractor until they are at least 4 or 5 weeks.

have a few cross braces on the bottom to prevent sagging, etc. i'm thinkin that the easiest way to move it would be to have extra lengths of board at each end and to lift it like the way they carry people on feild-stretchers in old movies.

i will have to make some doodles and post them...

anyone else have any odd ideas or thoughts on rabbit tractors?

wsmoak · Mar 24, 2012

On the first one... are they really going to _use_ that much vertical space? It seems to have a ramp but I can't see what it goes to under the tarp.

I prefer the second (and just finished building something very similar for my meat chickens!)

-Wendy

SterlingSatin · Mar 24, 2012

i like the second better too. you could easily put a divider in the center too if there is not already. hard to tell from the picture. no matter what size wire you use, the grass will grow through the floor if you leave it there long enough. But if you plan on picking up and moving the tractor with the rabbits still in it, you might want to use floor wire so their legs don't slip thru the floor when you pick the tractor up. the boards on the sides are a good idea for moving it. i've seen lots of them designed this way. you'll just need two people.

ohiogoatgirl · Mar 25, 2012

on the first one i think it would be that high in order for someone to walk into it comfortably. i like the general idea but i would definitely make it much shorter.

yes i had planned on a movable one, myself.

SarahMelisse · Mar 25, 2012

I also like the second one better. I can see that the first one was built so that maybe you could walk inside? But really, it doesn't seem worth all the extra space. The second picture would be easy to reach into (especially if the hinges allowed the top to stay opened while you're working) and is less obstructive visually. Since I live in close proximity to my neighbors I like to take things like that into account.

Secuono · Mar 25, 2012

1x2in holes are too small to allow good grass to come through. I use 2x3in w/o any issues. You can add the 1x2 wire 4-6in in from the sides to keep them from getting out.