Prototype for my new grow out hutch design

Hi Everyone! I'm working on preparing the site for my new herd. This is the first time I've made a rabbit hutch. I plan to make four more of these, but thought I should run it by more experienced cuniculturists be fore starting the rest. I'll be picking up a buck, two does, and 12, 8 week old kits.

It's interior dimensions are 2'W x 6'L x 30" H. The bottom and ends are 14ga 1/2"x1" wire. The front, back, and top (under the plastic roof) are 1/2" hardware cloth.

I will be adding: J-feeder, Heated water bottle, Hay/grass feeder, (nesting boxes for does).

Also:

In the winter I will be adding sides.

I was planning on using this size for does, does with kits, and grow outs.

I'm planning a smaller size for the buck.

How many weened kits do you think this will hold?

I do not raise rabbits so I can't give you any advice on that end, but I wanted to commend you on such a clean looking build.

Well done.

Hi Larry! I've been raising meat rabbits for 4 years. I use bought cages that are 36"wide by 30"deep by 18"tall.
My breeders are 10-12lbs does and 8-9lbs bucks.

When I wean the kits, I sex them and put does in one pen and bucks in the other. My litters typically are 8-10 kits
so each cage will have anywhere from 3 to 8 kits. They can stay in them until they are not getting along or, if on
the higher end of that number, I will separate them in 3-4 weeks for more room.

I don't have any tractors or anything other than the cages so that is my system.

That is a lovely hutch. Your does will be thrilled. Are you getting a pair to start or a trio? If you are talking
about one litter at a time, that hutch should hold the weaned kits easily. Even if you do two litters at a time,
it will hold all of them at least for a while, possibly for the entire growout.

I have only had three different breeds that I have had more than one litter from. They differed in how
long the kits got along. It was why I didn't keep a trio of American Blue rabbits - I had to separate the kits
sooner than my Tamuk or Rex and they took longer to grow out. Just my experience.

Your bucks would be fine in half the space I think. That tall you could add shelves for the bucks or the kits.
I turn my nest boxes when the eyes open so the doe has a place to lay - at least for a few weeks.

I love to talk rabbits if I can be of any more help.

I should mention that I sell breeder rabbits from my stock.
That means I am probably more concerned about the "getting along"
than someone who doesn't. It would be just my luck that the
best looking kit gets a chunk torn out of an ear! That is actually
what happened with the Blues, they would chew on ears.
It wasn't chunks torn out but they looked raggedly and
wouldn't have been good for selling.