Starting to plan rabbit Colony: A Successful colony x2!

[samssimonsays]

Yes, what Hens said! Visual breaks and barriers is crusial which is why, with limited square footage, I needed to go up. I think they recommend like 10sqft per rabbit though? I am unsure on specifics...

 

[samssimonsays]

yesterday, thanks to my water pump blowing on my way to work I was able to find some time to add on to my colony cage. Here is to 4 levels for my three super happy girls. Eadda and Opheillia will be added when they are old enough to join in several weeks yet. Will hopefully start my second colony with a couple of my older does as well in the coming weeks. Have to get their cage fully ready before adding them so they can escape eachother easily.

Here is another veiw of the colony cage. I am still hopeful to add another grid in size outward making it 3x2x4 instead of 2x2x4

 

[samssimonsays]

I love the idea you posted! hmmm... maybe I will look into that for my outside pens...

 

[samssimonsays]

Well, it is nothing fancy by any means but I started a colony with a couple adults. 3 does and a buck actually. Funny story behind doe #3 being added to it actually....

She is in the top cage of my giant wooden, 3 level nesting cages and was in the process of taking a designated break before having another litter, her last litter is 11 weeks old and weaned at 7 weeks, I opened up the bottom nesting cage and used my playpen to fence around it along with a couple other gates for my buck and two does I desired to breed him to.... This morning, I found that doe #3 had managed to break the clasp on her cage and jumped down and into the colony.... So even though her father is the colony buck, I think that they will compliment each other nicely. I just hadn't wanted to breed a solid chestnut to a solid chestnut LOL. Everyone was happy and content this morning including the two bucks with whom I had left a doe each for in their cage with them last night as well. I am VERY tempted to ditch the cages all together aside from grow outs for rabbits I am selling and bucks and just make individual colonies for the does that will tolerate it. My two does were so content last night but they were also extremely laid back by nature.

I "hope" to have a cage with levels built for them as well.. I am highly debating taking one entire wall of my barn and making it leveled cages to be able to possibly start a couple colonies that way. I have enough does to do 5 colonies with 3 does per colony for 4 colonies, does permitting, and then my 5 Jr's in the last one. I will still have the cages on the other side for my Bucks, for sale rabbits and show rabbits before they get moved into the colonies if they are does.

 

[samssimonsays]

I now successfully have 2 colonies started. the 3 Jr. does in the one and 3 sr does and a buck in the other. My hopes are to start 2 more colonies once I make the pens for them.

with each day that the Sr. does in colony #2 live together, I see a dramatic difference in their personalities.

Evey: The once attention crazed rabbit is no longer frantic to get attention, no longer biting the door to her cage and much more relaxed in general.

Roxy: The once lazy rabbit who would purposefully lay herself in a position she could eat AND drink without getting up is more active and coming to see me when I walk into the barn as well as joining the others at meal time.

Honey: Who was my shy girl that would hide in the back corner of her cage and freak out if anything touched her is now relaxed and starting to interact with the other two girls as well as not bolt when I walk in.

And last but certainly not least is Charley: A buck but he is a sweetheart, he has been a struggle to keep weight on and he is always so mopey. He is now holding his weight well, grooming and tending to the ladies and loves his snuggles with them as well.

The Jr. does in colony #1 have surpassed the age I have ever been able to keep together without fighting and are still going strong as a colony. There is no scuffle during meals, no fighting when it comes to attention and most of all, they are all scrambling and pouring out of the door to see me when I come to say hi.

Things are currently in the works to create 4 large pens for colonies in the barn now that the temps have cooled down some and I can work with the door open and not worry about the barn getting too warm without the A/C on.

 

[samssimonsays]

I am not sure if it is easy to make out, the lighting was horrible in the barn as it was super gloomy out, but that is Honey far left, Evey in the middle with Charley draped over Evey grooming her. Roxy found the nest boxes I placed in there and was enjoying every last second of lounging in that. Last night I made a make shift colony set up for them to enjoy due to needing the area I had them penned in for our littlest goat, Olive.

 

[Smith360]

Hi! I can't believe I've found someone who does this! I'm attempting to raise holland lips and dutch colony style.

 

[samssimonsays]

Hi! I can't believe I've found someone who does this! I'm attempting to raise holland lips and dutch colony style.

How is it going? I'm just starting out and my french have been pills until this try of it. but now I have two going strong and hopefully I'll have three does per colony and 4 of them. I have 4 does who probably won't work on a colony due to their dominance but that's pretty good for numbers it's always nice to see others trying and hear their trials and successes along the way feel free to share your experience here.

 

[mikiz]

Bunny pile! They look so warm and snuggly.

Is there a difference so far in how much work a colony is compared to individual cages?

 

[samssimonsays]

Bunny pile! They look so warm and snuggly.

Is there a difference so far in how much work a colony is compared to individual cages?

So far, no. They litter box trained very quickly as the buck is litter box trained already so I will only have to clean the couple of litter boxes once a week or so depending on which ones they use more. The younger girls are all hay floors for now but my hopes are to have them fully litter trained as well as the other does in colonies. It is much easier to clean litter boxes than shovel in -20 or lower degree weather lol.