'Pastured' rabbits?

[m-shadow13]

I don't like having my rabbits in cages --> I don't like the way they act, weight-gain performance, nor that they just don't seem content. I have heard of rabbits being raised on pasture in the same mode as the Joe Salatin "pastured poultry" system. I'd like to come up with a similar system, but with modifications... does anyone know much about this? Or where to find information? I'd prefer an internet source, but any books will help, although I won't be able to budget for them 'til mid-summer. If I use electric netting, how many joules are needed? I thought that the domestic rabbit is descended from the European hare & thus a burrower? Any input will be appreciated, and thank you.

[Little Farmer Debi]

I once had a friend that just let his rabbits loose in his pasture and they stayed around for a really long time, like years.
he couldn't catch them though.

[Veesha]

Hi, I believe this is referred to as "rabbit colony" raising system. You may be able to find lots more info on it using that term. I plan on doing that eventually also. Right now we live on the river until our house is ready in September. and there are just too many prey birds to contend with. Also, I am getting a LGD in May that I will put in with the goats and near the rabbits, hoping she will bond to the rabbits as well as the goats.

[GoatTalker]

We had ours in the same pen with the geese on the side of a hill, and they did great. The only draw back was the neighborhood cats, they would see the young bunnys come out of the den, and the would swoop down and have bunny snack. We of course could not catch the rabbits.

[m-shadow13]

That's just it: I need a system that's conducive to actually handling the rabbits, yet enables them to have the benefits of pasture. A tarp or low "run-in" shelter would deter flying predators, and electric netting, the cats/coyotes/etc. --> but do they need seperate minerals on pasture? Designing a breeding/birthing system, etc. is needed, too. I haven't ever figured out how to filter out the 10,000 hits you get on any search online, but will try the suggested 'colony' search. What did you all use for shelters?

[GoatTalker]

Ours dug burrows, and trust me, you would need a bulldozer to get into those holes to catch a rabbit.

http://rabbitgeek.com/articles/clny_valerie.html

[GoatTech]

All rabbits burrow.
Your best bet is to cage them, or put them in a protected stall and then let them out to pasture for a period of supervised time each day. A cage system similar to chickens(with better wire and a wire roof) with fence put a few feet underground.
Don't use electric around the rabbits, they would likely freak out and have a heart attack or break their backs.
When caging in groups, you still have to remove the bucks and house them separate,..and if allowing many females, your looking at a HUGE stall and lots of pasture.
A single small colony in the wild travels up to around 5 miles as a normal habitat range....without that range, they can fight,....and success would be very limited....

[m-shadow13]

Interesting comments - thank you, all. I remember reading an article about Joel Salatin's pastured poultry model, and it made a brief mention that he also used a similar arrangement on rabbits - showed a not-very-clear picture, and it appeared to be the same type of roofed, portable pen he uses on birds... can't find any other info about it, but am wondering: do you think with moving it every day, it would keep the rabbits from burrowing? What about the idea of individual pens for each buck, also? I need to figure something out, because it just doesn't sit well with me, having them in small confinement systems {cages} from birth to butchering. I'm hoping someone here has already had experience at this; if not, I'll have to invent a system.

[GoatTech]

Robert,
You can try portable pens to keep things new; that may help "curb" the burrowing, but I don't think you can guarantee that they won't try. I would also place a box inside each pen to allow the rabbit to hide/keep cool. That would also help curb the desire.
Anyone I have ever known to have outside pens, would just let them out for a short amount of time, then bring them back in.
Rabbits burrow to keep cool, to build a home, and does will dig a new one every time she goes to delivery. So, the instinct to burrow is pretty strong.
Yes, you'll have to have a pen for each buck. You want to keep track of your breeding's and which does get bred to whom. If you let bucks run with the does, you'll risk disaster.

[m-shadow13]

Yeah, Goattech, it's about what I figured; I'd take the doe out that I wanted to breed, breed her, then move her to a more restricted set-up (like a cage, then). Anyone have any ideas on how large a port-a-pen for 'x' number of rabbits? As with the poultry, I'd expect to move the pens each day or two.
Oh, and the electric netting: sorry for not being clearer on that = I was thinking as a perimeter fence around that section of pasture - outside of the pens, themselves {no possible contact w/ the rabbits unless they escaped} --> to keep the four-legged varmints at a distance. Do you think having half the pen roofed over (solid), with the other half cage wire would suffice for cool shelter? (again, a la Salatin's pens). I want to thank you all for your comments - they help a lot.

[GoatTech]

Yes, half the pen roofed over would be good for shade. I would also have little boxes inside, rabbits like to hide.

[m-shadow13]

Goattech: Yeah, I just haven't figured out what they might hide from... let's see so far; I open the cage door w/ my usual kiss-kiss noise & they climb all over each other to be first for their scratchings & treats... Nell "the Wonder Dog" ( I introduced her to you all last year) sleeps under their cages & they like to nibble on her ears - and she just lets them... 'Tanglefoot' the stray kitten who took over Nell's doghouse likes to sleep on top of the rabbit cages - and after one loud hiss & a "NO!!" & squirt from a squirtgun, she just ignores them... oh, and when the escapee from the 4 goats I moved two days ago tried to raid their feedboxes... only one of the younger rabbits ducked in his box... so I guess I'll just have to take your word on that!!   

[GoatTech]

Hiding is just a normal rabbit behavior.

[m-shadow13]

G-Tech; That's just my point = my rabbits aren't "normal"... whatever that is! 

[GoatTech]

  I believe ya Robert!!!
But honestly, if you put them outside to play, they may really appreciate a box. They would feel like they have more protection(whether they use it or not) and may thrive better for you.

[m-shadow13]

GT2 (Goattalker is GT1, for me, since I "met" her first) = I am going to follow your advise about the boxes - I was just having a bit of fun about my 'slightly weird' rabbits. Actually, my best buck is named "Robert Rabbit" --> named by a little girl who was home sick from scholl when I was chatting w/ her momma online, so she got to name him {she had no idea what my name was, 'cept for "Farmer Pirate"}. She says that he's Roger Rabbit's little brother.  I guess he's the one that never made it to Hollywood.

[GoatTech]

*wink*