Why We Broke Up Our Rabbit Colony [Lessons Learned and New Strategy]

[@kummerhomestead]

Thanks for watching! We hope this video give you some insights into how we're striving to improve the lives of our rabbits while making our care routines more efficient. 👉 Got questions or tips about raising rabbits? Drop them in the comments! We love sharing ideas and learning from our community. 🔔 Stay tuned for more updates by subscribing and hitting the bell icon to get notified about our upcoming videos!

[@Trevs1975]

Thank you so very much. I haven't been happy with my set up. As soon as I seen this video I started digging. Buddy is coming over today to help finish. Looking forward to see how this works in a Canadian winter. Has to be better than cages...😃 Again thank you and my rabbits will certainly thank you. Cheers!

[@kummerhomestead]

Great to hear!

[@AgnesMariaL]

You have the same clay soil that we have here. Any kind of underground structure is a no-go, because the clay has no drainage capacity. I really like the idea of digging down and giving them a safe, underground space, but we would have to find a small hilltop to keep the water from coming in and extend the roof way out past the sides of the building. Your new hutches look like the best solution! If you want to keep more does per buck and know which kits are whose, get ones of different colours. I see you have the NZ reds, but if you got a blue or a black doe, then her kits will have different colours than the red-to-red pairing ;)

[@lizw9799]

Thank you so much for giving me the nerve to do this! I started pricing out the way you built it, but because we have a LOT of coyotes & occasional feral dogs, I have to have really good wire fencing. The dogs actually broke through a chain link fence when I first go the rabbits. Anyway, I ended up buying one of those 4'x8' metal dog kennels - I put the kennel parts on the front & one side & the other side & the back with plywood. I filled it with about 18"-24" of dirt. It's bowing a little, I probably should have reinforced it, but I got two hutches out of 1 kennel. I think it will keep the dogs/coyotes out and I feel much better about having rabbits! I agree with you - I don't like having them in cages! Thank you for a well done video & for helping with questonis!

[@kummerhomestead]

Right on! Let us know how it goes!

[@dairusjensen4855]

Thanks for the updated information.

[@kummerhomestead]

You bet!

[@therabbitswhisper]

try my way, zero issues, interconnect your hutches

[@kummerhomestead]

Hmm, good point!

[@SamSung-fp2vj]

Just owt bunnies here as no space to do anything else 😢 Semi helpful, I saw a you tube video where they had built tunnels with adapted insulated boxes so litters to be born. Protected from foxes etc however owners had access so could keep an eye on. Cool in summer, warmer as needed... Hopefully safer than potential damage by nature... A video to look out for as a different idea. Bless little flood survivor... Adorable

[@HeatherNaturaly]

I want to see someone put a rabbit colony in an in ground swimming pool. Probably have to install drains in the bottom and out through the walls, but man would it be cool!

[@LengyDZ]

Very cute, rabbits are nice too.

[@deuces6195]

Just found your channel and like the ideas y’all are putting into practice. How did you solve the flooding issue in the new hutches?

[@kummerhomestead]

Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKPXlKGAeMx5jbM

[@StephanieDuranceau]

That design is smart! Def stealing the deep bed idea

[@kummerhomestead]

Right on!

[@WojtekPrzybyowski]

I raise rabbits in the pasture and now I'm trying the colony for the first time. I have one couple in 43 square feet and I move them every 2 days. There is a wooden box with a nest. I'm concerned about the buck's behavior. The day before birth and the day after he is constantly trying to mate with the doe. She squeals and runs away but he keeps chasing her. I separated them now and I'm looking for an answer whether what's happening is normal. I'm afraid he'll impregnate her and the babies will lose milk. Please let me know if I can keep them together in such a situation.

[@kummerhomestead]

We've had the occasional buck chasing the doe while she was still lactating but never ran into an issue with her drying up.

[@WojtekPrzybyowski]

@@kummerhomestead Thank you for the response. Your videos are great and inspiring, keep it up!

[@kotukuwhakapiko467]

I don't have rabbits but coud the buck need more females with him so he can be distracted by the other 2 while she's busy...?

[@kummerhomestead]

@@kotukuwhakapiko467 He doesn't have to be distracted. Bucks seem perfectly content even when they're not humping.

[@WojtekPrzybyowski]

Plot twist, the doe give next birth today. There is only one kid, previously was 7. The scenario repeats. The buck try to mate and the doe looks exhausted. I separated them again. It seems that she got pregnant quite quick (in one week) after previous birth. Do this frequency is normal? I ussualy kept youngs only with mother for about two months.

[@vincentmiceli2554]

How do you catch them in yoir new ( 4 x 6 ) colonies? Once they are weaned you move them to tractors? Thank you for sharing your experience. We all want to do what’s best for rabbits

[@kummerhomestead]

We cover the tunnel openings while they're on the surface and then grab them. The more you engage with the little ones when they're young, the easier they are to catch when it's time to move.

[@lizw9799]

I really like this idea. I've been raising rabbits in cages & HATE it! I feel so cruel So, this is an interesting idea, although I would probably want 1 buck & 2 does b/c I'm trying to give them some social time ? which is probably crazy since my does don't seem to like other does in their space, even when I put them in a big yard. So anyway, I like your idea & especially raising up the flooring - how deep is the dirt above ground level, looks like about 2 feet

[@kummerhomestead]

2-3 feet!

[@cainfrittswallace7895]

Do you keep your breeding pairs together year-round, this is what I would like to do but I can't find any information on it

[@kummerhomestead]

Yes, we keep the breeding pairs together all the time.

[@cassidyquick3249]

Do you have any resources about building this? (Dimensions)

[@kummerhomestead]

We’ll record a video measuring everything on camera. Stay tuned!

[@lizw9799]

Do you use treated wood where it goes under the dirt? I don't trust treated wood because the rabbits chew, but untreated will rot if it's under the dirt? How long have they held up so far? Any info / help would be greatly appreciated.

[@kummerhomestead]

We have used treated wood in the past (under the dirt where the rabbits usually don't chew) and we use non-toxic (Whey based) stains for exposed wood.

[@kotukuwhakapiko467]

I didn't know Silverbacks could build rabbit hutches 💪💪💪 how many rabbits do you need to eat per day 💪💪💪

[@kummerhomestead]

It looks like you learned something new. :)

[@politicallywhat5630]

So how do you keep it from stinking? If they urinate and poo underground, you cant rake and clean up properly.

[@kummerhomestead]

We use a deep litter method. That means we keep adding fresh bedding once every 7-14 days. The rabbits maintain their own tunnels by closing them after each litter and digging new ones.

[@JamesHilfiker]

How often are you seeing litters is it every 4-6 weeks. I really like this idea and would want to use it myself, but really only want about 4-6 litters total a year from my doe.

[@kummerhomestead]

Yeah, about every six weeks or so.

[@JamesHilfiker]

@@kummerhomestead thanks for the reply. I still love this setup and might shift to something like this in the future. Looking forward to more videos especially on the rotation.

[@tshepomaredi3077]

After seperating the kids from the parents to their own colony how do you make sure that the males dont fight each other when kept together?

[@kummerhomestead]

We have never had any fighting. They all get along.

[@spaghettimeatball3691]

Very very interested in the dimensions for these! They seem to mitigate all my issues with keeping rabbits in colonies

[@kummerhomestead]

We just recorded the video and should have it out shortly!

[@karenmack2005]

Very interested in small colony arrangements' Because I sell breeders, I do need to be able to know what kits which litter.

[@kummerhomestead]

Makes sense!

[@NoFadaway]

❤

[@user-pm7ck6ij9s]

I've been told that double pregnancies are tough on does if they live with their buck? I too prefer a colony set up but my one doe who was living with my buck has now had two litters 2 weeks apart (4 first time 5 second time). All babies are healthy and happy but are there concerns I should look out for?

[@kummerhomestead]

It's probably not good if that happens all the time but I suspect the doe will get into a rhythm that works for her. If not, I'd separate them to give her the break she can't take herself.

[@rahimkhan5536]

Hi plz your watsap n I need some tip for keeping rabbit

[@kummerhomestead]

Unfortunately, we don’t have the bandwidth for one-on-one consultations but feel free to ask your questions here and we’ll do our best to answer them for the benefit of everyone (who might have similar questions).

[@christinajones1371]

Bucks should be kept seperat from mom's and babies just so you know

[@kummerhomestead]

Why? And no, our bucks don't kill their offspring (in case that's the argument you are going for).

[@user-pm7ck6ij9s]

My buck lives with his doe and he is super gentle with his babies. I would separate my kits from my buck once they were ready to be weaned because I am sure my buck would not like the competition from other boys but up to 6-8 weeks I have not noticed a problem.