- Thread starter
- #2,671
BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
Me neither I laid in bed and readDenim Deb said:
How are the chicklings? Mine go to lock down Sunday 
BarredBuff's Homesteading Shenanigans
- Thread starter BarredBuff
- Start date
How are the chicklings? Mine go to lock down Sunday 
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2010
- Messages
- 14,993
- Reaction score
- 619
- Points
- 417
They're doing great. They're so funny to watch. Hubby got home from work tonight, went in the kitchen and asked, how's the kids? 
- Thread starter
- #2,673
BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
Denim Deb said:They're doing great. They're so funny to watch. Hubby got home from work tonight, went in the kitchen and asked, how's the kids?
Classic. My Whodat is a dog trapped in a chicken's body 
CheerioLounge
Dessert Dreamer
If DH keeps up that attitude you may get your Cocker after all!Denim Deb said:They're doing great. They're so funny to watch. Hubby got home from work tonight, went in the kitchen and asked, how's the kids?
So nice to hear about him being nice and supportive. 
pinkfox
Super Self-Sufficient
colonies are one of the simplest ways to raise rabbits if its doen right...
general rule of thumb is the girls need lots of space and need to be introduced relitivly young (and should all be introduced to the new colonsy space together so theres no pre-established territory.
buck should be kept seperate and is generally "used" the way you would any rabbit set up...you can either take each doe to him (this would be my choise as then id know who was bred and when) or in some set ups they simply let romeo out into the colony for a week to "do his thing" (the worry with this is 1 you cant be sure of mating and 2, does are inceredibly territorial and a buck doesnt stand much of a chance agaisnt 1 doe, let alone 10 of them LOL)
then when the does are due to kindle you simply make sure you have enough "Private spaces" for each doe to have their own nesting spot, for this you can use anythign from old boxes and crates to tuppertotes to tubes and large PVC pipe ect...as long as each doe has her own space, generally all will be fine.
first time mommas tend to be a little rough no matter what the setting so generally even in a colony you expect to loose a few especially from first timers, but once they get the hang of it...shouldnt be any issues.
much more natural way to raise them too, but it tends to be a little more work overall, checking on everyone, keeping track of everyone, catching the buns can be "fun" too lol.
(i generally suggest a large net lol)
speaking of, with it being in the designing stages buff, you might want to design your 10x24 colony area as 2 10x12 pens with a removable wall or a gate inbetween or something, this way when it comes time to round them up, check on them ect you can close the gate between the 2 pens giveing them alot less "chase me" space. it also means you can seperate your colonies should something happen or you decide to add new blood ect.
even something as simple as being able to slot a couple sheets of playwood into place would work.
general rule of thumb is the girls need lots of space and need to be introduced relitivly young (and should all be introduced to the new colonsy space together so theres no pre-established territory.
buck should be kept seperate and is generally "used" the way you would any rabbit set up...you can either take each doe to him (this would be my choise as then id know who was bred and when) or in some set ups they simply let romeo out into the colony for a week to "do his thing" (the worry with this is 1 you cant be sure of mating and 2, does are inceredibly territorial and a buck doesnt stand much of a chance agaisnt 1 doe, let alone 10 of them LOL)
then when the does are due to kindle you simply make sure you have enough "Private spaces" for each doe to have their own nesting spot, for this you can use anythign from old boxes and crates to tuppertotes to tubes and large PVC pipe ect...as long as each doe has her own space, generally all will be fine.
first time mommas tend to be a little rough no matter what the setting so generally even in a colony you expect to loose a few especially from first timers, but once they get the hang of it...shouldnt be any issues.
much more natural way to raise them too, but it tends to be a little more work overall, checking on everyone, keeping track of everyone, catching the buns can be "fun" too lol.
(i generally suggest a large net lol)
speaking of, with it being in the designing stages buff, you might want to design your 10x24 colony area as 2 10x12 pens with a removable wall or a gate inbetween or something, this way when it comes time to round them up, check on them ect you can close the gate between the 2 pens giveing them alot less "chase me" space. it also means you can seperate your colonies should something happen or you decide to add new blood ect.
even something as simple as being able to slot a couple sheets of playwood into place would work.
SSDreamin
Almost Self-Reliant
BarredBuff said:I'm not keeping a buck in with them all the time. From what I can tell its fairly simple. Give them enough room and life is good.SSDreamin said:How does the colony deal work? I thought they HAD to be seperated, so they didn't reproduce too much/eat each others babies/etc?
Welcome to my lazy world Buff! Clear off a spot among the piles of junk collecting around me and sit a spell
I hope I don't sit on a Banjo that would hurt
I'd be more worried about finding something living under those piles, if I were you!
- Thread starter
- #2,677
BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
pinky thanks for those reminders 
Does 12 by 24 sound right for about 12 does?
Does 12 by 24 sound right for about 12 does?- Thread starter
- #2,678
BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
Good Morning 
When the sun comes up, I am going to let the girls out and check the kits. Then load some manure and start the onion bed. Then finish with some old hay ontop. Then plant the onions. 50 plants I think is what it is. Then I am going to finish our transplants.
I have been making a list of things to get for the calf and here is what I have come up with:
1. Milk Replacer
2. Electrolytes (I have to check our med cabinet, we may have some)
3. Corrid (Chicks and Calf)
4. Bottle
5. Dry Dairy Calf Feed
6. 2 Pans for Feed and Water
If I have enough money I wouldn't care to get some Vitamin B and Penicillin to have on hand, just in case. But I'll see how this goes. We are going calf shopping Next Saturday. I plan to bring a little on back
When the sun comes up, I am going to let the girls out and check the kits. Then load some manure and start the onion bed. Then finish with some old hay ontop.
Then plant the onions. 50 plants I think is what it is. Then I am going to finish our transplants.I have been making a list of things to get for the calf and here is what I have come up with:
1. Milk Replacer
2. Electrolytes (I have to check our med cabinet, we may have some)
3. Corrid (Chicks and Calf)
4. Bottle
5. Dry Dairy Calf Feed
6. 2 Pans for Feed and Water
If I have enough money I wouldn't care to get some Vitamin B and Penicillin to have on hand, just in case. But I'll see how this goes. We are going calf shopping Next Saturday. I plan to bring a little on back
Denim Deb
More Precious than Rubies
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2010
- Messages
- 14,993
- Reaction score
- 619
- Points
- 417
Good luck! 
- Thread starter
- #2,680
BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
I had a pretty good day. I got most of my supplies. I got the bottle, waterer, feeder, corrid, electrolytes, syringes, and needles. I forgot the dry feed, and didn't get the replacer yet because it depends on the calf's age. So I am all set! Then after there we went to Lowes and got some soil for the onion beds. Which I finished just a minute ago, I think over 100 plants These are for bulb onions, already have green onions. They should do good, I used a hay mulch, and rabbit poop. A recipe for onions if ya ask me.
TSC had chicks but none I'd have. Just meaties, bantams, and a lone white pullet. I hope my bator does good
These are for bulb onions, already have green onions. They should do good, I used a hay mulch, and rabbit poop. A recipe for onions if ya ask me. TSC had chicks but none I'd have. Just meaties, bantams, and a lone white pullet. I hope my bator does good
