Joel Salatin Rabbit Tractor UPGRADE [How to Build It]

[@kummerhomestead]

If you found our Joel Salatin-inspired rabbit tractor upgrade helpful, let us know how it works out for you or if you have any tips of your own! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more sustainable farming hacks! 🐇

[@leanlibros9965]

Finally found someone who digs deeper into the unresolved problems in rabbit tractors... Another complementary idea could be to wait longer to move the tractor to a new place with grown grass... That is, wait until the rabbits are very hungry so that they only focus on eating and not escaping... At the same time, to prevent predators from placing rigid metal mesh panels on the ground and on the sides of the tractor... (they can place hinges so that they rise and remain attached to the walls of the tractor when moving it from one place to another. . (I don't know if I explain myself well, my English is not very good) Congratulations and greetings from Uruguay.

[@kummerhomestead]

I got what you meant! Thanks for sharing!

[@paulnovak833]

Waiting longer would encourage them to dig out

[@mamagin6300]

I agree with your predator proofing idea. I've often thought some wood framed wire fencing on hinges attached to the bottom frame of the tractor would work to prevent rabbits escaping and predators from digging in. I have a similar "skirt" on our stationary chicken run. Folding "Wings" would be an interesting addition on a mobile tractor. I'd love to see someone test out the idea

[@jz3712]

I use 2”x4” woven wire fencing for the bottom of my rabbit tractor, they can get to virtually all of the ground, they eat a lot and they can’t dig out. It takes two people to move it but the rabbits hide in the house when we do it so have not so far had any issues with their feet getting stuck, I do move it every day, I will try this with the next grow out tractor I build.

[@kummerhomestead]

Right on. Thanks for the feedback!

[@harmonysalem9377]

Süper! Merci from Montreal Canada

[@leanlibros9965]

One more detail to improve the comfort of the rabbits... I would install a wooden roof instead of a metal one for 2 reasons: 1. Avoid raising the temperature even further in summer when they receive direct sun... 2. Avoid intense noise if it rains or hails (remember that rabbits love the silence of their caves, which unfortunately they can no longer enjoy). And finally I would place the roof with an inclination to collect rainwater; especially in dry areas or as a reserve for dry weather.

[@kummerhomestead]

The metal roofing is actually super reflective, so I'd think it'd stay cooler than wood, but you got a point with #2 and rainwater collection.

[@nrbrtmuller]

@@kummerhomestead You are correct!

[@jesseburk1986]

Good idea

[@kevinyoung947]

100 like! Great vid

[@kummerhomestead]

Thanks for the visit!

[@Ghosts_and_Cars]

What about a large pvc pipe cut in half and used as a sled to reduce friction when moving? Maybe even a rain gutter to fill a bowl and solar fan?

[@kummerhomestead]

Those are great ideas and I can imagine they'd work very well!

[@peterellis4262]

You keep saying ten inches, but your example in the video is using a 2*4 welded wire and the 'apron' around the edges is only four inches - one vertical opening in the welded wire, or two horizontal. The biggest limiting factor for this is the ground you're putting the tractors on. If it isn't really level so that all the tractor edges sit on or very near the ground, you'll have gaps for escape or predator entry. With a full floor, that's not an issue.

[@azquirk9846]

Do you sell plans for the tractor or the hutches?

[@kummerhomestead]

You can find the plans for the tractor in Joel Salatin's Polyface Design's book: polyfaceshop.com/POLYFACE-DESIGNS-p230860732 I don't have plans for our hutches but kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnO1d2RoYsl2fdU shows how we built it.

[@fredrickjoseph6545]

What is the dimensions of the tractor in LxWxH?

[@kummerhomestead]

The tractors are about 84" long, 24" high and 44" wide.

[@cebasmb8250]

I put the chicken wire and put two wheels on the end of the hutch so I lift and pull them

[@kummerhomestead]

The 1" opening of chicken wire is too small for the green to pop through. So the rabbits will eat less grass and more pellets. At least, that's been our experience.

[@cebasmb8250]

@kummerhomestead oh man, I wish I could show you a picture of what they do to the grass they eat almost to the dirt lol... I didn't pull the chicken mesh stiff to the bottom, so when they walk on, it they are right on the grass

[@kummerhomestead]

@@cebasmb8250 Gotcha! What type of grass do you grow? We don't have lawn grasses but have a mix of weeds and long grasses that get bent by the chicken wire, making them practically inaccessible for the rabbits.

[@cebasmb8250]

@kummerhomestead oh I gotcha! I have lwan grass. With lots of weeds between them like clover, dandelion grass, they eat the grass to the dirt