HOW TO BUILD A KINDLING TOTE/ AND WHY

[@lovecatspiracy]

Thank you so much for caring about how rabbits feel. They can't tell anyone, and need people like you to share information about how to enrich their experience.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I try to keep them comfortable and productive thanks for watching

[@Cyara248]

Hello from South Africa. Fabulously helpful video. So great to see someone who gets it about rabbits. Wonderful job!!!

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thanks for watching

[@uprightfossil6673]

I like your style. I am thinking of a low cost way to start my rabbitry and your videos really help

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I'm so glad you find them helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi.... Thank you 🎥👍👍👍

[@labaorainier241]

Its a helpful video and good for the rabbit thanks for your video.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I’m so glad you found it helpful

[@tincan397]

I’m so grateful for this information. I am expanding my rabbitry with three more cages, but didn’t know how to do above ground totes. The boys will be happy come the heat of summer.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I’m so glad you found it helpful Thanks for commenting it means a lot

[@Lopsofloverabbitry]

You have so many good ideas. Thank you for your video.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thank you so much for watching

[@drewbrown2143]

Keep the videos coming!!! Good work buddy!

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thank you sir!

[@reynaldoramos9099]

Hello, love your rabbits.... Especially your californian....

[@reynaldoramos9099]

That's my dream rabbits... I hope i can have them too...

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Glad you like them! Thank you for commenting.

[@elizabethstephens6471]

I live on a tiny plot of land. Just enough room for chickens and rabbits. I would love to do this for my rabbits when we move. If I did it now I would be cutting into my garden or my dogs area to run. I love this and hope to put it to good use someday soon.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thank you so much for commenting

[@farislatif8846]

Awesome video that i have been waiting for from this channel cheer from Msia 🐇

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thank you so much for waiting

[@BrianBetron]

Nice job

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thanks for watching!

[@maxinedurling3425]

Could you not bury wire in the run to stop them digging out.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Yes you could- use treated wood build the cage taller and bury the cage wire

[@reneecoppock4404]

This is very educational! I've kept rabbits before as 4H animals (mainly Polish rabbits), but I'm now getting interested in having a small rabbitry to breed standard rex rabbits for fur, meat, and selecting a few to be companions and/or soft-cull pet rabbits. I have SO many questions and want to do as much research as possible before even beginning to plan out a rabbitry. If you have any books, specific videos of yours, other youtubers, websites, *anything* you'd recommend for someone getting into rabbit farming, please share them :) Also, a specific question about this video: do your rabbits try to eat the foam you use in the kindling totes? Our rabbits will attempt to eat just about anything they can get their mouths around, and I can't imagine that material is good for their digestive tract. Do they just not go after it? Do you disuade them from chewing on it somehow? Has it never posed an issue before?

[@oskarstork2040]

Have you experienced that the mama rabbit gnaws on the insulation foam you are using for the totes? And can the totes stay warm enough during winther, or do you think it would help to insulate it even more?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

some rabbits, chew the insulation and others, leave it alone. We have never lost a rabbit because they don’t ingest it most likely because they’re being fed regularly with high-quality food and they’re not starving. The insulation is more than adequate, but depending on your area, I would recommend a wind block for the entrance. Something as simple is a piece of corrugated plastic on an angle, or even a bale of hay, sitting on the ground, but in most cases that isn’t even necessary the dirt and snow will insulate it just fine causing it to be warmer in the Winter in colder in the summer.

[@bitbyterjr]

These totes make sense to me in the summer (as a means of cooling) but in a northern state or Canada do they make sense in the winter (are they any warmer than a nest box in an outdoor cage)?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

The same way insulation helps cool in the summertime. It will help in the winter time preventing frozen kits on the wire, and wind block. We Remove the kits to a grow out on day ten

[@bitbyterjr]

@@TheRabbitryCenter do you set them up differently in the summer vs. the winter? In the summer contact with the ground will provide a cooling effect but in the winter contact with the ground shouldn't provide any warming unless it's below the frost line.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

@@bitbyterjr In the summer we use very little straw. That's the only difference

[@hillarym8033]

Will a 6 inch drain tube be big enough for Flemish giant? **Nevermind I found a previous comment! Thanks for all your videos, love the information!! We are just starting with rabbits, my first doe could be having kits in a little over a week!!!

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I'd use 8"

[@beckyparker1688]

Live the totes! Why do you need the spray foam?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Sealer - keeps out dirt/water as well as insects and unwanted pests

[@kaderflynn2480]

bruh these videos are badass

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I'm so glad you like them!

[@reneebrown2968]

I do like my rabbits to have a larger area to run. Their cages are 3'×3' and 3'×4' for does( so they don't get cramped up with babies.

[@YuujiVermillion61]

I love your videos soo much have you ever thought of writing a book. I would buy it and I can bet everyone that enjoys rabbitry would buy it too

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

That sounds like fun maybe in the near future. Thanks for asking

[@johnbranconi9053]

My concern is do the rabbits or kits ever eat the insulation foam?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

No they don't and this is because the kits are removed before they start running around. Some older rabbits may chew but they don't eat it.

[@stevenreeves4766]

Isn't the foam toxic?

[@gordonfamilyforge134]

how do you stop predators from chewing into the tote?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Keep the food in the cage 40" off the ground level

[@TinyHouseStudios]

If you don’t have a run would you recommend putting the pregnant doe in a tote instead of a nesting box in her cage? Or moving them all to the tote once their born?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I'd use a traditional nesting box until you're set up for a kindling tote

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIupqJeta7-oaKs

[@dr.suryanarayanan9256]

Won't the rabbits eat the PU foam?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Not all rabbits chew it but those that do chew but don’t eat it

[@shellymb]

What if the rabbits chew on the expanding foam? Is it non toxic?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

They do chew the inside ring away hit they don’t eat it so it doesn’t harm them

[@cristallaprade5487]

How do you keep raccoons out of the tubs? They are very stronge.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

They're very attracted to scraps and easy meals. In my experience, they will not use or waste the energy to attempt to break into the totes and cages.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

You may like this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXW2oYGbh9SteNk

[@jadekadir]

What size hole would you recommend for a 14lb rabbit? We have some bunnies with some Flemmish Giant/Continental genes, and want them to be able to get into the totes.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

8" tile will suffice

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

6"for medium breeds

[@jadekadir]

@@TheRabbitryCenter What sort of pipe do you use for your run/totes? It's the one thing I'm having trouble finding for our Rabbitry.

[@tinawatrous9295]

are there any alternatives for using the spray foam???

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Absolutely, you can mold quickcrete into a clay and form a doughnut around the outside of the tile where the tile meets the tote- just know that it dries in minutes so try to work quickly

[@beckydelatorre2821]

Hi I really want to colonize my rabbits 🐇. But don't want to dig, we have some very big rocks. Can I put totes in a run with cinder blocks around the tote with dirt? Would this keep it cool enough 😎

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Yes the dirt would act as insulation and make a noticeable difference

[@darwindodge6260]

Are the tots not susceptible to predators ?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

It depends greatly on where you live. Here in Michigan they work well Folks are currently trying them all over the world I’m always excited to hear the feed back using hardware cloth seems to help with smaller predators

[@vttsantana]

Hello I just notice their no food or water in the run or nesting totes

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

The water and food is kept in the cage off the ground away from predators.

[@enicole1203]

Hi I was watching videos on breeding rabbits and many said it's important to clean out the nesting boxes daily. Is that something you can do with these totes?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I personally don’t recommend cleaning up the nesting box every day. That’s a little too much in my opinion. I recommend cleaning after a week. It’s your call, it’s your rabbitry we clean our totes out a few days prior to kindling.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGellXhuZcuBrNE

[@enicole1203]

@@TheRabbitryCenter thank you! I am getting my first bunnies next week so I'm studying up!😊

[@EileenTopping]

I've watched this over and over and still don't understand the situation. Do you have TWO totes for each female, one off the back to cool and one off to the side for kindling? Also what are the dimensions of your runs please? Is it possible to offer a labeled diagram.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Let me know if you have any questions. You can also type “The Rabbitry center ---- And then then topic you’d like covered. We have other videos that share more information. Dimensions are 8’x2’x2’ Yes we have two totes in the run. Here’s a video that shares the build kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZfXgXuQmNuSqtE

[@EileenTopping]

@@TheRabbitryCenter Got it. Thank you!

[@kayceev4459]

Do you ever have any issues with the rabbits trying to eat the spray foam?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

They chew it but they don’t eat it Some rabbits leave it alone others will chew away the interior ring of foam inside the tote but it will stay sealed from the outside foam staying intact

[@travinatolbert5905]

Do you think this would work “above ground” (no dirt) for an indoor bunny .. I have an accidental pregnancy on my hands and I’m trying to make it work .. no AC .. gets pretty warm indoors .. I keep fans going, but what’s the best way to make sure the babies don’t get too hot? I made a “traditional” type nesting box with cardboard and I put some holes in it but I’m not sure if that will be good enough, she’s a pet not a breeder and and probably won’t have another litter so I reeeally want this to work out .. SOS 🤣😳

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Using nesting box with a cage floor bottom for good ventilation Here's a video that shares more kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXzCm35_o8qdp6c

[@wardrobelion]

I live in Florida! I guess I’m out of luck for having rabbits outside.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

You could if you used burrowing systems and misters and computer fans and fresh cold water twice a day it’s possible but it be a lot of preparation

[@tpaul9785]

Been waiting

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thanks so much for waiting

[@stevengrange1584]

Y do u use 2 totes? Could I just make a ramp then pen and a side tote?

[@stevengrange1584]

Also could I Bury the tote instead of putting cinderblocks around it with dirt.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

The totes tend to leak after 3-5 years and will need to be resealed but I think you have the right idea. Only by testing new setups can we improve it. Best of luck!

[@stevengrange1584]

How can I send you pic of how it all came out. 8" bipe,straw bails ... It felt great building it all. Thanks so much for all your advice 😊😊😊

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

@@stevengrange1584 email me at [e-mail] And attach a pic. That's it! Thanks for asking!

[@stevengrange1584]

I sent over thanks it came out great.

[@therabbitswhisper]

Another informative video. Curious, what the black tunnelings proper name is, what its called?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thanks for watching “6” drain tile “

[@stacyboyett2823]

How do you clean the totes?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGellXhuZcuBrNE

[@reneebrown2968]

Very very interesting concept except where i live. Here we measure our rain in feet rather than inches. And our water table is only 18" to 2' to ground water. I'm afraid they would drown.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Sounds like you’ll need to build a structure on stilts

[@reneebrown2968]

@@TheRabbitryCenter i have a table i made that is 2 1/2 ' off the ground. The cages are supported with metal pipes so they are easily cleaned. Because of our high water table i don't feel comfortable with underground kindling totes and i don't like the idea of ground pens because we have too many wild rabbits running around my yard potentially a severe cause of diseases like cocsideosis and worms. They tend to ground spread here so my babies will stay in the air till i can figure out how to safely allow them to live as bunnies should.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

@@reneebrown2968 Sounds like you’re taking the necessary precautions

[@fermagradinabio]

Hello from Romania by Ferma Gradina Bio!

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Hello! Thanks for watching

[@valen739ify]

Have you noticed if the rabbits have eaten the Great Stuff foam?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Some chew it some don’t But none of them eat it

[@MP-uz5ks]

I would really like to build those kindling totes, but there are two concerns. We have snakes and rats in our region, and even the wired run wouldn't keep them out. They always find a way to get in. On the other hand, I lost two kits a week ago. It sucks... I started the rabbitry with big wooden boxes as nesting boxes,they are closed with a lid and have a hole to get in and out. Turned out, the boxes worked fine in the beginning, the kits were not many since our does were first time moms, but now, since the number of kits increases, they make bigger nests with the result that the kits are all over the place and they don't get all the same amount of milk and die. The does are also opinionated now, they don't accept smaller nesting boxes. I put one into the cage and she wouldn't even start to build a nest. If the cage had been open, she even would have thrown the box out.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Have you considered using hardware cloth?

[@MP-uz5ks]

I use hardware cloth wherever it is possible, the weak point in my case is the area where you use foam to attach the tube to the tote. Rats can easily get through that within one night. It is also outside of the cage area, so there is no protection.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

If that’s the case than I’d attempt molding some quickcrete around the outside and curing the wire and tile together? Creating a small concrete doughnut ring

[@MP-uz5ks]

Will the concrete stick to the plastic though? I'll give that a try. Thanks for the idea. I'll let you know if it worked next month! 🤞

[@MP-uz5ks]

May I ask you another question... Is it OK to breed rabbits that have the same father but different mothers? I know that siblings shouldn't be paired, but if they are from different mothers, does this still count?

[@jawonsjao2183]

Hi Sir I'm just gonna ask if you give an injected vitamins to your rabbits, like vitamin b-complex? Watching from Philippines 😊

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

We’ve been fortunate with our rabbits. They’re all healthy and no need for injections as of now. I hope that continues. So far clean water, pellet and hay has produced terrific results. Thanks for asking!

[@johnjohnson8895]

What about predators?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Coming soon ...

[@fermagradinabio]

Nice🇷🇴😍

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Thanks for watching

[@nightskyabc]

Why didn’t you frame this one out

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

After testing several different rabbits we no longer find it necessary

[@alihassanzafar]

can you please tell me the behaviour of female before giving birth so i can separate the male rabbit 🐰

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

The male rabbit should live in his own cage. When you want to breed him with a Doe Bring a doe of your choice to the bucks cage for a 30 minute visit regardless of how many fall offs. Then mark the calendar and put a nesting box with straw in the cage in 29 days. Here’s a video with a little bit more information.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJm2lpt5p9eeipI

[@thedraminator6103]

Looks like you have some pretty big wire gaps. Hows the Weasel population where your at ❓

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

We don’t have weasel in southern Michigan but if we did I’d use hardware cloth instead of 2x4” cage wire

[@reneebrown2968]

But i would love to build a cooling totes in their cages. I raise my rabbits in hanging cages because of rain snakes and rats as well as diseases from wild rabbits( cocsideosis the main one). Our wild rabbits seem to be immune but it will kill and decimate domestically raised rabbits.

[@samdelvecchio6416]

Why 30 gallons? That's pretty huge, given that does will kindle in a 5 gal bucket. What about dividing it in half and cutting 2 entrances, so 2 does can use the one tote?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

Over the years we tried different sizes and 30 gallon totes were the Size that the rabbits chose the most- only after running our field tests did we decide on that size.

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

The totes with the entrances on each end are the best for ventilation they do not have condensation buildup like the totes with one entrance. The doe's will want their own area to raise their litter.

[@stevenreeves4766]

Just seems a bit dangerous to me, its all plastic, rabbits chew plastic, and what about predators? Would not take much to get that lid off. And if your burying it anyway, why not dig a hole and put the tote in a hole?

[@TheRabbitryCenter]

I understand your concern. The system has been tested for years successfully. We've never had a predator take a top off are use the energy it takes to tear into the cage. Probably because there's no food sitting there. It probably be different if there was raw meat or scraps sitting out. The tote is buried in a few inches for insulation to help cool and warm the rabbits Thanks for asking!