I want to put my three does and buck into a colony in half of the goose shed this winter. If it works well, I'd like it to be a permanent set-up. I'm very lazy about keeping the rabbits bred and I am increasingly unhappy with seeing them in cages. Must be old age or something. :roll: So what I hope to achieve by putting them in the colony is better productivity, a nicer lifestyle for the buns and easier daily care for us.
My son, David, shares the critter chores with me and has many concerns about this idea. He worries the does will fight, that there will be multiple breedings of the does with loss of litters, that we will have frozen litters in the winter and that it will be more work in the long run.
I plan to use nest tunnels for two of the does (converted from an existing structure) and a roomy covered box for the third. They can sort out who gets what. The colony area will be about 8 x 8 feet. There will be resting spots on top of the nest boxes and a shelf along one wall. I plan to use a hay silo made of a section of 4" x 6" fencing and a large rubber water bowl during freezing weather. Naturally they will also have their grain and mineral block and fresh foods. I thought I would put a litter box in each of the back corners in the hopes that they will use it, but I'm not worried if I have to shovel out instead.
I'm looking for help in trouble-shooting from those of you who have colonies. Am I overlooking anything? Are my son's concerns valid or is he just being a worry wart? I've had does in a floor pen in the past (different does) and it went fine, but the buck was kept separate because I do not normally breed in winter.
My son, David, shares the critter chores with me and has many concerns about this idea. He worries the does will fight, that there will be multiple breedings of the does with loss of litters, that we will have frozen litters in the winter and that it will be more work in the long run.
I plan to use nest tunnels for two of the does (converted from an existing structure) and a roomy covered box for the third. They can sort out who gets what. The colony area will be about 8 x 8 feet. There will be resting spots on top of the nest boxes and a shelf along one wall. I plan to use a hay silo made of a section of 4" x 6" fencing and a large rubber water bowl during freezing weather. Naturally they will also have their grain and mineral block and fresh foods. I thought I would put a litter box in each of the back corners in the hopes that they will use it, but I'm not worried if I have to shovel out instead.
I'm looking for help in trouble-shooting from those of you who have colonies. Am I overlooking anything? Are my son's concerns valid or is he just being a worry wart? I've had does in a floor pen in the past (different does) and it went fine, but the buck was kept separate because I do not normally breed in winter.