Creating a Natural Rabbit Colony | Bunny Barn & Habitat
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- čas přidán 18. 09. 2022
- Rabbits Bunny Colony homestead Rabbitat Bunnies Rabbit house habitat Canadian nature.
This is a continuation of the bunny barn and rabbitat build. In this episode I build the run and habitat area. We also get all the rabbits moved into their new digs. #rabbits #bunny #rabbitcolony #homestead
SUBSCRIBE and help support the channel. And don't forget to drop a comment. It helps us to build this channel into something special. We're transforming this 90 acre property into a self reliant homestead and farm stay vacation rental. We're building infrastructure to accomodate future growth such as barns, duck house, 7 coop chicken house, water hydrants, planting an orchard, building a garden etc. Chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, barn cats and two old english sheepdogs make up our team here at the farm. Please follow along on our journey of transforming this place into something special.
![Why We Broke Up Our Rabbit Colony [Lessons Learned and New Strategy]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hBRF12-dCGs/mqdefault.jpg)
I was so happy to see an actual enclosure for them! So many people think it's ok to keep them in small cages just because you *can* it doesn't mean you *should*.
I raise quail for meat and eggs, but I want their life to be the best that I can provide. I've seen so many stacking cages and stuff promoted as humane for them when it is no better than the battery cages in big farms.
I live in an urban place so while I can't have as large of an area as you have I built a good size run and connected hutches. I want them to have the best life they can while here, so I do my best to always give cuttings from garden for enrichment and even started raising mealworms for treats for them.
We need to be stewards of our animals, not the jail keepers. Giving them a semblance of what they would have had in the wild is owed to them imo. Your rabbit barn is amazing!!!
Thanks so much. In my opinion you have the right attitude. You’re doing it right. I wanna see them able to hop around a bit not just sitting in a cage ✌️ 😊🐰
Hi there, new subscriber here. My bunny Shroom who is at least 9.5 years old has completely lost his mobility in the hind legs, and tomorrow we will have to put him down and I have been a sobbing mess for weeks. My husband found your channel today while I did laundry next to Shroom lying down on a soft blanket. Watching all of your rabbitat videos gave me great solace and hope. It was heartwarming seeing someone so compassionate towards giving the rabbits a good life, and going the extra mile to make all of this awesome set up. While it’s the most painful thing I will have to do tomorrow, I hope you know your kindness touched both my rabbit and I deeply. I hope you have an infinitely blessed life, Sir.
Thank u for the kind words, it means a lot. So sorry you have to go through that with Shroom, but I’m sure he’s lived a great life you’ve provided. It’s a tough thing to lose a friend, my recent video is telling the story of losing my barn cat Chewie, it hurts. You take care ok.
@@HiddenSpringFarmThank you so much. Shroom has left us in peace, but we’ve adopted another little guy so his bond mate wouldn’t be lonely and depressed. I hope one day we can have a homestead like yours and I get to rescue and raise more bunnies ❤
Wow! I never would have thought to make tunnels so the rabbits can feel like they're in the wild. Really neat!
I was searching "bunny barn" to get inspiration for something I might want to do someday and your video was the ONLY ONE so far that was not outright neglect and abuse. Not only that but you went above and beyond with care and their pen. It is incredibly impressive, you did such a beautiful job. You've got some very happy buns.
Thanks so much, yes we try to give all our critters their best life. Hope this gave u some ideas anyway. The rabbits are already digging all over the place, they’ll learn quickly they can only get to the wire then stop. Appreciate the feedback. Chad.
Same! I was finding cages built consistently cause "that's easy" but learning agriculture and biology for 8 years straight moved something in my brain :D Animals don't really want to spend their life in a bucket size habitat just because it's easy for me :D
I moved to my new house 2 month ago and my first thing I did was to change all the environment and materials for the animals that were left there for me. 2 month of work...a lot to go still, but these videos were a HUGE help.
No matter the university, the books, the "smart" people... they put money first. This is the true knowledge we need, and the people we need to thrive and live how we supposed to.
Thank you Hidden Spring Farm for sharing this mentality and showing us the hard work aswell.
Better lessons than all of my years spent learning all the wrong things!
Greetings from Hungary :P
As a bunny lover, I appreciate this sooo much!
I Appreciate you saying that. I want these buns to live somewhat free but still protected. I'm enjoying the rabbit experience so far and they provide our garden with lots of odourless manure. Chad.
arent these for eating
I just had my first year of garden explosion from about 500 pounds of rabbit poop. It works great.
This is absolutely amazing, these bunnies are so lucky! Not going to lie when I seen the words “rabbit colony” I instantly though they’re gonna be kept in tiny cages, but so happy I was proved wrong!
Yeah I don’t care for the cage method. I want these buns to live a happy full fun life and be able to run about.
Very thought out .nice habitat.
Thankyou for sharing.
Rabbits, love cardboard boxes put some cardboard boxes in there. They love to chew them make holes make little tunnels jump on them. Jotham hide from each other play with each other. Also, the cardboard rolls in the center of toilet paper and paper towels. They love to toss those around and she want them, I don’t think they eat it
What a great habitat ❤
We raised Rabbits, for 10+yrs. I adore them!
FYI: regular cooking oil for ear mites…honestly, a few drops, enough to cover the crusty. It will all fall out, mites included, in 2-days.😊
Wow just cooking oil? Someone told me tea tree oil so I bought a small jar. I’ll switch to cooking oil when it’s gone. Question though…do u apply it regularly? Or only when you see it starting to flare up in the ears?
@@HiddenSpringFarm
We only applied it when we saw them, flare up…tried to catch it early.
But, I’m sure you could put a few drops, once a month and it wouldn’t hurt
It really works! Old German Lady taught us that trick❤️
We would, also, sprinkle just a touch of garlic powder on some food once a month to help de-worm them. But, sometimes they’ll eat it, sometimes they won’t. I was informed only a piece of pine wood would do the same thing…who knew.
I’m getting back into bunnies again…that’s how I found your Channel. Thanks! That habitat truly is amazing ❤️
Oh, you probably already know this…but it’s a great selling point
Bunnies, are super easy to litter box train.
@@HiddenSpringFarm tea tree essential oil is amazing for getting rid of fungus/bugs/etc. on the skin, but it's very concentrated and should be diluted first -- so it would probably work great if you mix a few drops into the cooking oil! I think the rule of thumb is 1 drop EO for every 1 tbsp of carrier oil.
OMG hands down you're the hardest working person I know 😁. Glad you mentioned the ear mites because I think my kitty might have some, time for a vet visit. Now you got me wanting rabbits 🐇
Aww shucks. I do like keeping myself busy lol 😜 the Revolution meds started working right away…the next day it had cleared up a lot.
Just put a few drops of olive oil in their ears and massage. It takes care of them and works quick!! No poisons :)
the rabbit area is wonderful. Thank you for caring.
I absolutely love this!!!!❤
Aww thanks 🙏
Beautiful....great job!!!!
Beautifull built!
Amazing build
Wow! I'm so impressed ❤
Aww thanks
You are so creative, like what you do. Nice shelter.
😃
That is a nice cage. Its huge. The bunnies can hop around.
Looks Awsome
Love it! You give me ideas with the tubes and such.
Well I wanted something that would imitate a burrow since I don’t want them to be able to actually dig. Lots of hiding spots too.
The bunny barn turned out amazing! Loved watching them explore their new space. And filthy Olive made me laugh out loud 😂 That revolution is good stuff, I use that on my cats too.
Oh that day was so bad, too much rain. Molly & Olive took overnite and into the next day to dry out...our house was like a beach with all the sand. The revolution started working right away and the ear is looking much better.
Once again - as with the Chalet du Poulet - and all your buildings - you went above and beyond to insure the animals had a home and not just a place!!! Impressive-awesome-creative-inspirational and honorable! They get to live in comfort!!! Thanks for being “you” ❤️🐼💜
Glad you enjoyed it. It’s been a joy to get to this point. Only a few downs, mostly ups. Good times. 😊
Well done
Happy rabbits!
The farm is coming along😎❤️
Yup another project is almost complete...Now I have the chicken house and bunny barn both almost complete lol. If I only had another me lol.
All. Of their dreams have come true!!🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇 and then some. Amazing brain work Chad! It’s such a joy to see how much you love and treasure your growing family! Dr. Doolittle lives 💝🙋♀️😎🤗
Wow, thank you! Sometimes I do think the animals understand me lol.
Those are some lucky bunnies. What a fantastic space :)
Thank you! 😊
Good job! I love the design!
I so love to watch you work on the animal houses. It's so interesting and and I'm sure inspiring. I whish my friends and family spoķe English so I could share with them.
AMAZING 😆😆😆👍👍👍
The best EVER....i have seen 👍👍👍😊😊
🇦🇹🙋♀️
I love it
😎
LOL @ 5:34 Dexter COOL CAT on COOL TIN ROOF 🤣 Now you have to watch out for Elmer Fudd. He be hunting rabbits .🤣 Great job on the rabbitat 👍👍👍Thank you for sharing. Be safe 🇨🇦
yeah he is pretty awesome...the rabbits just seem so chill in their new space, I think they like feeling the breeze.
"Cool Tin Roof" 😂 thats funny !
Oh Sir. Pour a few drops of warm olive oil in their ears, once a day. You will see the disappear after the second treatment...HONESTLY!!!
MY family raised Rabbits for YEARS AND YEARS.
Save yourself some $$$ and heartache.
Have a beautiful day...hug the Bunnies 😊
You have inspired me!! Gonna start mine next week!😊
Have fun!
Lucky bunnies
14:57 bunny approval : (the way it lays down) 👍👍👍👍
YES!!
Wow, this is awesome. I want to do some sort of smaller version at my school.
Thanks. I’m sure u can do it. It’s not easy but well worth it and our rabbits are loving it so far.
5:34 That is no way to speak to the code enforcement officer 😂
Haha yeah Dexter he’s just so cool
Great video! I'm looking to have pet angora rabbits for fiber and poop and was looking for outdoor rabbit house ideas. Thanks for the inspiration! ❤❤❤
Angoras are beautiful
I have a 12x16 barn I bilt for my business with a 3 room 4x4 on the walls for the 3 bucks and all the female out running around love it I even hang out with them lol here from Canada 🇨🇦 just subscribe to your page I love it
Sounds like a great setup 👌
@HiddenSpringFarm yea I love bunnies 🐰 makes me happy
That's a good job, well done. You might want to consider a grow out space for your baby bucks for after they've weaned, up to harvest/sale time. They'll breed their mother/sisters very young.
Do you have any condensation issues with your Rabbitry Center style burrows?
Too late I already had an issue with the younger bucks, I’ll need a small pen to keep them divided. And yes there is condensation in the burrows as well as urine odours, I drilled a few holes in the sides hoping that would help but they haven’t used it yet.
Coconutoil with tea tree oil in the ears. Workz good
Good to know!
Your bunny barn looks better than my apartment
Haha nah
That is a bunny Taj Mahal!
Still rockin chad.🐸🍺🔪🔥
Yeeaahh boooy!!! Right on Johnny 🍻
they can still dig out. I've done runs like this but have cement poured 6 feet deep on all sides and the bottom. like a swimming pool. then we put a lot of good dirt/top soil to fill.
Really? They can dig thru 14 gauge fencing? I sure hope not.
@@HiddenSpringFarm i must have missed that part of the video. good stuff.
We will never have rabbits at our farm. Rabbits have a very bad reputation in Australia. However we see hares. They are very gentle and do not seem to cause the massive problems rabbits have caused.
Yeah I have heard of a few very invasive species down under... We saw on the news once somewhere down there was being overrun with mice or rats.
Dogs also can get ear mites.
Omg are you single??? Lol this is awesome.
Haha nope! 😜
You do sooo much work❗️ does your wife help with the vegetable garden or other chores❓
Aww thnx, the things to do never end. My Darlin is more of a summer person, she handles the garden (well I build it lol) She's uneasy on camera, but I get her in some videos throughout the year. Hoping for a big harvest again this year.
Would you please do a followup video on what worked and what you would do differently?
I’ll be doing some Amendments, hopefully this summer so I’ll talk about it in that episode.
❤ no chemicals, for the fur babies. And works FASTER.
PLEASE, try it just once. You'll see I'm not misleading you.❤🐇🐇🐇
Im not a vet or anything but from what i understand... u need ivermectin for the ear mites... revolution is for fleas and other bugs... ivermectin will clear up those ear mites in like 2 days... and yes its very painful for her so if possible maybe ask your vet about ivermectin... just trying to be helpful...oh and i LOVE that new habitat u built for them!! Wonderful set up!!!
Thank you. I don’t know about this much either but my vet is the one who prescribed the revolution and it cleared it up in a few days too. All the scabbing on their ears is actually the mite feces building up. Gross eh. It was gone in a day or two. A commenter also said try tea tree oil or baby oil in the ears as a preventative measure although I haven’t tried it yet.
I love this set up. However I don't think I will put a roof over the courtyard area. I want mine open to the sun so grass will grow.
I guess my thought was in winter time they can’t go out cause the snow is too high. I thought about them digging up all the grass too. Or maybe a half covered area could work. But you can build it with no roof too just make sure to use a hardware cloth roof in case you have predator issues.
@@HiddenSpringFarm didn't think about the snow 😄 I think partly covered and part open is a great idea! Well done on your build. It looks fantastic!
What kind of pellets do you recommend??
That dog is having so much fun at dirty dog is having fun. Like a dirty kid is having fun they can always get Bass the clean them up I'm new on here interested in New Zealand rabbits and California rabbits for breeding for meat selling and permaculture. I want a greenhouse with a good garden. Mom is he on Dad's profile he and Mom are in the spirit world now helping me out along with all you CZcams people that help me out love Mama Z new on here
You got that right!
@@HiddenSpringFarm pretty awesome 😎
That burrow habitat was exactly what I'd been trying to envision for a while. Thank you so much that is so awesome!
Just curious, did you leave the top of the tote available to open in case of wellness-check or did you cover it with something else later?
I did cover it with some green rug but it disintegrated. Now it’s all exposed but I used the kind that has a hinged lid so I can open it, check in on babies and clean out. I want to make some improvements this summer to make it a bit nicer too.
@@HiddenSpringFarm Awesome! I'll be looking for that!
I wonder if a planter tray of live grass on top would be worth the effort of watering it and having to move it to get inside.
I'm not certain, but I think you need to clean out the animal's ears as well as applying the stuff to get rid of the ear mites.
❤ absolutely amazing.
One thing..can the male jump over to the female?
He hasn't yet. I thought too that maybe they could climb the fence, but he hasn't yet also. I was fully prepared to fence all the way up but so far I haven't needed to.
I was wondering if you had any videos showing how you get the poop from the run to the garden. We just built a run and I’m trying to figure out the best way without getting a ton of hay with it! If that makes sense ha or do I just put the hay in the garden too
I don’t keep any hay or straw on the ground or floor for this reason. I don’t want all that straw in my garden. I just use a shovel and a bucket. I’ve been contemplating covering the entire run with green outdoor carpet to be able to sweep it and the urine will just flow through.
On the inside of the barn people always tell me they need straw but I don’t use it cause how can it be separated from the poop. I treated the plywood floor when building it and have many videos talking about this pilot test of no straw. I’ve also used a small shop vac to see if it can just suck the poop balls and not the straw but it just clogs the hose too much and I get frustrated. People also say use a litter box which I’ve done but they just end up going anywhere they want anyway and the box becomes useless. Fun times in the bunny barn 😊
Question, how much did your set up-how you have it set up cost you in total? Material wise. Thank you!
Well a lot of what I used I already had in stock so it would be last years prices, but I spent over 5k for sure. Lotsa fun to build too.
What diameter pipe did you use for the burrow and what type of pipe was it?
Oh I think it’s called weeping drain and it’s a 6 inch. They love them too, we recently had a new litter and the mama used the fake burrow to kindle. It worked great and the new babies are always using them and running around.
Do you have to apply for a building permit to build something that big on your property? I know some states require a lot of government involvement before building. P.S I live in America Toledo, Ohio.
That is a good question. I know different states do different things. I hate that you have to ask to build on your own property at all but I can also understand wanting to ensure sound structures since most people eventually move away and the structures stay for the next people who have no clue if it's safe.
You can use baby oil for mites just put it in the er that has mites
Does that really work? Thanks if it does. So what you just rub a bit onto the inside of the ear or do you try to get it right down in the ear? I think these bunnies still have the mites it's just not flaring up. Still need to work on a solution without costing hundreds at the vet.
@@HiddenSpringFarm I use a mix of tea tree oil and baby oil and, yes, it does work but you have to be diligent and treat all of them at the same time for a couple of weeks to make sure you kill off the mite eggs as well.
Your set-up is awesome but I'm afraid your buck will jump the fence to get into the ladies' run.
@@HiddenSpringFarm make sure you disclose to anyone purchasing they were treated with revolution if you're selling this batch, many dont want buns who have had medications. but yes tto and baby oil does work.
Ivermectin might be the best bet at this point her ears look really bad. Topical sold on Ts
Hi, very interesting video. I've been breeding rabbits for years in cages (for meat and manure), but now due to ethical and practical reasons I really would like to shift to enclosure breeding. I've got a question, now of course my rabbits are all separated each one in its own cage, I am considering to let them free all in the same enclosure (1 male and 3 females), you've made up your mind to segregate the buck. Can you tell me why ? is it dangerous for the does or the kittens to be with it full time ? or is it for timing and birth control ? Many thanks in advance.
It’s just cause I don’t want new litters all the time, if you were raising as meat it would be fine. I want to control when they breed and with which doe. I think it would be fine to have them live together though. I do have a bad experience with keeping more than one buck though as they fought and 2 died so I’m back to just one buck.
You put a roof on the run.
Never seen that before
Yup I don’t really want muddy rabbits plus I go in there to clean up, hard when it’s full of snow.
No roof would make it too easy for predatory animals to get the rabbits.
@@anasazirose all the runs I’ve seen previously have wire mesh tops to stop predators getting in.
I like the rabbitat just never seen something like that before.
You can come to my house and build my buns an awesome barn!!
(Buns) short for bunnies!❤
Are you going to be planting grass for them in the yard area?
Yes I was thinking a mixture of shade grass and clover and see how it fares.
Their reply isn't showing :(
Hi, will the rabbits poop in one spot in the cages? Or will it be all over the pens? Also, do they poop in the plastic totes?
Actually these rabbits poop anywhere they feel like it…sometimes even on top of the totes. I do have one cage that I built but only use it for quarantine, they just run free in their pen. I’m gonna try something though, I just picked up a small shop vac and I plan to just keep it in there and suck up all their poop balls. Then get it to the compost pile or garden. The shop vac idea will just allow me to stand straight up and use the hose. I have heard of rabbits learning to use litter boxes but I wasn’t successful.
@@HiddenSpringFarm ok, I was wondering because of composting the poop. It looks like a lot of area to keep clean.
Hold the phone. None of them are spayed and you got them to not murder each other going out in the pen!?
Do you offer your building plans for your bunny barn?!
No sorry I just built it from my head 😬
Did you know that a rabbit can die from a heart attack, if it gets too frightened? Had a zoo keeper tell me this information!
Bunnies go wild running free in at much space and don't handled them be cause free all much you will bit you and kick
iv had happen me and hurt badly
They have become a bit standoffish, but they never bite. They'll come up to me and sniff my hand and then hop away. I do try to handle the babies often too. They fight more with each other than with me. We recently lost my breeding buck cause I put his 2 sons in with him as I didn't want them to impregnate any does, but after a few days he was stiff almost as if paralyzed. Maybe stress? but he seemed healthy otherwise so I won't make that mistake again in case that was the reason.
Why ?
If you don't raise them for meat could you instead rescue rabbits from shelters instead of breeding more? Especially around Easter so many end up there. They would get a good life and you'd enjoy the compost. It would be quite a bit more ethical than breeding more unnecessarily. I understand if you can't because some places charge for adoptions but perhaps there is a rescue group who if shown your setup would happily waive any fees to get them to a good home like this. So many people would be happy to see rescue rabbits get a place like your amazing barn.
I’m not against it. Thing is that these guys are Californian rabbits and traditionally a meat breed. There are people who search for the breed specifically and we can fill that void. They are double coated too and are very cold tolerant, not sure about random rescues or their pedigree. Never say never though cause it may work out. And it’s true the humane societies here charge a good amount, it’s like over $200 just for a cat. They all come spade & neutered though too that’s why the cost.
Do you raise bunnies for a reason? Or is this just a hobby?
Well we use the manure in our gardens, and they’re fun.
You don’t eat them and feed the dogs???? Who does that fit manure 😂😂😂😂
Well we host farm stay guests here at the farm so the housings are built to be interactive.