Welcome to my Rabbitry

Well after 3 years I have decided I really enjoy working with my rabbits. Though they are meat rabbits I try to give them the best life possible and treat them humanly.
I first started with 4 cages, 2 does and 1 buck, all Black New Zealands. I had never tasted rabbit meat before but after much research I realized that they could be the answer to helping me heal my body, and so my rabbitry began.
Three years later I have expanded to 8 does and 3 bucks. Though I'd like to keep them all I know I cannot. Now is the time to start replenishing my stock, the only way I know to wisely do that is to wait and see what the new will do. Hope I have some good replacements.
With all these new rabbits I needed more room. Well my hubby and I decided to take a carport and turn it into my new extension rabbitry. Here I'll have a place to work the rabbits out of the sun and rain. The rabbits (does) have nice big 36x30 cages for them and their kits. I'm really excited to have a great place for me and them!!
The carport is 12x20. To keep the sun and rain from coming in on the ends we are are to enclose the ends with solar screens and make an entrance door. For winter I'll have a roll down tarp, or that's the plan.
Well enough talk, come on and see the beginning of a new adventure :)

[@sister3130]

I like your set up

[@allthingsmaloney5634]

I thought 5 was overwhelming lol. That car port is awesome!! I'd love to have that many cages/rabbits they're great! and so easy

[@Dionne2U2]

Thank you! Yes, I sure enjoy the rabbits! We have babies now 😀 & we have installed electric & auto water. I'll make an update and post soon.

[@eliasfarias842]

Beautiful setup

[@HalfQuickFarmer]

Do you think those eyes would keep away a pesky owl?

[@Dionne2U2]

I am not sure, I know they work on the day predators. Can always give it a try. Let me know if you do and how it works.

[@therabbitcity]

Those are some happy rabbits!

[@roygilkey9246]

out standing wish i lived close, i would buy some from you!!

[@Dionne2U2]

What a wonderful compliment, thank you Roy.

[@carrieashley6465]

The cut ear sister is a steel color I like that color too

[@Dionne2U2]

I think it's one of my favs.

[@littledrabbitry9410]

We have been looking at a car port for our rabbitry. I love how you gave yourself space behind the cages. So glad I ran across your site, just told hubby that we're placing space in the back now...LOL! I have a question though. I was thinking about plywood on the sides since it gets really hot were we are located and my concern is the heat from the metal. We don't have power outside and if we ran extension cords, the wild critters would just chew then all up.

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi Larraine, Glad I could help. To answer your question the sun does heat up the metal on the right side of the rabbitry. I'm installing foam board on that side. I prefer that to wood being wood conducts heat and mites really like it. The space between the cage and the wall helps on this too .

[@Dionne2U2]

Just wanted to touch base with you on your question about heat. The rabbitry is working good as is but it did take some tweaking. I'll make a video soon to show what I'm doing, and my plans for the future soon!

[@Dionne2U2]

Well we made it through the summer. What worked: I hung towels along the back and top of cages. On really hot days I sprayed the towels and misted the rabbits (just a little) around 2 p.m. every day, they loved it and degrees in rabbitry would drop 10 degrees and stay cool for rest of day. I put my fan mid ways between ceiling and floor and made a wind directional placed in front of fan to direct a breeze toward the front of cages. I took another smaller fan 20" and placed near top of roof to blow out on opposite side of intake fan. The rabbitry stayed anywhere from 90 to 80,when Temps were 100+. I will be investing in foam boards this winter. Hope this information helps.

[@tracybruring7560]

Very nice rabbitry. How are they holding up to the heat.

[@Dionne2U2]

Thanks Tracy. So far so good in the rabbits. I have planned on making a video on how I take care of them in 100 degree weather. After much experimentation I think I've found a method that really works for me & them. I guess I should do that :) soon.

[@Jake-fm5oe]

I'm going to start breeding. Sad question, though. Do you bury all the dead ones? Thanks.

[@Dionne2U2]

Dead?

[@dawnspinks1088]

Sorry for all the questions? Is there any way I can talk with you privately? I have more questions. I a looking for wire to be used for a different type of animal.

[@Dionne2U2]

No worries. All I know about are rabbits with these cages but will help anyway I can, I just don't give out my phone number and not sure if youtube has a private way to communicate.

[@coastncontainergardening9120]

I wish you was closer to dallas

[@Dionne2U2]

Love Dallas! Well if you are ever this way please do stop by.

[@joelvillano8138]

beatifull do you have rare one please post jusst want to see

[@katherineking5764]

Where do you live . I'm looking to buy rabbits I live near Huntsville Texas would love to buy from you let me know great video

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi Kathrine, I am near Beaumont. If ever this way come say hello. Oh and I have always got lots of bunnies :)

[@ems-fo9pi]

I'm just getting started into rabbits. What brand of cages did you start off with?

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi ems, I first bought cages from a rabbitry going out of business. As I've needed more I have purchased from KW Cages and Bunnyrabbits dot com. You will want no less than 14 g for floors. And "after weld" makes for a longer lasting cage. Hope this helps.

[@ems-fo9pi]

@@Dionne2U2 It does, thank you so much

[@shineyrocks390]

How do I fix my kits eyes from kindle box eye? How can I prevent it? I've tried treating them with everything but antibiotics. It will cause them to go blind. It looks like pink eye and matts the eye shut. When the eye is opened manually it gooshes and drain white liquid from the infection. Earned a new Sub 👍

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi Shiney, first look and see if eyelashes of kits are growing inward. If they are then not much will help, I guess you can try plucking the eyelash out but have not tried. Nestbox eye is caused primarily from dusty hay. I use a horse hay back and beat the hell out of the bag before placing hay in the nestbox. Clean nestbox every few days helps too. I use colloidal silver and warm water in a cotton ball to clean. I did invest in Terramycin ointment for the severe cases.

[@shineyrocks390]

@@Dionne2U2 thank you very much

[@Dionne2U2]

@@shineyrocks390 my pleasure hope it helps.

[@Dionne2U2]

How's the eyes?

[@rickzumi7052]

i wish we could see the waterer system for the rabbits

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi Rick, the watering system is wrapped right now from the winter. I SHOULD be able to unwrap everything next week and I'll do my best to show you how I did it and where I got the items.

[@rickzumi7052]

@@Dionne2U2 thanks you Dionne ill be waiting your next video.

[@Dionne2U2]

Just uploaded the watering system. Hope it helps and hope this link takes you to it ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/l522mXudmLqIm8U

[@rickzumi7052]

@@Dionne2U2 WOW great video, thanks for taking the time, theres a wealth of info, Algae I would have never taught about that, and the 2 levels waterer, baby and adults. the nipples are great too. All your clip is so informative. Thanks Dionne

[@Dionne2U2]

@@rickzumi7052 it's truly my pleasure! Thank you Rick!

[@johnwalters7415]

How did you make your hay feeders

[@Dionne2U2]

Hi John, I used the 1/2 in by 1/2 in 18g (I think) cage wire. I used a template I found online and just tweaked it to measurements I needed. I can make a video and show how if needed.

[@johnwalters7415]

@@Dionne2U2 that would be nice. Enjoy you videos

[@Dionne2U2]

@@johnwalters7415 I'll make it for you next week.

[@johnwalters7415]

@@Dionne2U2 thank you so much

[@Dionne2U2]

John, I just made the video and uploading it now. I hope it helps. If you have any questions just ask. And excuse my "and so" repeating lol.

[@dawnspinks1088]

Where did you get your wire at?

[@Dionne2U2]

Goodmorning Dawn, the prefab cages I bought from KW Cages in California & BunnyRabbit dot com out of Texas. I know Bunny Rabbit sells the wire in a roll with two options GBW and GAW. Hope this helps.

[@dawnspinks1088]

@@Dionne2U2 thank you. Have another question. Would 14 gauge be strong enough for the enclosure to 72” x 30”x 30” or would the wire sag

[@Dionne2U2]

@@dawnspinks1088 hi Dawn. Let's see if this helps answer. My cages from KW are 72 long divided into 2 cages. The height is 18" and the width is 30. The gage of wire is 14. There is a slight swag, nothing major. Hope this helps. P.s. 30 " width is very difficult for me to reach to the back of cage, I like 24" best and from now on all my cages will be no wider than 24". Just something to consider as well.

[@Dionne2U2]

While answering you I had an idea. I will add a door to back of those deep cages so I can reach for cleaning out cages and such 😀

[@dawnspinks1088]

Sounds awesome!! You answered your own question. Sometimes talking in out helps 💞

[@buckreynolds7475]

You don't have a clue what you are doing