Home Run Hoppers

Each rabbit gets their own individual hutch, all built by the Maine Cage Factory.  The hutches are raised off the ground for my convience and to to keep the rabbits out of the reach of neighborhood dogs.  All of the hutches are 4 feet long and 2 feet deep.  Each hutch as an indoor nest box, where the rabbits can get out of the wind and cold in the winter.  It also provides a nice area for does to have litters.  Inside each cage is a litter box for the rabbits to use as a bathroom.  In the winter, the hutches are moved to a field in my backyard where the rabbits can sun bathe almost all day.  In the summer, the hutches are moved up against the house or under a large cedar tree, so the rabbits can stay cool in the shade.

Hutches under a large cedar tree.

Due to their high energy levels and need for increased stimuli, the thriantas live in kennel style housing pictured below.  Each rabbit has their own waterproof hut and exercise run which is surrounded by a five foot fence.  The fencing also goes two feet below the ground so the rabbits can tunnel and burrow.  They spend most of their time digging tunnels and making underground nests.  They also enjoy standing watch from the tops of their huts.

I also have a few stacking cages in my house for does with litters in the winter.  It also makes a good infirmery and isolation area for rabbits under quaranteen.  All cages are 36" by 24" or 30" by 24".

All of the rabbits get turned out into exercise pens daily, weather permitting.  They either go out alone or friendly does and babies get turned out together.  This allows the rabbits to run, dig, graze, and just be rabbits.  It also allows them to socialize with other rabbits.  By observing the rabbits' behavior during turnout I am able to determine when does are receptive and hence have a high pregnancy rate when breeding.

Fun in the snow!