Milly_Molly2
Active Member
Hiya
In the future, I would love to breed Smoke Pearls. I've been thinking about the setup and I wonder what you all think about it.
Maternity Shed
4 hutches, all each 8ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high. (space for 2 litters at any one time)
Total hutch space = 16ft long, 3ft deep and 4ft high.
Top hutch is birthing hutch for doe and kits.
Once weaned, males are separated into the top hutch and females are separated into the bottom hutch. Doe is taken back to her original hutch.
Exercise run = 8ft x 8ft, wire mesh with lid, next to the shed (not necessarily attached), hutch inside for shelter (5ft x 2ft x 2ft). On concrete or slabs, hosed down at the end of each day and hutch is swept out and replace bedding at each of each day (newspaper and thick layer of hay).
Buck Shed
9 hutches, all each 5ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high.
Total hutch space = 15ft long, 3ft deep and 6ft high.
Single bucks in each hutch (total of 9 bucks).
Doe Shed
9 hutches, all each 5ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high.
Total hutch space = 15ft long, 3ft deep and 6ft high.
Single does in each hutch (total of 9 does)
Exercise Runs (for does and bucks)
All 5ft x 5ft runs OR 6ft x 4ft runs (totalling 24sqft - 25sqft), unattached to sheds, wire mesh with lids, all contain 3ft-4ft hutch inside for shelter.
DOES â 3 runs; first 3 out at 6am, second 3 out at 10am, third 3 out at 2pm, in by 6pm.
BUCKS - 3 runs; first 3 out at 6am, second 3 out at 10am, third 3 out at 2pm, in by 6pm.
Clean hutches whilst rabbits are out for exercise.
First 3 get cleaned at 6-7pm.
Second 3 get cleaned at lunchtime (12pm).
Third 3 get cleaned at 5-6pm.
Runs on slabs or concrete, get hosed down and faeces swept up at end of each day. Hutches inside runs swept out and replace bedding (newspaper and thin layer of hay) at end of each day. Litter trays replaced. Hay balls or hay racks replaced when emptied throughout the day.
Should I include more doe hutches than buck hutches? Should I have another shed with hutches for any youngsters that are unsold or that I keep? How realistic is it to run this type of set up?
In the future, I would love to breed Smoke Pearls. I've been thinking about the setup and I wonder what you all think about it.
Maternity Shed
4 hutches, all each 8ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high. (space for 2 litters at any one time)
Total hutch space = 16ft long, 3ft deep and 4ft high.
Top hutch is birthing hutch for doe and kits.
Once weaned, males are separated into the top hutch and females are separated into the bottom hutch. Doe is taken back to her original hutch.
Exercise run = 8ft x 8ft, wire mesh with lid, next to the shed (not necessarily attached), hutch inside for shelter (5ft x 2ft x 2ft). On concrete or slabs, hosed down at the end of each day and hutch is swept out and replace bedding at each of each day (newspaper and thick layer of hay).
Buck Shed
9 hutches, all each 5ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high.
Total hutch space = 15ft long, 3ft deep and 6ft high.
Single bucks in each hutch (total of 9 bucks).
Doe Shed
9 hutches, all each 5ft long, 3ft deep and 2ft high.
Total hutch space = 15ft long, 3ft deep and 6ft high.
Single does in each hutch (total of 9 does)
Exercise Runs (for does and bucks)
All 5ft x 5ft runs OR 6ft x 4ft runs (totalling 24sqft - 25sqft), unattached to sheds, wire mesh with lids, all contain 3ft-4ft hutch inside for shelter.
DOES â 3 runs; first 3 out at 6am, second 3 out at 10am, third 3 out at 2pm, in by 6pm.
BUCKS - 3 runs; first 3 out at 6am, second 3 out at 10am, third 3 out at 2pm, in by 6pm.
Clean hutches whilst rabbits are out for exercise.
First 3 get cleaned at 6-7pm.
Second 3 get cleaned at lunchtime (12pm).
Third 3 get cleaned at 5-6pm.
Runs on slabs or concrete, get hosed down and faeces swept up at end of each day. Hutches inside runs swept out and replace bedding (newspaper and thin layer of hay) at end of each day. Litter trays replaced. Hay balls or hay racks replaced when emptied throughout the day.
Should I include more doe hutches than buck hutches? Should I have another shed with hutches for any youngsters that are unsold or that I keep? How realistic is it to run this type of set up?
