Goldilocks here…. the floor to the pen was just not to my liking in the long run. The rabbits didn’t escape, but I kept looking for a way for them to get the most grazing that they can and a little more comfortable on their feet. And having one big roof was a wind catcher whenever I raised it in the winter to feed the rabbits.
So here is the newest version. On the floor, I have strips of flat aluminum .75″ wide, .125″ thick, 72″ long placed with a 2″ space between them, except for the first one on either side is closer to the edge, just to make sure they can’t get out if (when) there are lumpy spots in the field. This allows the rabbits to rest comfortably on the ground without the strips being above the ground or thick enough to be uneven with the ground as wood would be.
I screwed the middle of each strip to a 2×2 piece of lumbar that was part of the frame so when I lift it up, the weight of the rabbits don’t make the aluminum bow. One end has a 2′ x 4′ “house”/box with a separate hinged roof. The main roof is PVC lattice work, only because I had it lying around in the barn, so I used it. Additional pens will be with wire as on the sides and I’ll add shade cloth for summer time if necessary.
I used 1″ x1″ vinyl coated chicken wire (which I HATE to have to stretch) for the sides. Think I may go with hardware cloth next time.
I created a hay rack out of 2″x2″ fencing with wood top and bottom to keep it flat. I found that 2″ x 4″ is big enough for the rabbits to push thru and literally sit in the hay rack and eat.. and poo and pee… 1″ x 2″ wire is possible to use, but it is kinda tough for the bunnies to get the hay. 2″x 2″ seems a perfect size. The hay rack goes all the way up to the top so again, the rabbits can’t jump in the rack and sit and eat. It is big enough to put a whole flake of alfalfa in. The bottom is angled in but stops about 2 ” above the floor and is open so the rabbits can get at the hay very easily but can’t climb in (I don’t think…)
Looking down into the box, you can see the plastic grid flooring, which is supported underneath all four edges as well as in the center to prevent bowing under the rabbit weight. You can see the alfalfa in the hay rack as well.
The front of the house is closed off half way to give some shelter from wind and rain in the winter. I will place nest boxes in that corner.
I switched to gravity drip waterers attached to 5 gallon buckets, which in the winter should weigh the pen down enough not to blow away, and the opaque color HOPEFULLY will prevent algea growth… something else I hate dealing with.
We’ll see if 2″ spaces are too big or if they are j-u-u-u-u-s-t right !
Thanks so much for your descriptions. I think I’m on about my 8th rabbit hole. I’ve tried traditional wire cages, deep litter pens, “free ranging” in pens of portable electric netting, hog panel pens, no bottom pens, chicken wire bottom pens… right now I’m trying a method similar to your most recent one, except I’m sticking with the wooden bottom slats about 1.5 inches apart, with an enclosed “house” 2 feet x 32 inches with straw that will be deep litter method. The entire bottom easily removes from the rest for cleaning. Only on the 3rd day now, so I can’t say if it is working or not.
Isn’t it amazing that thee little creatures are so hard to contain and at the same time be accessible to us without going through contortions? I’m like you… I now wait and watch before going all out and changing multiple areas just to find it doesn’t work for one reason or another. Let me know if you find something that works well. I’d love to stop experimetning and just raise some meat rabbits!
So how is it working out now? Thanks for all the effort…you’re saving me a ton!
I’d make the following changes: I ‘d extend the aluminum slats the entire length of the pen and get rid of the plastic grid. Use a super large 55 gallon plastic bin with the bottom cut out and a door cut out on the side. That’s cheaper and lighter than plywood for the housing. Place that bin at the end of the pen. I’d use rabbit wire for the sides or hardware cloth, not chicken wire. The top can be 2×3 wire and then put a shade cloth on the top and sides in the summer as rabbits like shade. And 2 gallon metal water fonts are the best so far.
I’ve been poring over pics and plans to narrow down my tractor ideas, and I think I’m almost there. Your info has been very helpful.
I’m going to use cattle panels to make a hoop house, attach tin to half of it (looks better than a tarp and lasts longer) and make it about 4′x12′ to use between garden rows.
Why not chicken wire? We have hardware cloth and can use it, but I was thinking of chicken wire since it’s cheaper.
Also, where do you get the slats? I really like the idea of using those, and yours is the first post I’ve seen about them so I have no idea where to even look.
With the hoop house idea… how do you plan to get into the pens to capture the rabbits when it’s time? If on your hands and knees, it’s going to be rather uncomfortable. I found that I need a hinged roof in order to open the top completely and step in the pen to grab them.
The rabbits lean against the chicken wire and stretch it out, it’s doable, but not very sturdy in my opinion. If you staple it to the frame, I’d also place a second strip of 1×2 along the bottoms to sandwich the wire to the pen so it doesn’t pop off (which adds to weight and $).
This is where I got the aluminum slats.
this is the home page: https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/
And this is what I bought:
ALUMINUM FLAT 6061T6
(0.125″ x 0.75″ ALUMINUM 6061 T6 FLAT BAR)
Sku: AF6061/1834
You need a drill press to bore holes in the ends so you can screw them onto the frame. I tried a hand held drill and it took forever. You can buy a table drill press for $90 at home depot.com. Wood slats work ok, but not as nice for the rabbits feet and they chew thru them pretty quick so, in terms of time re-building and time the wood lasts, I’d go for the aluminum and do it once.
I can’t do a flat top because I plan to winter them in it and we get a lot of snow. It would be more expensive, but I could use the 16′ panels uncut so the roof would be what, 6′ high or so? Seems like a lot of waste, but then I could have more room to figure out how to do the shelter part. Otherwise, I have small kids
.
Those slats are nice, but out of our budget for this project. I’ll have to come up with something else. Hmm….
So we’re almost finished with the tractor…a couple rabbits are test driving it for me and I’m picking up my meat breeders this week. Here’s what I ended up with: http://little-avalon.blogspot.com/2011/04/rabbit-tractor-is-finished.html. So far I like it and we plan to build a second to house bucks apart from does. We’ll see how it fares against my two escapees though.
Thanks for your input!
Looking good! Congrats on starting your new experiment. I wish you many bunnies in your future.
Great Idea, I am in the process of building some myself. I am planning on using round conduit for the floor. I am wondering if metal will be to cold on their feet in the winter time. How did yours do with the aluminum slats? Did you notice if they would stand on they?
I found the aluminum slats to be the best, as they are flat enough for the rabbits to stand on comfortably and can’t chew thru them. As far as cold weather, it’s pretty mild here with only short periods of below freezing weather. But you could use the plastic grid panel for the “house”, like in the photo above. That would give them an option if they wanted it.