Is anyone raising rabbits in a colony?

[Hummingbird Hollow]

My colony has warm sheltered places that I thought were appropriate for adult rabbits to get out of any wind. It is inside an outbuilding that has three walls and a roof, so it has some wind protection and is out of the rain and snow (other than what might blow in). The rest of the colony is hardware cloth. I've used a deep litter method, started with several inches of wood mulch from using a chipper/shredder on evergreen branches topped by about half a bale of straw. They dig and mix everything together with their droppings. I did a major muckout before I left for vacation and added more wood chips and straw but I don't know if that qualifies as "warm and dry". I've added more straw on and around the little shelter that the kits are housed in.

I could try to wrap the hardware cloth with heavy weight plastic, like what I use for my green house to provide more protection and/or hand a heat lamp out there.

Here's a photo I took last summer when I completed the run. I'll try to take a few photos of the kit's lodging this afternoon and post. thanks for the help.

 

[boskelli1571]

To save the plastic, can you use a tarp around the area? Zip tie it in place then you can remove when necessary.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Here's what the burrow/drawer looks like this afternoon. It is partly buried in shavings, dirt and straw. The calico doe is sitting on top of it.

 

[boskelli1571]

Well, I'm not sure how cold you get there in the mountains, but with some wind protection I think your kits will likely do fine. You have lots of straw, a roof and 3 sided protection from the elements. I would use a tarp on the windward side and don't worry about the heat lamps unless it gets bitterly cold.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Well, I'm not sure how cold you get there in the mountains, but with some wind protection I think your kits will likely do fine. You have lots of straw, a roof and 3 sided protection from the elements. I would use a tarp on the windward side and don't worry about the heat lamps unless it gets bitterly cold.

It will probably get down to -15F several times this winter. The end of this week it is forecast to get down to -7F.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

AAAAAH! Now they're saying -12F Thursday.

 

[boskelli1571]

AAAAAH! Now they're saying -12F Thursday.

Ooooh - chilly! Make sure there is lots of hay/straw piled around them. I've not had to deal with below -10F so far.....I guess you will have to check to make sure they are all tucked in after the feeding sessions - as you know they sometimes hang on too tight and drop off somewhere other than the nest.
Good luck

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Well, the good news is that the worst of the cold will happen (if all goes as predicted) between Friday night and Monday morning, so I should be able to check the run pretty regularly. I figure I don't want to lift the box and actually check on the kits during this period, because I'll just let colder air into their nest, but I can check the area around the box to see if any are outside and make sure the does have access to unfrozen water. I think I read that sunflower seeds are good for the nursing doe in this kind of weather. would you agree?

 

[boskelli1571]

I have never tried them, but it's worth a shot. Hope the weather people are wrong and it's a bit warmer for you

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I have never tried them, but it's worth a shot. Hope the weather people are wrong and it's a bit warmer for you

Just checked and now they're saying -7F instead of -17F, so I guess things are still in flux. Either way, pretty cold.