How to save money and time when raising Meat Rabbits.

[@Depression2010]

More on the water system and how the rabbit hutch was built in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWq4lKOkm6-tj9E

[@georgeingridirwin6180]

This is great.

[@Depression2010]

@@georgeingridirwin6180 Thanks! Good luck with your venture!

[@bahromhushorov3882]

I have been raising rabbits almost 10 years and i surely tell that your setup is very good and you’re very creative and smart person God bless you

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@hubert6585]

The Duke 71000 71000 what

[@dakota3206]

@@TheDuke-vb9cq People in Britain are fk'n idiots no excuse for being idiot. Welcome to an American channel

[@wildwildwests]

WoW! I repeat, WoW! I have been searching & watching videos, looking at pics for over a year at rabbitry set ups and nothing has touched all i needed such as your video. Easy, simple & to the point. We can't ever put it around trees here in the pacific northwest because the winds blow them to much & we will be doing a corrugated plastic on back side. Other then that adjustment for weather, this is it! GREAT set up! LOVE the chicken house design as well. GREAT JOB!!

[@kenleebryant6145]

Please dont do that those cages are tiny

[@machettefreddy4170]

4 years ago I saw this video, I built my rabbitry very similar to this incorporating all your best ideas, it has been 4 years still my rabbitry is still working perfectly. Anyone wondering how to raise rabbits build and build a rabbitry I spent hundreds of hours researching that very topic and this setup is the best by far the best. Thank you Depression2010..

[@Depression2010]

Thank You for the Heartfelt Compliment!

[@Mamabear1138]

These are by far the best rabbit videos I've seen yet. I've looked for about 3 years now and you are the guy who did this with price, ease and efficiency in mind. The watering system, open flap backing on the rabbit shed, plastic container storage and the integrated hay rack; all the tips are much appreciated. God's blessings to you and yours and thanks again, Jes I'll repeat this message for the other videos and urge others to take a look as well.

[@jeffdurden398]

Lots of great info. I love the way you set the water system up. Heat tape is the best idea I have run into on how to deal with low temps, WAY better than hauling boiling water out twice a day!

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

Raised New Zealand Whites since 1976 but I got to say your set ups are very intuitive. Thanks for sharing. New to you.

[@Depression2010]

Thank you with all my sincerity for your kind words.

[@kevinholbrook7174]

That is a cool setup! What really got my attention when you were explaining about your watering system.... I would like to see a more detailed and instructions on how you built it! Thanks 🙏 and have a great one!

[@Depression2010]

If you check the comments the water system was described pretty thoroughly.

[@BlessedWithPets]

What an absolutely beautiful farm!!!!every thing is so clean and organized! I’d like to see an updated version if you don’t have one already!

[@sjordan7085]

I like mine better, the rabbits are all rescued, and provide excellent manure for my garden. They will never be eaten, because they are very much loved!

[@BlessedWithPets]

@@sjordan7085 that sounds real nice?

[@Oasis_Desert_Rose]

I raised rabbits for 2 years...planned alot and tried to improve space and living conditions...YOUR System is amazing and really great!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Depression2010]

Your welcome. Thanks for the nice comment.

[@jessicabennett5525]

I love this whole set up and design but could you focus and show us more about the water system. Please

[@debbieexcell5088]

I'm very glad that ur video is designed to consider the economic challenges. I'm new to raising rabbits, and my plan is to breed for meat. Continue the good work.

[@HalfAHandyman]

I have the same feeders. I've had a few problems with them rusting, and ended up having to paint them. I also have a similar watering setup. I have a tube coming from house to with a regulator on it, so I dont have to keep filling it up. You have a nice setup.

[@coyotebite397]

Really like your setup. We are having to relocate and rebuild due to flooding, yours is a much better design and easily maintained.

[@FraylyFarmMiniHomestead]

Great video and nice rabbits. I raise meat rabbits too and this gave me a few ways to improve my rabbitry.

[@pauldelaney7002]

I would like to see a little more detail on the watering system

[@averageamerican3111]

Me too. Was waiting for that. I'm guessing he has screw in watering nipples screwed into holes he drilled into the pipe.

[@Depression2010]

I ran 3 inch PVC the length of my hutch as level as possible. I ran that along the back of the cages and on one end I put a 90 degree and ran more pipe at a slight angle to the front of the cages and put another 90 degree straight up to accommodate filling. After gluing it together, I snapped a chalkline so each nipple would be at the same height. I drilled a hole where I wanted each nipple and tapped the hole with a fine thread tap. I purchased cheap aluminum nipples on eBay and threaded the nipple with a die that matched the tap. I put plenty of teflon tape on before inserting the nipple into the PVC. Using basic math formula: radius of pipe= 1.5" Cubic inches determined by 1.5 x 1.5 x 3.14. One inch of pipe = 7.065 cubic inches of water. There are 231 cubic inches of water in one gallon. 32.7 inches equals one gallon. If you use 20 feet of pipe you have 240 inches of pipe and would yeild 7.33 gallons of water. When you position your nipples put them as low as possible on the pvc pipe. Once all that is done, you can fill up your pipe slowly using a gallon container. Keep checking your nipples for water and note when water starts coming out. If you have water after 2 gallons you know you have 5 gallons of available water for your rabbits. Fill it every day and take note of how much water you put in. I find that 6 adult rabbits will drink a gallon per day. In summer I top off my water every day or two. Always check to make sure the cages are pushed up to the nipples and that the nipples are not dripping. If your a rabbit or all your rabbits are not eating, they may not have water. This is not an issue if you set it up with a toilet float valve. To incorporate a float valve to the described system you would have to seal the 3 inch PVC pipe to make it air tight. Put a fitting that will accommodate a large screw in drain plug where you manually fill the system. Then drill and tap that so you can attach a barbed fitting that you can put a vinyl hose onto. At a higher elevation develop another small PVC contraption like the ones you have seen in the video's that can house a toilet float valve. Drill and tap the bottom and put a male barbed fitting into that. Connect the supply float valve PVC section to the water system with a length of vinyl hose. This will not work in freezing conditions. When colder weather arrives you need to have a gutter heating wire in the pipe, only fill it about halfway so the heater doesn't have to warm as much water and leaves room for expansion if the system does freeze. Last winter I had no broken pipes, but had to put water out a couple of days when the weather was -20. Since you are only putting in one gallon to 2 gallons already in the pipe, you could even use very hot water on cold days if it was frozen. What is in the pipe will thaw quickly and cool down the hot water.

[@wildwildwests]

@@Depression2010 THAT is the answer!!! We use the nipples on the end of a tube fed into a 5 gallon bucket. The tubes freeze in the winter, they are small. This pvc is so wide and thick, we only drop into the teens at the coldest, thanks so much!!

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@hubert6585]

The Duke 71000 71000 do you have a loicense for that opinion?

[@TigerLilyGzzTLRoars]

Spectacular setup. Thank you for generously sharing.

[@manifesto8159]

Having grown up on a rabbit farm in eastern Washington...I love your overall structure! protection from the elements that's fantastic! The no-hinge door design brilliant! You're truly thinking on the budget outside the box I love everything about it! However if you do a little bit of framing on the doors of their enclosures to where you can have swivel locks it will make accessing your meat rabbits much more efficient.... Also if you allow your family members to handle the rabbits more frequently it will be much less of a task when it comes time to breed them..... One other thing I'm concerned about is your plumbing system for the water what are you going to do if the first rabbit in your system gets sick all of that bacteria in their saliva will trickle down through the water system to the other rabbits I think you really need to consider either giving them their own water supply or adding some water purification tablets or some type of water purification system to ensure you don't lose your entire crop because one of those baby rabbits got sick with worms or something and it infected your entire rabbit population...... otherwise your set up is brilliant and I tip my hat to your sir. 😉

[@uftc1324]

Well hello fellow Washingtonian. I grew up with rabbits on the other side of the state.

[@allgreenchannel2968]

Excellent video mate, you explain things well, i will be starting on rabbits soon hopefully

[@bongtv3670]

GENIUS! Awesome, hope you can make another video specifically for each.. Breeding, Water System, Etc.

[@jessicabennett5525]

The more I watch the more I see this guy is so professional. He's raising the animals as a source of meat yet still keeping there standards of living better then most "pet owners!

[@reuben4710]

Amazing! This is my goal. At the moment I have a hutch that holds 4, but the cages aren't big enough for the does to raise their kits in, so I'm building another hutch to keep the resting does and removing dividers in the previous hutch to make some of the cages twice as big for the does with kits. No it's not ideal, but it will work for the time being.

[@KansasA]

Fantastic video, thanks for sharing your information! I've been raising meat rabbits a short time but I'm learning a ton of info, it's great to see a setup like yours. Have a great day.

[@ky_million2396]

Starting a homestead this year (finally beyond the planning stage), ive watched alot of videos, hundreds if not thousands of hours trying to cram in the knowledge i was raised near but not exactly ON (family did it all but not so much my household, but basically all relatives).... and theres alot of good videos, some has good this but not so much that, some has good that and not so much this, very rarely can i pull more than 1 or 2 things from a video(and i label them with what i found that i liked so i can rerefrence them easily down the road)..... having said that.... your video has given me more labels than any other in my library ............just when i thought "holy crap this is juicy i cant possibly get more right?" you opened your chicken coop door and i found my future inside feeder design Bravo sir, and thank you

[@ky_million2396]

i like your videos so much i had an idea that might actually help YOU.... how about a small kitchen type magnet hotglued to the inside of the roof of each cage? then you never need your door stick, and the door will never fall down and hang your arm, or hit a rabbit? dunno more or less thinking outloud and thought you might appreciate the idea

[@Depression2010]

You are wise to do research before undertaking your endeavor. I suggest you determine what needs are required to be met. What will you have to do each day on your homestead? Figure out what those tasks will be then develop systems that minimize your effort and maximize the result. Good Luck to you! Where are you located? As far as the door on the cages, The clip that holds the door closed can also clip to the wire on the roof to keep it open. I want it to flop shut to confine the rabbit inside. Check out some of my other videos. Here I salvage an old outbuilding that I was initially going to tear down. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaW0hY1sfqp2n5Y Here I am removing and replacing an entire 48 foot exterior wall. I am rebuilding this house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/opzaqHp7o72VkLs Here I painted an old truck. kzbin.info/www/bejne/inS4gWOCnbaFb6c Whatever you do, figure out what you want to do first, then how to do it, then do it. The problem sometimes is that we get hung up on the mental aspect and that delays the progress. Just start the project by doing something you know needs to be done. As you progress you will develop your own solutions to the daunting tasks that you do not know how to do. Best of luck to you!

[@natemadsen380]

honestly your hutch setup is really good, ive become an acreage owner this year and I would like to start homesteading. Im going to try my best to do a similar setup for my rabbits. Thanks!

[@Depression2010]

Best of luck!

[@Lopsofloverabbitry]

I have a small Rabbitry And I have to look at the watering system you have a great idea.

[@Xarcell]

I like your water system.

[@jeffharris9797]

Thanks for the video. Love the setup. It certainly deserves my upvote!Questions: 1) What is the wire spacing on your cages? Looks like maybe 1" by 2". 2) Do you have any problems with their feet on the wire? 3) Have you considered using the poop in your compost?

[@shirleybodoh4877]

very well thought out and planned. Greatly enjoyed the video with all the info!

[@didaarahmad6927]

Very good and easy watering and feeding system, can you please show us clearly your watering and feeding system

[@1231dre]

Nice set up!

[@adamlesiakowski2326]

Great video love the design of the rabbit and chicken shed 😃👍🏻

[@safetygroup240]

Awesome thank you for the rabbit video.. I love you hay rack idea... I have been pondering a way to do it with less work and faster... and I think you figured it out. Good stuff keep up the good work. I love your set up!

[@CC-bw8lx]

This looks really great how you did all this !! I am also interested in what you coop looks like on the inside for your chickens how you set up your hen boxes and roosting area.. I know this is an Old youtube video but I was wondering how everything you are showing is doing up dated :)

[@benmirka3648]

How do you like this Having bunny’s on wire floor can cause foot Sores. And those waters carry so Much bacteria

[@Depression2010]

Raise your Rabbits the best way you can. Please Provide a link to your Rabbits, Hutch, Feeders, watering methods and share with us your systems.

[@benmirka3648]

Depression2010 I don’t even own a rabbit and i still know they are being treated poorly

[@benmirka3648]

Depression2010 no hate though I know you know what your doing

[@tmccrack76]

Great hutch design!

[@Dionne2U2]

I like your ideas. I have found that touching the rabbits as I feed makes for a nice transition when breeding. The does are not as stressed and breeding is more successful.

[@nicholasnapier2684]

love your setup is very organized and it's very practical

[@nicholasnapier2684]

it seems to me that the rabbits do better up north outside of Florida North Florida pretty good but down here where I live in the in Central Park it seems to get too hot but people do do it like over and Brooksville and places like that I live in Tavares so it's kind of different temperatures here but you got to keep them in the covered and like you said lots of water at your watering system is excellent I don't know how you put the water float valve in there like you do in a toilet but I'd like to know how you did that inside like that so that it keeps the water levels keep coming and turns off the water on and off but I think they can get them online the kind of thinking of

[@therabbitswhisper]

i love your "poop shoot" design. I had to lol watching you catch the does. You should give your "breeders" a nice area to live in. Wood floors, more space, maybe an area to run in. I sell my kits as pets and keep about 3 breeders in a large play area.

[@jimthomas777]

, you can't have wood floors , rabbits don't go to a specific area to take a crap , It would be like you taking a crap in the kitchen when you know that you should go to the bathroom , When I want a rabbit to breed I put the male in with the female , 5 minutes is plenty of time , if they don't breed within that time , wait until tomorrow and try again , or try a different male , But my rabbits were New Zealand breed , you may have different results with different breeds , one time I let 3 different males into 1 females cage , she would always have 8 or more each birth

[@therabbitswhisper]

You are correct, i can't understand why any animal would poop directly into their food or water bowl. Nasty. Yeah, they do "go" wherever they want. I find a hose is a quick cleaning fix. I read somewhere that fat rabbits don't breed. Is that true? I feed them once in the morning, a combo of timothy hay and pellets. Sometimes in the evening, a snack. I have one now that built a nest, looks pregnant, but no kits yet. She built her nest about 4 days ago. Ideas?

[@jimthomas777]

@@therabbitswhisper , female rabbits have extra fur under their chin , they pull this fur out to make a nest , it only takes about 30 to 32 days an you should have a litter , it takes longer for tame rabbits to wean and mature than wild rabbits , just make sure she is by herself when she gives birth , because she may fight the other rabbits , even the male's to the death if she feels that she is protecting her young , I personally have never had a problem with food affecting breeding , I give pellets , and they love white clover , pink clover , yellow , clover , honeysuckle vines , plantain , and I give them plenty of it all , A few apple peelings every now and then , Beets -just the top Carrots - top and bottom potatoe - peelings every now and then Sometimes lettuce but not too much , it gives them diarrhea if too much is given And throw in a small block of wood or stick , They chew like rats , just don't use treated wood , because treated wood contains poison

[@levelgroundboerboels4183]

Just love what I see on this video. I see how passionate you are.

[@Depression2010]

I appreciate that!

[@patricklawson7533]

Very informative video. And the detailed responses you give to the comments is just as valuable.

[@Urmomsbald]

You should try a Colony I had a reg setup like you and my friend told me to try a colony and it was amazing there was more kits and alot of successful breeding

[@Depression2010]

Agreed. Here is a response I provided below from 11 months ago: I produced the video to show one way to raise rabbits. I think regardless of whether you feed rabbit food or not a 12 week old rabbit is more nutritious and better quality meat than anything at my local grocery. No antibiotics, no added water/solutions. Many people raise rabbits on pellets and in cages. I have a video where I showed growing fodder. It is all about time, money, and space. With that said, if I were in a more temperate climate and had the resources, I would dig a trench and bury fencing. I would extend the fencing above ground 4 or more feet. I would create a haven for them and keep edibles growing all the time. One problem might be overpopulation. Do not want more than needed. Another issue could be hawks. Another idea would be to keep the breeders confined and let all the babies leave at around 5 weeks. Maybe the area would become very populated with rabbits and I would have no need to care for them at all. But then it becomes an issue with not fencing in the rabbits but having to fence in things I don't want a large population of rabbits destroying. More than one way to raise a rabbit. Do what you think works best and share your progress.

[@beethechange257]

New subscriber here. What an awesome set up you have!

[@Depression2010]

Thank You!

[@tomdesantis938]

The reason that the one on the end is unproductive and th litters are smaller is they are too fat cut the feed back give them more regular hay .I raised rabbits since I was 15 too fat is your biggest enemy. Love your setup.

[@SRHurst-kj5mx]

Thanks for posting lots of information for us newbies.

[@Depression2010]

Your very welcome. I hope you find what works for you. When I need to learn how to do something, I go online and watch video's and educate myself. When I think I have developed a system or an easier way to do something, I create and post video's as a way of repayment or as a method or paying forward.

[@SRHurst-kj5mx]

That is a great attitude. We got our first Flemish Giant last night. So your video was very helpful. We'll be sure to pay it forward for you. (We also train service dogs for members of our forces & first responders with PTSD)

[@raisinggoldfishonabudget7058]

@@Depression2010 I use to raise rabbits back in Fla a few yrs back & I did VERY well with the income that it gave me, but I had to move & haven't been in it since, But I DID love the hobby of it all. I like your set up, but I WOULD change the doors to where they DROP down so it's not in your way & it makes it better to handle the rabbits, & I would make ALL the rabbits friendly rather they meat rabbits are not that way they not so hard to catch to mate.

[@Clutchpearls]

Do you have to train the rabbits to drink out of the automatic water system or do they naturally curious (or instinctly) know to drink from it?

[@Depression2010]

They figure it out all on their own. How does any caged rabbit traditionally drink water? From a bottle with a metal spout and ball? What is the difference? A thirsty animal will find the water.

[@dogwoodloftsseramas8219]

Great looking Californians! My favorite breed.

[@travisodom6161]

Thanks for the great video! I was wondering where your feeders are from. The ones i have are a mesh wire on the bottom and the rabbits scratch holes in them. I would love to get some with the more solid bottom like yours.

[@Depression2010]

Bass equipment.

[@travisodom6161]

Depression2010. Thanks.

[@ritcheymt]

Thanks for posting this, sir! You shared several innovative ideas that I will implement.

[@Depression2010]

Thank you. Sometimes I get discouraged by the negative comments. I only share things that I think would make life easier for others. I appreciate your positive response!

[@eoeoo2872]

this is a great hatch!

[@donleckrone6448]

Nice set up

[@Depression2010]

Thanks

[@WesternHeightsHomestead]

Loved the video. 👍👍👍

[@russellpoulin2161]

Nice setup very well thought out. If you have your cages would you consider selling them?

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@andreastratman4019]

Excellent system! Thank you for sharing!

[@rabiatahir140]

very good and plained work.Dr Tahir Pajistan

[@horses2850]

Do you raise them for your family to eat or sell them to butchers or stuff? I don't agree with rabbits for meat but your an acception. You seem to really care so thank you for changing my views ☺️🐰

[@Depression2010]

I raise them for me and my family. I think it would be difficult to make money selling rabbit meat. I also think that once you start carving up meat and selling it you open yourself up to the scrutiny of buyers, health officials, and other government entities. Maybe could sell live rabbits but I think that would also prove to be a difficult way to make money. A person needs to be dedicated to the work. That is why I have tried to make it as easy as possible. Raising animals entails responsibility. I do enjoy caring for the rabbits but it needs to be done regardless of what my schedule entails. In my opinion the best benefit I gain from the rabbits is that I have a source of wonderful meat and I don't have to wonder about antibiotics, growth hormones, or any other concern related to purchasing meat from the grocery store. We had organ meats last evening. Boy was that delicious. Organ meat is vitamin and nutrient packed super food!

[@jansan9125]

Very much appreciated ... thank you

[@bonjour4807]

First-class setup!

[@Depression2010]

Thanks!

[@wilikot5394]

So, how much meat do you harvest with 4 does and 2 bucks? Pounds and how do you preserve or do you consume as you go?

[@Depression2010]

I guess it depends. You need to keep rotating your breeding does. Look at the video. One Doe had 7 another 8 one 4 and one none. At least that is what I remember. You need to take the best females from the best litter and replace those that do not have good litters. I have a video on cleaning the rabbits. I like to clean them when I have time to do them all. It is more efficient to clean 20 at one time than 1 rabbit 20 times. I used to separate the meat when I butchered them. All hind legs together, front legs, Chest/Torso, and organ meats separated. I would Freeze them in gallon ziplock bags. I also have a very large pressure canner that I got toward the end. That is nice but probably more work. No need to freeze canned meat. I don't know exactly how many pounds. I can tell you that when cooked the way I like it the meat literally falls off the bone. There is very little waste in bones. The meat is very dense and satisfying to chew. I would remove a gallon bag from the freezer and slow cook it with some water often times when tender I would remove the bones. I would then add vegetables and seasonings and cook it with minimal water. Then I would remove half of it and freeze it. This is a nice concentrate that only needs heating and water. I would add water to fill the pot and heat and simmer. Could get 8 good size hungry man portions from that big pot and still have another 8 meals of concentrate in the freezer. My guess is 6-7 pounds of actual meat from each rabbit. If you google how to debone a rabbit there is a guy that does it in a couple minutes. I tried it but do not have the skill or desire. If one could master that, you would only be freezing your meat and not the bones and meat without bones are easier to pack and freeze. Freezing ground beef takes up less room than freezing meat with bones. Rabbits were the best food animal I raised. They are relatively easy and there is lots of meat on one rabbit. However, I do not raise them any longer because it requires 365 day effort and is not cheap. Not long ago I purchased 80 pounds of Sirloin for $1.99 per pound. 80# of boneless chicken thighs for $1.69 per pound and 50# of 93% ground beef for $1.99 per pound. I now purchase my meat when on sale and buy enough to hold me until the next sale. Recently been eating lots of turkey. Been cooking one a week $.89 per pound. I have this 3 season room that is like a refrigerator this time of year. I have a 23 pound turkey in there now. I will probably cook it Tuesday. With that meal I will have Mashed potatoes, a vegetable, and make gravy. Then after that meal the magic begins. After the first meal I remove all the meat and the next day we make a new totally different meal with that. Could be fajitas or more recently we have been using Indian Cuisine Spices to make the most delicious meals. Better than any restaurant. Why do I tell you all this? You cannot raise rabbits for $0,89 per pound. My goal is to have good food at a good price. Hauling home food to feed my livestock and keeping water from freezing for several winter months is work. I guess freezing meat I got on sale is work too but much less and cheaper per pound than I can raise rabbits. Good Luck.

[@lescollins834]

Can you show how you built your water system

[@Depression2010]

Look thru the comments there is more information there.

[@fredreddies1220]

Would it work if you just had holes in the walls of the males and females letting them intermingle for breeding

[@Depression2010]

you could try that. I would think you would need a way to close them off or else they would be breeding whenever. Do you think they would instinctively go back to the other cage?

[@abuwarith1]

how do the rabbits know to drink from the nipples? do they actually stay warm in winter? could you show the parts for the water system up closer?our kits usually die after a few days. you never hads a problem with preditors?

[@Depression2010]

How would a rabbit know to drink from a bottle? Instinct? Thirst? All I know is they figure it out in no time. I discuss the water system in detail in a reply in the comment section. I just bought some nipples from Ebay and threaded them. Drilled holes in the PVC. Tapped the holes. Put teflon tape on the threaded nipples and screwed them into the pipe. If your kits are dying it seems like the Doe is the problem. Some mothers will not care for their babies. I only had that happen a couple of times. Those mothers became soup. I had a predator problem one time. I came home a few minutes after dusk and found 10 of my chickens decapitated. and several bunnies maimed. I purchased some traps. Next day got 3 huge raccoons. I killed one of the bunnies that had its abdomen ripped open. Three other bunnies were missing a leg. It is amazing how resilient rabbits are. A couple of days after the incident you couldn't even tell the rabbit had lost a leg. New white fur had covered the wound and they got around fine. The cages the bunnies were attacked in were on the back of the chicken coop and lower to the ground. Only had a problem one time but after that I always kept the traps active with bait. I did on another occasion or two get another raccoon. I think the raccoons were more interested in the chickens. Chickens are more prone to attack. They are messy/dirty and expensive. I paid for the layer chicks. They only lay for a year or two. They don't start laying until 6 months or so. The last 6 months the production dwindles. Coyotes, hawks, raccoons all want the chickens.

[@RC-df8hx]

I'll surely take some ideas and apply this coming spring.. Godbless!

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@exquisitefrequencies3835]

@@TheDuke-vb9cq Too bad he isn't in Britain, lmao sensitive kiddo.

[@josephbenyaarthur5277]

Neat and simple thanks

[@jasper777777]

Really nice well built big cages with lots of genuis systems.

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@colezy14]

I don’t understand how the water system works

[@johnbranconi9053]

I'm having trouble finding pure breed meat rabbits in my area and was wondering if you knew anyplace I could purchase some in SE Pa right outside Philadelphia

[@Depression2010]

No I wouldn't know. Just keep your eyes open. I am sure that one day you will find some. Keep searching Craiglist. Travel a litttle if necessary. When I got my rabbits, I went to Long Island from Central CT. That was a 3 hour drive one way. I bough 4 adults 6 bunnies and supposedly the does were pregnant. It took awhile for me to figure out how to get good breeding results and develop sustainable rabbits. Purebreds? I don't know how hung up I would get on that. If you want meat, it doesn't really matter. I never sold any meat or rabbits until the total end when I sold off a couple of young bucks and does. I bred them and had rabbits with lots of meat. I think when I got my rabbits there were Californian and New Zealand Whites. They bred together. Some were born with black ears some all white. If you want meat, who cares so long as they are healthy and good meat rabbit size.

[@skydancer1060]

We are beginning to raise meat rabbits on our homestead this year and I have read that rabbits should be given Terramycin once a week in their water to maintain their health. Your thoughts would be much appreciated - thank you.

[@Depression2010]

I never had an unhealthy rabbit and never gave any medications.

[@skydancer1060]

@@Depression2010 thank you for your feedback; much appreciated!

[@ratroute8238]

Hi, GREAT follow up to your cage building video.The rabbit poop can it cause a problem over time and build up a large heap at the back of the cages? Have you tried compost/worm bins as a way of handling the smell, or is it really not a problem.

[@Depression2010]

+Rat Route Thanks for the comment. I don't find the poop to be a problem. Point is there is no need for it to be inside. The lower cages poop lands inside. Yes it can be used as fertilizer and the worms love it. From the information I have gathered, I believe the poop can go straight into a garden without the need to compost. Rabbit manure is supposed to be some great fertilizer.

[@ratroute8238]

+Depression2010 I have also read that rabbit poop can go directly on the garden, but for those of us that live in town a way to control odor and maybe yield free chicken food (worms) on the way too the garden seems a possibility. If ever you do experiment with this idea it would make a good video. Your practical experience is very helpful too all, thanks.

[@tylergaspare126]

You are both correct in that rabbit droppings can be used as immediately as fertilizer. I am new to rabbits but no stranger to plants and rabbit is highly desirable to growers.

[@donneobispo10]

did you make or buy the wire cages? if you made them may i know the dimensions and guages?

[@hudhaibham4052]

Hello, it is a great video, and just served the messege i was looking for, thanks alot for that!! And i have these following question.i will be happy if you can answer it 1. How long the babies should be with the mother before i place them in a seperate cage. 2. It is hard to find hay or rabbit food in my country/town- can i feet them fresh veg, does iy have an impact on breeding? 3. One of my rabbit refused to feed the litter where twice the whole litter died. why is that and what can i do? 4. I do not much space so i have small cages is it bad?

[@Depression2010]

Fodder is a good alternative food. it has lots of protein. The hay is not crucial. It keeps them busy. Make sure they have something to chew on like a piece of wood. They love Branches from fruit trees. If you have more than one Doe it is wise to breed them at the same time. Keep a record of which doe is not caring for her young. If she does it next time move the bunnies in with the foster mom. Try to determine if the doe will ever be a good mother. If not have her be good dinner.

[@hudhaibham4052]

Thank you for your insight!

[@wild_child677]

Depression2010 what type of tarps are those? We use tarps and even the heavy duty ones don't look as strong as yours. Yours look more like they have fiber in them, and just by the sound, you can tell they are thicker and better. Thank you for any advice! Great video. Love how you have everything set up to where it's very functional and convenient. Chores are easier when things are setup in a handy way!!

[@ciggielimbz9409]

Jeri Grant not sure on what kind of tarp he uses but maybe you can look on online for a thicker tarp if you’re comfortable with ordering something online, or maybe try and doubling your tarps.

[@ciggielimbz9409]

Jeri Grant me & my dad breeds rabbits and in the past year or two he’s used these and they’re really strong www.walmart.com/ip/Yescom-24x30ft-Heavy-Duty-Reinforced-Poly-Tarp-Multi-Purpose-Canopy-Tent-Cover-Waterproof-Tarpaulin-Fix-Outdoor/228945797?athcpid=228945797&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVAV&athieid=v0&athstid=CS002&athguid=466001f5-2d43f302-e83caffecbdfea5e&athena=true

[@mikkeljylland9153]

You clearly put a lot of work and thought into it. And thank you for sharing. But honestly I dont see the point in having rabbits like this. I mean, you can buy very cheap meat in the supermarked. And if you buy the feed, and dont give them extra good living conditions.. Then what is the point? I have rabbits. Some parts of the year they live on wire. But they always live on grass, weeds, twigs, fruit and veggies. So its free. I have not become dependent of buying feed instead of buying meat. And you cant buy rabbit meat from animals that live and eat that natural. So to me it makes a lot more sense.

[@Depression2010]

I produced the video to show one way to raise rabbits. I think regardless of whether you feed rabbit food or not a 12 week old rabbit is more nutritious and better quality meat than anything at my local grocery. No antibiotics, no added water/solutions. Many people raise rabbits on pellets and in cages. I have a video where I showed growing fodder. It is all about time, money, and space. With that said, if I were in a more temperate climate and had the resources, I would dig a trench and bury fencing. I would extend the fencing above ground 4 or more feet. I would create a haven for them and keep edibles growing all the time. One problem might be overpopulation. Do not want more than needed. Another issue could be hawks. Another idea would be to keep the breeders confined and let all the babies leave at around 5 weeks. Maybe the area would become very populated with rabbits and I would have no need to care for them at all. But then it becomes an issue with not fencing in the rabbits but having to fence in things I don't want a large population of rabbits destroying. More than one way to raise a rabbit. Do what you think works best and share your progress.

[@realcookin3720]

I'm not criticising, but if you don't want your rabbits to go nuts when you handle them you need to handle them when they are young. Cool set up i have something like this. Yours is better though. And for the person that thinks you should free the rabbits....first they are domestic and would be food for well not the person that raised them some of the instinct is still there but not all and not enough. Wild rabbits and domestics are different species they are not the same they would fight. So you would put in A lot of work for nothing. What this guy does is great and never said it was a source of income but let me tell you i have not bought meat in over4 years now. We do it all right here on my little acre and i have chicken rabbits and venison from hunting and fish and crayfish from river. My food is treated and taken care of better then anything you Get from a store. They have one bad day and they do not remember it. Rant is over.

[@Depression2010]

I would not disagree. I just had too many rabbits to do that. The adults in the top cages had been handled more and are calmer when being removed. That video was made on a warm day in spring. The youngsters in the bottom cages were probably born late August and spent the winter maturing. I have no desire to go out in the winter and hold bunnies. Even if you forget that statement and look at how many bunnies in the top cages. I think 19. All of them would get slaughtered. I only need to pick up the rabbits a couple times in their life. If a person wants to hold rabbits and dedicate that time then good for them. How much time is enough? Do you hold each bunny for 1, 2, 5 minutes? How often do you handle the rabbits? I agree that those rabbits were not tame and if held they would be easier to handle. Thanks for your constructive comments!

[@realcookin3720]

@@Depression2010 I do hold my rabbits but so do other people but I get it not handling them in winter it's damn cold out... Lol. How much is enough time on he k I don't know depends on Bunnie I guess. Honestly I usually find the friendly rabbits and if I need a doe or buck puck that one to dedicate time to. That's just me though. it was way easier to have calm rabbits when i had little's around that wanted to handle them all the time. But some times that don't even work I have this buck who is just a spaz when it comes to being handled. Please don't take it as criticism I don't know anyones situation except what is on video.

[@jrd1207]

Can I ask what brand your J-feeders are? I like the design with the verticle slits cut in.

[@Depression2010]

I got them from Bass Equipment.

[@jrd1207]

@@Depression2010 great thank you for the reply!

[@jrd1207]

Would those be the 9 5 inch wide ones?

[@enricomorales4657]

Please send me about the water system how you make

[@Depression2010]

Watch this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWq4lKOkm6-tj9E

[@منوعاتاسلامهمحمدعزتابوعزت]

Hello... Can I have rabbit fodder ingredients? I want to make fodder that is full of added ingredients and medicines.

[@jenniferbunker2757]

How do you keep rats out of the cages?

[@reneeodayok859]

Awesome set up!!!!!!!!!

[@hopechannelcat5462]

thanks, you've given me some ideas

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

In Britain this obscene cruelty to animals, would result in the creatures being confiscated, a fine and a repeat offence could land you in jail. Ignorance is not an excuse.

[@johnboy7550]

Where do you get that rabbit cage wire.

[@Kctv718]

is cogon grass good for rabbits?tnx

[@lennylink8772]

That was interesting. Thanks for sharing. Did you have bad stock of rabbits? Do you breed the rabbits in the morning and again at night? I was told that it helps insure larg litters because the rabbits will drop more eggs. Iv seen the PVC pipe water system for Chicken that was vertical, but not horizontal.

[@Depression2010]

I think the stock was good. Didn't you see all the bunnies with the mom's?

[@lennylink8772]

@@Depression2010 You said the a few rabbits produced 8 kits , 4 kits an one had two. And you were going to get rid of that one. That's why I asked, good meat rabbit stock has 8-12 offspring. That's why I wondered if they were bred twice in a day. I just learned that you can increase litter size by two separate breedings in a day, so I was wondering if you did that method.

[@Depression2010]

@@lennylink8772 No I did not use that method. But also please note all new breeding stock in the lower cages.

[@pickle9709]

Even tho they are meat still they should have a good life while it lasts

[@briandelgado9866]

Don't worry he killed them all at least that's what it says in his bottom update

[@odonnellsaussiehomestead8257]

Luv your cages

[@Depression2010]

Thank You!

[@teachersikhumbuzomoyo5419]

You have been doing rabbits for breeding or commercial meat

[@Depression2010]

Personal food. Never sold any. Too much red tape. Not worth the time or hassle. Ate plenty of delicious meat while I raised them. Ate every last one of them. I would raise again. Easy animal to raise and care for and a great size or amount of meat per rabbit to feed a family. It takes as much work to raise 1 as it does to have a dozen breeders that can produce many rabbits. When it comes time to slaughter, you have to get your system set up. Table, clean area, storage bags... There is preparation and clean up involved to slaughter one rabbit. Each additional rabbit cuts down on the time it takes per rabbit. Once I cleaned 19 rabbits they took about 10 minutes each. Then a person could separate rear hind quarters and front legs and torso into seperate bags and also put the livers and organ meats together. It is a good source of quality meat. I never had a sick rabbit or any disease. Once I had raccoons that massacred my chickens and got at some of the rabbits. Several bunnies had limbs ripped off one had its abdomen totally ripped open. The one died. The others that were badly maimed were hopping around the cage line nothing happened. Literally a few days after the incident the maimed rabbits had new hair grown over their wounds and they had no issues.

[@Tonia.lynn2411]

Do u have a video on how u made the cages ?

[@Depression2010]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn2snZ-mgphrfJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2W6pph6l7mSnJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWPNZ4GcpZJpY7s

[@beccichatter]

love this KZbin name

[@jeremyt9212]

Do you sell at farmers market or restaurants. I getting it chickens been thinking g but rabbits or quail. Never kept any rabbits

[@Depression2010]

I did not. You can try it. Raising rabbits is a lot of work. Open up an excel spreadsheet and do some best case scenarios about how much money you think you can make selling rabbit meat. Then subtract out your actual expenses and then come up with the hours it takes you to be able to see your venture to fruition. Furthermore there are laws that restrict a person from slaughtering meat and selling it unless you can meet certain criteria. You can sell live rabbits but not cleaned meat. Rabbits are good meat for home use and very sustainable. But they are work and not really cheap to raise. Even if you are efficient as slaughtering your rabbits, It will take you over 10 minutes each. Clean 18 rabbits and you are spending 3 hours. Then you need the freezer space. Good Luck!

[@richardshomestead849]

I just have one question. With out having divider between you cages. How are you keep the buck from peeing on the other rabbits? This is a problem for me. Thanks in advance.

[@Depression2010]

I have not noted the bucks peeing on the other rabbits. I had a problem with the older hutch because they would pee off the front of the cage and it would go over the lower roof and into the feeder tray. When I built the new hutch I extended the lower roof longer in the front and positioned the lower cages farther back so as to not have that problem. If I did have an issue with the bucks peeing on the other rabbits I would cut an appropriate size piece of hard plastic and zip or wire tie it to the lower portion of the cage.

[@richardshomestead849]

Oh I didnt mean down I meat sideways as a buck being beside another one. Which I have and they pee all over each other.

[@Depression2010]

None of my bucks are next to each other. I have my cages arranged 6 long. Going from left to right, cage 1, 2, 4, 5 have females. Cages 3 & 6 have males.

[@alis9840]

Thats interesting. I wonder if thats what makes the difference for you... having doe's on either side of them. We have the same problem with my daughter's show bunnies. I had put all the bucks on the top rack and the doe's on the bottom, 3 cages on each row. The guy in the middle gets really gross from the peeing. I didn't necessarily think they were peeing on each other specifically though. I thought it was a just an issue of how the bucks pee. They all lift their rumps and spray the urine out and usually go in the exact same spot so the middle cage gets hit. Going to try separating with doe's in-between and see if it makes a difference for us after reading this. If not, we will have to make some urine guards for the bottom of the buck cages.

[@ukhun7trep554]

How many time a rabbit have to mate for a succesful (pregnant and have more babies?

[@Depression2010]

I always mated twice within an 8 hour time frame. I have been told if the Doe is pregnant will not let the Buck mount her. If you watch the mating process you will know when the mating was successful. The buck will comically do his thing rapidly and then literally fall over on his side. Good Does always got pregnant and produced good litters.

[@bobioegam7484]

Very nice setup

[@avodroc6972]

You should really give all the rabbits even the one with out babies a platform or some wood to stand or sit on the other half of the cage because then they will get soars on the back of their feet and trust me you don't want that. It doesn't have to be the whole cage just a corner so they can lay on it.

[@Depression2010]

The misconception about wire floors being bad for rabbits' feet is probably based on two things: First, some people use improperly-sized wire for cage floors, and this likely WILL damage the rabbits' feet. Hardware cloth, sometimes called "cheese wire", is too fine a gauge for the bottom of a rabbit cage and may cut up a rabbit's feet. Any wire with rough edges or sharp spots, or excessively rusty wire should not be used for the bottom of a rabbit cage. We feel that the best wire for a rabbit cage floor is 14-gauge double-galvanized wire with 1/2" x 1" holes, although 16-gauge galvanized wire with 1/2" x 1" holes may be acceptable for smaller breeds, too. If you use 16-gauge wire with a medium to large breed, we do recommend a resting mat of some sort. Some small breeds can be on wire with 1/2" x 1/2" holes, but for most breeds (even our mini satins) this is too small for the droppings to fall through. Most cage manufacturers put the 1/2" wire spaces on the top, so that the rabbit is standing on the surface with wires as close together as is practical while still allowing droppings to fall through. This provides a better surface for their feet. Anything bigger than 1/2" x 1" openings may not provide enough support for the rabbits' feet, although some experts recommend wire with holes up to 3/4" x 3/4" for the larger breeds. If you do get wire with larger holes, you may need proportionally larger-gauge wire to provide an adequate surface for the rabbit to stand on. Wood slats or plastic grids can also be appropriate surfaces for rabbits, as long as there is enough support for the feet and no rough surfaces or splinters, and they are able to be kept clean. Resting mats made of plastic, wood, coconut fiber, woven straw or other substances can be nice for a rabbit to sit on in a cage. However, some rabbits will urinate and defecate on them and then sit in the soiled spot. Coming into contact with urine or feces for sustained periods of time can cause urine scald or sore hocks, so if the rabbit insists on dirtying the mat this may not promote the best foot health. Soiled surfaces also increase the risk of parasites getting to clinically significant levels. Some rabbits may walk around the mats and refuse to sit on them. Because rabbits' toenails extend beyond the tips of their toes even when properly trimmed, in the wild they would sink into the ground to provide traction and allow the foot to sit flat on the ground. Keeping a rabbit on a solid surface without much give (such as carpet, wood or linoleum) forces them to sit on the backs of their heels because the toenails are pushed up instead of sinking into the surface. Wire floors or a thick bed of a compliant surface such as grass or straw will allow the rabbit's natural foot mechanics to work properly so that its weight can be spread out over the entire base of the foot. Wood shavings or paper bedding should work also in theory. But in practice our experience is that the rabbit kicks that type of bedding around and digs in it, and often actually ends up walking on the hard plastic surface of the cage floor.

[@gskateri6008]

No it's bad! You really don't know how to care for them. You wish you knew! U don't fucking know how sensitive the bottom of their feet are. You are going to hell

[@Depression2010]

See you there!

[@ciggielimbz9409]

Depression2010 Very informative, I have my rabbits (I have 3, but for pets & my dad has some and he breeds them for food also!) on half wood half wire flooring and I find it effective, they usually use the bathroom on the wire so it goes out. my dad didn’t do what I recommend and his best buck and doe got their feet cut open & it got so bad we had to kill them or they would slowly die from infection. I’ve shown him your channel & this comment and he says he’ll change the wire now! thank you for helping us save some of our bunnies.

[@ciggielimbz9409]

gskateri how doesn’t he? I see cages of healthy & well kept rabbits with no blood on the wire or anything. If you actually looked at them he’s keeping them in good condition even though it might not be the best.

[@josephalwan8622]

Hello Sir Very nicely done. Where do you get your cages from ?

[@Depression2010]

Thank you! Built the cages myself. Here are a couple videos. studio.kzbin.info8LIllpM38F8/analytics/tab-overview/period-default?o=U kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2W6pph6l7mSnJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWPNZ4GcpZJpY7s

[@PrestigeLoft]

how long do the does stay productive

[@Depression2010]

I am not sure. I never concerned myself with that. I would imagine each and every Doe is different. I simply monitored the results and kept them in cages where the best resided and went down the line. If the best was not providing the best litters any longer she would get moved to another cage. Eventually she probably ended up in the soup pot. There were never a shortage of vibrant healthy young Does ready to occupy that cage. If your goal is to produce meat, you want the best producers. It is not an entitlement program where old rabbits live out retirement in a beautiful green pasture. If you are spending your hard earned dollars and time on food, shelter, and caring for the rabbits, you should want optimum results.

[@PrestigeLoft]

@@Depression2010 yes I am raising them for meat, which is why I want only productive does. Thank you

[@mahar9710]

excellent video great setup thank u

[@georgegibson707]

Thanks for sharing your rabbit experience. Some good ideas there. Just wondering, did you consider chopping that tree down, instead of building the shed around it ?

[@Depression2010]

Yes I did. The rabbit hutch was the last thing put up. The tree could get cut down any time if so desired.

[@dttruon]

How low can the temperature go in the winter before you start considering taking them indoor like the garage?

[@Depression2010]

Rabbits can handle the cold without issue. In the fall I put the fabric enclosure around the structure to keep the wind out. This is very effective and allow ventilation. My rabbits never come indoors. The structure you see is their home.

[@averageamerican3111]

Rabbits are much more sensitive to heat than cold.

[@alex-cu2qk]

Sorry ,did you build the cage by yourself. By far the best cage system with lots of space for rabbits to move .

[@Depression2010]

Yes I did build the cages. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn2snZ-mgphrfJo