Feeders / nest boxes

[sandog001]

Looking for advise......

I am making out my order form for my cages from klubernatz... and they have 5 differant feeders to choose from, along with a bunch of different sizes....
so I am going to go with the screened back to let the fines fall thru but what size would you guys suggest that I get... I will be growing a large commercial rabbit.. still not set on which type yet... but I am positive it will not be a dwarf,small or giant breed....

also... what is a good size for a nest box... if I get the biggest one offered.... is that just as bad as if it were to small.....? I will probably not go with the solid steel box but look to find the screened nest box and use cardboard for the sides and bottom for every litter.... sanitation seems to play a big part in keeping these critters healthy...lol...

 

[AZ Rabbits]

Personally, I use 7.5" fine-x feeders for my does and 3.5" fine-x feeders for my bucks.

And for commercial meat rabbit types (NZ, Cali, Americans, Palominos, etc) you'll want the one around 10" wide x 10" high x 18" or 19" long (the length offered varies depending on where you get it). I think Klubertanz' boxes are 19" long. And yes, too big is just as bad as too small.

Good luck!

 

[sandog001]

any particular reason you use 2 different sizes between your does and bucks..?

 

[AZ Rabbits]

any particular reason you use 2 different sizes between your does and bucks..?

Yes. The buck's cages are smaller and they are limit fed so I like to take up less space. 3.5" is plenty big for them. The doe's cages are bigger and you also have to feed the young kits when they start eating so you have to be able to hold more feed. So the 7.5" feeders work well with them.

If you wanted to simplify, you could just get 7.5" feeders for everyone, particularly if your cages are all the same size. Then you could use the cages for whoever you want. My system is a little more specific to who goes where.

 

[secuono]

I use the 5in ones for all my rabbits, it holds two days worth of food. I'll have to refill them more than 1x a day once kits are eating solids, but rather do that than risk the does digging in a big feed bin.

 

[doubled]

My feeders are 7 1/2 wide cause when the kits start to eat pellets they and the Doe can go thru a full feeder in one day, I use solid bottom feeders, years ago when I started out I used the screen bottoms but it is so humid here that it allowed to much feed surface contact to moist air and the feed would cake up, so I changed to solids, once a week just have to push out the fines with your finger. Nests are the large ones 22 inch 11 wide from Klubertanz, 8 NZ kits and a Doe takes up alot of room, (need to make sure it fits thru your cage doors) never had a problem with too much room in a Doe Nest but to little can cause her to squish a kit. My Bucks don't need a nest, to warm for that here.