free ranging.....and it didn't cost me a dime!

[lorihadams]

So I posted this in the official rabbit thread but I was so excited I thought I would share it here too.....I have a large collapsible wire dog crate with a slide out tray in the bottom. Slide the tray out, turn it upside down, secure the latches with clothespins and free range bunnies!!! I draped a beach towel over the end and secured it with clothespins too to offer some wind protection. This is light enough that I can pick all three bunnies up and move it by myself and they love it!!! The waterer clips on the side. Easy peasy! I just put them back in the hutch at night and lock them up. Looooovvvveee it!

 

[Dace]

I did that with our Rex....until he decided that he wanted to be free Range full time

Haven't seen him in several months.

I hope that it works better for you. Mine was a lone and I suspect some wild little hoochie lured him away.

 

[hoosier]

I did that with our Rex....until he decided that he wanted to be free Range full time

Haven't seen him in several months.

I hope that it works better for you. Mine was a lone and I suspect some wild little hoochie lured him away.

 

[big brown horse]

I did that with our rabbits sorta. First they lived under the chicken coop and shared the run with them. They dug an intricate burrow system, it was really neat.

When I trusted my dog enough I let the chickens and rabbits free range in the back acre. When the rabbits got scared, they always ran back into their burrow. At night I just rounded them up and they ran back into their burrow and I shut the chicken run door.

One rabbit finally died of old age and the other dissapeared right before Christmas. They were out there over 6 months and they were very happy. It was so cute to see two fat bunnies bebopping in the yard.

 

[On Our own]

You might want to anchor it.

My niece did the exact same thing - it even really looks like the same brand of cage - and they managed to flip it on the side and whooooosh they were gone!!

Like Dace, she had three girls and I think they done got some ants in their pants if you catch my drift. Some brad pitt bunny hopped by and there you go.

She got two back two days later and they were both with child........ Sluts.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Nice!!
The guy I am buying my rabbits from uses a tractor of sorts (chicken tractor). He moves them daily, depending on the amount they've eaten.

 

[lorihadams]

I would love to make something more permanent, maybe with wheels and separate sections to separate the bucks. I've seen where some people put wire on the bottom that is large enough for them to graze without them being able to dig out. I would love to do one big unit with wheels that I could put several groups in at once and pick it up and roll it across the pasture. This is great for supervised grazing....it's currently in the front yard where I can see them! I have a ton of clover in the yard and I have been pulling it and some grass, dandelions and such for them every day and they have almost completely stopped eating their feed rations. This is way easier and they seem to be enjoying the change of scenery....not to mention the fantastic looks I'm getting from my neighbors as they drive by!!!

 

[Wifezilla]

A bunny tractor. Awesome!

Stupid me never thought of flipping over the quail cage so they could chew on the grass and hunt for bugs. Oh well, I still have the cage and can use that for a brooder pen if I get some more youngsters. The adults are in their outdoor pen now digging in the straw. They LOVE being off the wire.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

I've seen where some people put wire on the bottom that is large enough for them to graze without them being able to dig out.

Here's some info from a Polyface apprentice on the pastured rabbits & the cages used. Not detailed plans, but you can get a general idea. The use slats & move the crate in the direction of the slats to not squish the grass. Apparently, rabbits don't like squished grasses?

http://polyfaceapprentice.blogspot.com/search?q=rabbit

 

[lorihadams]

I saw that....it kinda gave me the idea to try this. I had the crate outside the shed waiting to be put away and when I looked at it it just hit me to try it with the bunnies. It was nice to give them a break and get a change of scenery. My neighbors were really giving me some strange looks as they were driving by....hubby says he might be willing to try a couple of tractors in the pasture when we get some meat rabbits. Would be nice to finish them on grass.