Rabbits in the Central Savannah River Area

Hey y'all,

I am starting an adventure into raising meat rabbits in the Southeastern USA. I have some supplies and will be building my hutch come this May. The area I live in gets very warm days, but does get some relief in the night time, so from my research on rabbit environs I can make this happen with underground access and cooling areas. My hutch will be entirely on the ground, as I had some rabbits injure themselves gravely growing up from falling off a platform in a 'rabbit-safe' commercial hutch. It will be in a cross shape, with nesting boxes/covered area at the peak, food/water area in the right arm, a cooling area with slate and marble flat stones in the left arm, and the main grazing run as the lower portion. Alternate/summer nesting options include two underground spaces, lined completely with stone pavers I have left over to prevent them from digging out, with a wooden roof and soil topping that with a PVC pipe (5-6" diameter) entering the spaces for easy rabbit access.( I will also most likely line this with faux turf or rubber to help the kits enter/exit) The mesh of the entire hutch will also extend into the ground about 1', mainly to keep coyotes out but also keep bunnies in. I may need to consider a secondary wire encasement, or electric fence in the future.

I do not like the idea of wire/mesh hutches, so that's a no go. I will also be feeding them a diet of 10/10/80 concentrate (cost wise this will be Manna Pro Select as it has the best nutritional spread and a good amount of fiber), forage which will consist of harvested weeds, tree limbs and other greens growing on the property, and the rest hay. I will start them on timothy or whatever the breeder last had them on, and try to convert them to local coastal grass, which we feed the horses and I can get in round bales. I would love to transfer them to all forage and self-made hay in the future, but I'm aware that their diets changing suddenly can be very bad for their health, so I will try this in time. They will also have access to mineral salt licks, and their lives will be supplemented with engaging wooden toys and scraps from my fooling around in the shop. I think its needless to say I am excited to get these little buggers!

Both the cooling and feeding area will have access to drip water bottles, and I have the capabilities to run electric out there for a fan or two. The whole design will be placed under the shade of cedar trees, and will still get good airflow. Still deciding the dimensions of the entire hutch, but I should be able to post a photo of the plan in the future. If anyone with experience would be willing to share some insight, tips/tricks on keeping rabbits in the heat, what breeds to start out with, any kind of knowledge that would classify as word of mouth or learned on job would be very appreciated. I'm no stranger to farming and the realities of keeping animals, but I am trying to do my best the first time around.

Thank you all for all you do, I am very grateful for any advice given.

Hi Arielle,

You're going to have some very lucky rabbits.

I'm in the Northeast, so no direct experience with meat rabbits in the heat, but I think you're on the right track with your plan for cooling. Rabbits can and will dig out, though. Make sure you have a plan for keeping them in. EDIT: I read it again, you have a plan lol

How many rabbits per enclosure are you planning on?

Hey Arielle,

I'm with you on raising animals on the ground. Those battery systems with animals living their entire lives on wire mesh really bothers me.

Raising rabbits in the heat is a challenge. I recently built an enclosure for Coturnix Quail but for a while I considered making it for rabbits instead.

I think the design would work for rabbits with some modifications.

First, I would run three courses of blocks for the perimeter to get a 24 inch soil depth and put non-climbable fence in the bottom to keep predators out and the rabbits in. Alternatively, a compacted gravel base would probably be enough of a deterrent



For the underground space I think a section of septic leaching chamber would work well. I would mound the earth up over the leaching chamber so you have a good foot of soil over top. From my anecdotal experience that should keep the space 10-15 degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature.



Looking forward to seeing what you do. Post lots of pictures.

   

do you mind if I ask what CSRA stands for?

I asked Google though what he answered did not sound like there was any association with rabbits.

Central States Rabbit Association maybe?

ARBA = The American Rabbit Breeders Association Inc

CRRBA = Cedar Rapids Rabbit Breeders Association

Our and I raised rabbits years ago when we had our homestead though I was not associated with any clubs except 4-H.

You might be interested in the pictures and ideas posted here:
https://permies.com/t/37273/Raising-rabbits-tropics

Different underground rabbit dens are presented.

Carmen Cullen wrote:

How many rabbits per enclosure are you planning on?

Thank you for your info Carmen,
I plan to start with a single buck and two does. I've heard some say 1:2 is a fine ratio, others 1:3 or even 1:4. Do you have any recommendations?

Anne Miller wrote:do you mind if I ask what CSRA stands for?

Hi Anne, thank you for asking. It stands for Central Savannah River Area, it is a location in the Southeastern US that has somewhat of a unique climate. It is very beautiful if you ever get the chance to visit!

Aaron Yarbrough wrote:
For the underground space I think a section of septic leaching chamber would work well. I would mound the earth up over the leaching chamber so you have a good foot of soil over top. From my anecdotal experience that should keep the space 10-15 degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature.

Thank you for your advice Aaron, I also used to keep quail, albeit with less experience and more casualties... They are such fun little birds!

Ive found septic tubing and chamber pieces at my local farm supply store so I ought to head over there and see what they have. Gravel would also be a good idea since they wont really be grazing on pasture grass. Just some clarification with the concrete blocks, would they be buried, or stacked like a retaining wall? I will do more research on what non-dig methods people offer, although some say that they won't dig if they are happy.

Thank you.

I have heard of that area, maybe have even passed through the area.

Arielle Goron wrote:
I've found septic tubing and chamber pieces at my local farm supply store so I ought to head over there and see what they have. Gravel would also be a good idea since they wont really be grazing on pasture grass. Just some clarification with the concrete blocks, would they be buried, or stacked like a retaining wall? I will do more research on what non-dig methods people offer, although some say that they won't dig if they are happy.

I think either would be fine. Buried would probably provide cooler ground temps but be more work. The gravel would just be the base akin to a foundation. I would have a couple feet of soil over the gravel.

I like to think that if an animal is happy it won't try to escape but I can't back that up with evidence.

Arielle Goron wrote:

Carmen Cullen wrote:

How many rabbits per enclosure are you planning on?

Thank you for your info Carmen,
I plan to start with a single buck and two does. I've heard some say 1:2 is a fine ratio, others 1:3 or even 1:4. Do you have any recommendations?

I would advise against cohousing bucks and does together. Rabbits tend to overbreed when left to their own devices. My operation keeps everyone of sexual maturity apart, and litters stay together.

Aaron Yarbrough wrote:
I like to think that if an animal is happy it won't try to escape but I can't back that up with evidence.

You'd think that, but I have had very happy rabbits escape. They can't resist ~being in the brush pile~

Maybe I should bring them some brush pile into their hutches