Facilities and Equipment

Borrowing money to build a large building for rabbit production is not recommended. By the time production problems have been solved and the facility is at full production, the producer is usually so far behind in payments that financial recovery is impossible. The prospective producer is recommended to remodel an existing building and start small. In this way the producer may be able to begin production with a minimum of borrowed capital and avoid a great deal of financial risk. The best type of rabbit building is a modular design which can be expanded as needed. The typical building investment will be $40-$60 per cage.

Self-cleaning, wire cages elevated 2 to 3 feet from the ground are the recommended method of housing rabbits. Cages may be constructed with wood frames, but this is generally not recommended as wire cages are longer lasting, easier to construct, and more sanitary.

Each cage has a nest box for protection of young rabbits. A satisfactory nest box is 12 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 18 inches long. One end of the box is cut down to 6 inches. Ample straw should be added to the nest box before the does give birth. Low-pressure automatic waterers are recommended as they will not spray rabbits as they drink, are more sanitary, and require less labor than water dishes. Feeders should hold enough feed for a doe and her litter for one day. To prevent contamination of food by manure, feeders should be mounted between 2.5 to 3.5 inches above the cage floor. If the producer assembles cages and nest boxes, he/she can expect to save 50 percent of cash construction costs over purchasing preassembled cages and boxes (provided the producer's labor is relatively inexpensive).

Recommended Space Requirements for Rabbits
Size of Rabbit Space Requirement
lbs. Sq. inches
3-5 180
6-8 360
9-11 540
12 or more 720 (24"x30")

Recommended Space Requirements for Nursing Does
Size of Rabbit Space Requirement
lbs. Sq. inches
3-5 576
6-8 720
9-11 864
12 or more 1,080 (30"x36")

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