Posted: 1/17/2010 3:26:13 PM EDT
I house my layers and meat rabbits in a hoop structure with a gray tarp covering. The dimensions are 32'x14' x 12' tall. Enough room for seventy layers and twenty-four 30"x36" rabbit cages. During the summer the ends are only coverd by fence allowing ventilation. When the snow starts to fly we close in the north end and the majority of the south. The top on the south is left open to allow the water vapor to escape and prevent condensation.
The rabbit cages are suspended form the structure providing maximum floor space. The manure load is handled by using the deep litter system. I add a carbon source weekly to balance the heavy nitrogen load of the chickens and rabbit urine. I usually use wood chips but, any carbon will work (leaves, shredded paper, cardboard). I use about ten cubic yards each winter. The chickens continually scratch the surface mixing the manure and wood chips. The bedding composts generating heat and preventing the floor from capping unless temperatures stay in the low teens for an extended period. 
We feed the chickens layer mash and cracked corn. Grit and oyster shell are provided in a hopper, The rabbits are fed pellets and hay. 
We collect 15,000 eggs, 2,000 lbs (hopefully just starting to maximize breeding) of rabbits and 10 cubic yards of compost each year |
I gotta get new glasses. I read "lawyers and rabbits - deep litter system." WTH?? He's using dead lawyers for rabbit litter. 
Actually, I used to do something similar back in the '70s when I raised rabbits for sale. I had suspended cages and had about a foot or two of sawdust underneath the cages, which absorbed all the poo, urine, alfalfa pellets, and veg/greens they dropped. There was a man in my community that had a sawmill on his property who was happy for me to take as much sawdust as I wanted, so I always had plenty of it under the cages. Also had what I call a potato fork and would turn it up every week or so. That stuff was great for the garden. |
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Excellent set up and food for thought.
We dropped down to 36 rabbit cages in use for the winter, lowered that a little more yesterday (And topped off a freezer to boot) 
I use about 6-8" of saw dust under the rabbits, and we may strip it and replace once a year. Never had any odor issues with rabbits (chickens are another matter) Every few days we'll maybe get a fork of the worm laden mix under the cages (also suspended from wire) and toss it out to teh hens (they are in a separate spot) I don't see any water bottles: are you using a centralized system with nipples? Doubted it'd be warm enough there, but perhaps the deep litter system generates enough heat? We rarely have bottles freeze but one or two nights a year here, but this year has been a frozen pain: Couple weeks of extremely atypical weather had us carrying fresh bottles down every morning and every evening somedays, and at least every morning on the better days. Again, great setup and thanks for sharing! ETA: NOW I see the water bowls! Ice an issue up there? |
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I have never had any predators in the hoop house. I have had losses to owls, hawks, possum, coyotes, neighbor's dogs and raccoons on my free range broilers. I have built a pretty good natural barrier fence around my chicken areas and I run live traps year round.
Ice in the rabbit dishes suck. If it stays in the mid-twenties the dishes don't freeze solid. However, any colder and we have to bring a bucket of warm water from the house to thaw the dishes then refill twice a day. During the summer I run nipples piped off of a barrel. Chickens lay in the nesting boxes. In the picture I only have a five hole nest. I usally run a second but it is undergoing repairs The layers are 55 Red Sex-link and 15 Auracanna (wife likes the blue eggs) In the spring we will free range the chickens out of the barn. Eggs we sell for 2-3.50 a dozen depending whose buying and where. Rabbits we have started selling as fryers and dog food. Next year we will raise 500 broilers, 100 layers, 6 hogs and 500 rabbits on a few acres |
Very nice set up! A lot of production in a very limited space. Another idea to salt away for future reference. Not to mention low cost to build.
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Ribs, how long do you estimate it takes you each day for tending these animals?
You're doing deep litter.......how often do you do a complete cleanout of the structure? (We do deep litter with our 15 birds......clean the coop entirely about once a winter, twice a summer.) |
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Feral, I spend 10 minutes in the morning watering chickens and rabbits, 30 minutes if water dishes are frozen. I collect eggs, feed chickens, feed and water rabbits in the evening (30 minutes).
I clean the litter out in May each year. I put in a couple of feeder pigs in April to help loosen the material and make clean up easier. I then move the pigs to the garden and have them till the soil. I clean out the litter and move it to the garden when the pigs are done. Feed bill Chickens 15lbs of mash per day about $2.50 Rabbits 12lbs pellets per day about $3.25 |