Breeding rabbits in the household is quite difficult: this is due to the high mortality of animals and the high demands on living conditions. In order to raise animals as profitable as possible, they must acquire housing in the form of rabbitry or small farms. Such dwellings are not cheap, so it is much more profitable to make a mini-farm for rabbits at home. In the article we will consider a description of their main types, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to make a mini-farm with your own hands.

Mini Farm Features

A mini-farm for rabbits is a small number of cells that are combined in one design. The main feature of mini-farms is the compactness of placement, so you can use the minimum amount of free space to accommodate a large number of rabbits.

The standard design covers an area of ​​no more than 2 square meters. m, but about 40 young animals can be placed in it.

The construction of a mini-farm can take place in stages: for example, if you have up to a dozen goals during the erection period, you can build only one tier, and in the future, in the process of increasing the number of individuals, proceed with the construction of the next tier.

If there is free space near the mini-farm, the cells are combined into a shed (building with a roof) - in this case, it is not necessary to transfer the mini-farms to the premises in the winter.

Often the queen cells, which are located in a separate part of the cages, are supplied with electric heating, which makes it possible to preserve the process of rabbit reproduction in the winter. Year-round breeding causes additional profit if animals are raised for sale.

The design of the mini-farm for breeding rabbits is constructed in such a way as to simplify home care. This applies to the presence of special containers that are designed for waste of rabbits, as well as the floor, installed at an angle so that the excrement gets into such containers.

Did you know? It is known that people were engaged in rabbit breeding more than 4 thousand years ago. This is confirmed by the remains of the first rabbit farms that archaeologists found in modern Spain.

Varieties of mini farms

Depending on the number of individuals that are planned to be maintained, the following types of mini-farms are distinguished:

1. Country. It is characterized by the presence of a small number of cells, so there is the possibility of placement in a small summer cottage. Such a farm is equipped with the necessary elements for simplified care, so that in case of a prolonged absence of the owner, the rabbits are provided with food, water, and waste products are independently transported to a special container. This type is not intended for winter outdoor maintenance, the structure is brought into the room when the onset of cold weather.
2. Decorative. It is necessary for keeping a minimum number of rabbits for decorative purposes. It is a small structure of one or two tiers with an attractive facade. Such a mini-farm is used for the summer street keeping of animals, for the winter it is moved to the room.
3. Household. Built in the form of a medium-sized structure with two tiers or more. There is the possibility of compact accommodation in a small territory of the personal plot. This design is often made very high quality, it is additionally insulated, equipped with heated water, so there is the possibility of keeping animals outdoors in winter.
4. Industrial. It is a large-sized design that allows you to place the maximum number of individuals. It has two or more tiers, equipped with all the necessary elements for easy care and a comfortable life for rabbits. It is used for summer and winter placement of animals without the need for additional rooms.

DIY farm for rabbits

When planning to breed rabbits at home, it is not necessary to purchase ready-made expensive mini-farms, it will be much cheaper to build a home with your own hands. Let us consider in stages the process of building a housing for rabbits.

Design and dimensioning

To build a mini-farm, you need to use a 2 by 2 m area. The main thing in the design process is not to forget about the features of placing a mini-farm on the territory.

The construction of housing for rabbits is recommended to be carried out away from living quarters, so as not to suffer from the unpleasant odor that comes from animals in the process of life.

The mini-farm is set so that the rear wall is located to the north, and the front to the south. One cell compartment should have the following dimensions: height - 50 cm, width - 70 cm, length - 150 cm.

Important! The number of compartments is independently regulated - depending on the number of individuals that will need to be provided with housing.

The design should consist of:

• stand, on which the main cells are placed. Also, a waste compartment, a drinking bowl and a feeder are attached to it;
• nesting compartment, which is intended for pregnant females;
• upper tier with separate uterine compartments;
• a waste collection container located under the cage.

Materials and tools for work

To build a mini-farm for rabbits, you need to stock up:

• plywood sheets;
• galvanized metal sheets;
• durable metal mesh;
• bars and planks of wood;
• roofing material for roof construction;
• paint;
• polystyrene foam;
• antiseptic (safe for animals) to produce wood;
• nails and screws;
• a hammer;
• screwdriver;
• hacksaw;
• scissors for metal.

Learn also how to independently make and equip a cage, a mother queen, an aviary, a house for a rabbit.

Production Phase

After you have decided on the appearance and size of the mini-farm, and also bought all the materials, it is recommended to proceed with the construction of the dwelling.

Building a mini-farm, having certain skills in working with wood and metal, is not difficult.

Consider the main stages of work, following which you will be able to build a quality housing for rabbits:

1. Initially, they begin to manufacture a common stand for the further delimitation of the space for the compartments. Make sure that the stand is very stable - the safety of the operation of the mini-farm will depend on this. For the construction of the stand using wooden bars (4 pieces), setting them in a vertical position. They are interconnected by short bars using nails and a hammer or self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
2. Next, build a framework for future cells. Depending on the type of compartments, their frame is made of the appropriate size: the content compartment is the largest, the walking compartment is 2 times smaller, the mother liquor is 3 times smaller than the storage compartment. The wooden structure is treated with an antiseptic.
3. Under the frame, a litter compartment is made of galvanized iron. For this, metal is measured and a sheet of appropriate sizes is cut with scissors. The litter container is made in the form of an inverted pyramid and placed at the bottom, between two compartments for the permanent stay of rabbits. Thus, for 2 cells of the lower tier and 2 cells of the upper tier, one litter compartment can be made.
4. Further, in the frame, floors are made for each cell separately. They are made of edged boards of the appropriate size. The floor is set at an angle of 45 ° to ensure unhindered movement of the litter in the container. The floor is not made solid: in the corner where the cage is in contact with the container for litter, a grid is installed with sufficiently large links through which waste will leave the cage.
5. Between each compartment for rabbits install partitions of metal or wood.
6. Separately, a mother liquor is built - so that it is possible to fully open the door inside the compartment. The walls of the mother liquor are insulated with foam, the floor is made solid.
7. A walking compartment is made in the back of the compartment for permanent residence of rabbits. For ease of erection, a mesh is pulled onto a metal stand, which forms a space for walking animals. Each walking compartment must be equipped with a feeder and a drinking bowl.
8. When constructing the upper tier, they are guided by the same recommendations as when performing the lower tier, but with one difference - the absence of a nesting compartment (mother liquor).
9. The finished frame is covered with plywood on top and painted to give the design an aesthetic appearance.
10. The upper tier can be covered with roofing material or slate. When building the roof, do not forget about the ventilation pipe. The roof is made at a slight slope so that excess water in the form of precipitation quickly leaves the surface.

Description of mini-farm designs

There are several popular designs that are commonly used by rabbit breeders to keep rabbits at home. Consider the description and drawings of the most famous of them.

Important! In order for the mini-farm to be durable wooden elements , they must be treated with special impregnation to protect against rot and insects.

According to the Mikhailov system

The keeping of rabbits according to the Mikhailov system is effective not only at home, but also on an industrial scale. Animals are kept outside, in sheds that do not have walls: they are composed of separate cages and have a gable roof. Each cell has an area of ​​1.4 square meters. m can accommodate at least 25 individuals.

The structure is erected in three tiers: two tiers (upper and lower) are designed to contain rabbits, and the central one is used to place the stand, which consists of 4 block stands. The upper tier is reserved for raising rabbits, and the lower tier is for feeding them.

The north side of the structure is completely covered with lining and insulated, while the south side is kept open for unhindered air and light into each compartment.

At the bottom of the structure, a metal grate is installed to collect litter in designated containers, which simplifies the care of animals and minimizes the amount of time for cleaning (no more than 20 minutes per week). The ceiling of such a mini-farm is made at an angle.

"Maklyak-6"

Mini-farm "Maklyak-6" is an improved facility for growing rabbits. The design of such a mini-farm is quite complex, but also very effective due to ease of maintenance and comfortable conditions for animals.

"Maklyak-6" is a building for street keeping animals. Owing to the unique modular design, the owner of such a mini-farm can independently change the purpose of any section (from the fodder to make the uterine, from the walking - combined, etc.).

The presence of heated drinkers makes it possible to not worry about the process of drinking rabbits during the cold season. The mini farm has an advanced waste management system that simplifies cell care. Each cell has an infrared heating of the mother liquor, which maintains the desired temperature in the compartments.

Did you know? Females of a rabbit have a bifurcated uterus, which allows you to carry 2 litters at once, which are conceived at different times and even from different males.

Thus, keeping rabbits at home is much more profitable when using mini-farms that you can purchase or make with your own hands. In order for the mini-farm to be built correctly, it is recommended to adhere to the main recommendations, which are described in detail in our article.