How to build and maintain the ultimate rabbit colony
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Have you asked these questions: how to build a rabbit colony? How to raise rabbits? How to build a nest box? How to raise meat rabbits?  how to grow New Zealand bunnies? Then this video is for you! We have tried it all, and are ready to share our successes, as well as so many mistakes! In this video, you will learn how to make an insulated nest box which will help the production of your rabbit colony in the heat, and in the cold!
Also join us on the Manti Homestead as we show the continued success of our year-round, offgrid Greenhouse. If you’re interested in building a greenhouse, please check out our playlist on our unique greenhouse design.
![Why We Broke Up Our Rabbit Colony [Lessons Learned and New Strategy]](/img/n.gif)
If you enjoyed this video, go to my meat rabbit playlist, and go, watch the other video as well. It might be a little bit better overview of my colony. You have to do a little searching, but I hope you like it!
Thank you for this video, it is very good. Thank you for being honest about mistakes or us novice won't learn the things we need to know. Please keep making videos this is I think 9 months after you made your video and you just got a new subscriber.
Thank you so much! I’ll release a little short video on the rabbits tonight. I think you might enjoy. Thank you for the comment!
This is one of the best setups I've seen. Great for cold climates.
Thanks!!!
I'm so appreciative of all the rabbit-raising homesteaders who share their knowledge and expertise with us - you included. I'm researching before I even buy a trio to make the critical decisions with my eyes wide open. So far, I'm leaning toward colony raising because of the reasons you mentioned, and because we aren't going to have more than three does, so I'm hopeful that it doesn't get too crazy. One question I do have that seems to be a hot topic right now is the rabbit virus that has been going around. I think I understand that your setup doesn't expose the bunnies to dirt or grass that other rabbits have potentially infected with the virus, but have you any wisdom regarding this topic that you can share? Thanks in advance, and I really love your setup - especially the cooler nests. 🙂
They are closer to the soil, so that could be a concern! I’m really careful on bringing any other genetics from an outside farm to my Homestead. We’ve even had our back up buck for over a year.
@@mantihomestead thank you so much! On my property, I have loads of wild bunnies. I'm only using 1 side of my 2 car garage, and am considering creating an indoor colony in the other half. The garage is climate controlled, and I could lift the garage door on that side, which faces east, each morning for natural light. Thoughts?
I love your setup! I'd given up on the idea of rabbits because I don't like them being isolated in cages. Now I know there's a better option.
I think you are going to love this system! It works well for us!
That is a great idea, setting up the pipe and coolers for your rabbits! You have a lot of good ideas!
Yes, please do a video on how you made the hutches in more detail. Thanks for sharing.
I will do that! I have a whole bunch of baby rabbits I need to show off anyway. If you think of anything in particular you want to see, let me know and I’ll get that video made.
thanks so much. Mostly a how to video so I can build my own! Love that they are insulated, we are in Canada and it gets to -55C here and I like that it helps regulate temperature for them.
Great stuff! The coolers were definitely brilliant! Was thinking of building insulated boxes but pre-made coolers are the way to go; easy to clean, waterproof, and already built! Thanks!
You bet! I hope it helps.
For safety drill a drain hole in the bottom of each ice chest.
Each his own ,you seem to care about your bunnies , love the lawn clippings and shoveling them up for the garden i appreciate your video so we can all pick and choose what works for us keep it yup 😊
So nice of you, thanks for watching!
i have been wanting to do a rabbit colony, but haven't liked the way the nesting boxes were set up. but your set up seems much better. i really like it. some do them with buckets or totes, but the coolers solve more than one problem. thanks for the video.
Awesome! Good luck!!
@@mantihomestead Don't they chew on the strfom?
Thanks for the ideas, I really plan to utilize your suggestions in my own colony set up soon. (Controlled Burrowing). The benefits of climate relief without the harsh reality of burrow collapse leading to kit deaths. Do you know if your cooler idea is definitely better than just a couple entry/exit tubes leading to a large underground, insulated area like yours except instead of individual coolers place common nest boxes with open tops where you could view all nest compartments at the same time while opening the outdoor access hatch?
I don’t know for sure. If it was insulated underground, then I think you would be creating a very similar environment. I’m sure that would work great. Having easy access to view the nest boxes would be key either way. Best of luck! Sounds like you’ve got a great idea going.
I think viewing all of the nest boxes at the same time can be risky. When closing, there’s a higher chance of squishing somebody who might try to escape out the top when spooked. Also, seems like if all were open at once, it may be harder to keep track of all of them And some might just hop out in general. Just a thought
Perfect setup colony!
Thank you so much! We have had so many baby rabbits, this winter!
the insulated boxes is a brilliant concept.
Thanks! They have been so successful
I love this idea.. I'm in need of repairing/rebuilding my 3 hutches and I been looking for a better style of housing for both my and their overall benefit. Thank you so much for sharing.
You are sure welcome! I am good friends with the Provident preppers, they also made a rabbit colony and took a few of my ideas, but also some of their own. You should definitely watch that video as well!
Great.....Among the BEST setup for free-range. Good explanation. Thank you ❤
Glad you like it! And thank you so much for the compliment!
This is one of the best videos I’ve seen on rabbit colonies. It shows your ingenuity and humility. Thank you for sharing this information. I would love to see more of your ideas!!
Thank you so much! I did make a playlist that has all of my rabbit videos together. Hope you enjoy the channel!
New subscriber because of this video. We have to get a colony up by the middle of May at the latest, and this looks like a great setup.
Thanks for the sub! I hope this helps, and good luck in your new colony!
Yes, I'm out here and living vicariously through you.
Ha!! Thanks for watching!!
I love your setup and would like more info on how you got set up with your "meat truck"
I sign up on Facebook for utah meat rabbit forums and there is always an advertisement for people buying
@@mantihomestead ty thats good info
Really cool setup!
Thanks!!
I like your cooler setup the best yet. Great job.
Thanks!
@@mantihomestead i love your set up .. just curious would they chee the walls of the coolers ?
so Glad you shared this!!! I was trying to figure out how you keep them in. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Subscribed! I felt so lost trying to begin. Your video is so so helpful! Thank you! Wish me luck!
Good luck!!
Thank you for another fascinating video! The breeder of my white kitty did something that may work well for you. She would mark the back of her mommas, between the shoulder blade, so she could identify which momma was who at a glance.
Loved the video! I think this will work well in SE Texas. Thank you.
Right on, good luck!
Very much appreciate this video!!
Thank you!
I enjoyed your Walipini videos so much, I’m now seriously considering integrating one into the front of my future house. But why stop there? I might even throw in a rabbit colony to really keep things interesting. I’m reasonably good with software, but when it comes to this kind of engineering, well… let's just say my skills stop at building virtual things =D
On the plus side, I have plenty of time to plan and dream things up before I can actually start implementing them (hello from Ukraine!). Who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually make it happen!
Awesome! Sounds like you’ve got the brain juice running :-) good luck with your efforts!
Great homestead video, Subscribed
Thanks!!
I love this tha ks so much for sharing. Ive been looking for this kind of idea for a while. Still dont have land but ive got deams. 😂😅
You are so welcome!
Awesome setup!!!!
Thank you!
Thx 4 great ideas. Can u elaborate on tattoo process or other identification methods.
You bet. I will try to put that in the next rabbit video.
Might want to update these features in our new homesteading viewership nowdays. I just found you 😊
Welcome!
Hi i love the setup! Could you please explain a little of how you setup the chickenwire On the ground and how you maintain everything?
I plan on trying to make something like the setup you have.
Much love from Norway.
You bet that is a great idea for a video!!
Would love a blueprint or materials list for this set up. You are brilliant!!
Thank you! I am going to put together a more detailed video on this rabbit colony set up. I will pull out the old footage of when I built mine. It is a great design. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and know-how. You cannot beat firsthand experience!!! My father spoke of raising rabbits, hogs and a cow during and post WW2 in France. Interesting how knowledge never dies. Thanks a tonne!!
You bet! I hope it helps. We are definitely still learning :-)
This is animal abuse on high level. Rabbits are not a farming animal.
This was very helpful
Try making each cooler box it's on colony. Create dividers that separate each box so you can keep track of each female to see how it's performing. Then you can multiply how many babies you are having. Love the idea though!
Yes, like it please to a video on the nest boxes.
I will do that! I’m gonna see if I can find the videos I took when I made them and put together a really good video. I am adding a new rabbit video tonight on separating the baby bunnies :-)
Please do more videos
Thank you! It’s comments like yours that make me more motivated. I will get working on it. I want to do a water video specifically on water cisterns. Do you have any insight there in Australia? I’ve heard that you guys are required to have a water cistern? Any details on that would be something I would definitely wanna share.
I would love to know how you keep/kept your metal cages clean!! It has been such a struggle for us. Any tips?
I want to do something similar. But I want a buck run, a breeding colony & a grow out run...so they all can be as free and happy as can be with ease of care for me. I'd like to find a water/feed way that is one point of access to go into all 3 areas to fill once easily that reaches all 3 for feed & water.
I'm a dreamer with not enough time and money. Lol
That is a really cool idea!
This is awesome! I would love to upgrade our rabbits to this, so they can play around more in the summer, they are so hot right now. What size cooler did you guys use?
I just went and grabbed the normal cheap cooler at Walmart. They’re probably 18” x 24”.
The calendula flower is made into an herbal tea. It is attributed to healthy skin, but some folklore has it helpful in hemorrhagic diseases.
May been asked but is it possible to ear mark (notch) rabbits like cattle, goats and sheep, that way you can easily identify your breeding stock?
Perhaps a different mark for the does and bucks.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes, absolutely. We actually have done that to our rabbits. It’s a little tattoo that you put in their ears. So we have our does marked D1, D2, D3, etc., etc..
@@mantihomestead I'm referring to a small visible notch that is cut into the ear?
Increcibke!! I love the idea of col9ny. 😊
That are really cool!
What material do you place on the floor? What is your cleaning maintenance like?
I put some metal mesh wiring. The good thing is when I do cleanup that means immediate fertilizer for the greenhouse. So it’s really a win-win
Hello. We live in Canada. Winter are hard. Do you think your setup could keep them warm ?
I think it would definitely help keep them warm. If I was really worried about their temperature, I would probably make a slightly underground portion of my colony. Even digging a couple of feet down and having some sort of box. My nest box kind of does that already and it is definitely adequate for where I’m at. Good luck with your efforts!
Breeder bucks have a good life. Mine is my buddy😊
What are you adding to create the mulch for the green house?
I have a video about liquid compost. In addition, we use this rabbit compost all the time!
Thanks for sharing your ideas!
I've also tried colony system but some of my does attacked and killed other's does babies. Have you ever experienced this behavior?
Yes, and tell my wife got involved and helped me get a lot more order inside the colony it was madness. I kept on adding too many does. She diagnosed that they weren’t happy, and the stress level was what was creating so many dead babies.
Thank you for your answer!
Nice system and good video. Really appreciate it. I just bought a pair and i put them with my chickens. So far no problems. But they dont let the chickens in their room😂. I have a separate house in another street behind my house. Which has gray structire only with room walls and no windows or doors just openings. The floor is mix of gravel and soil. And have a grass lawn. I put all my chickens (i have 8 hens 1 rooster one chick. 😂) in one room in evening and the bunnies in washroom of another room. Kindly guide if i am prone to some mistake or disaster or what should i be careful about.
I’m not sure, sounds like you have a great set up! If they are not fighting, then you probably have things set up just the way you should. I wish there’s a way I could see that set up.
I would not allow them to share ground as the chickens can carry pasturella and other things that will kill your rabbits
Very interesting video. I've also been breeding rabbits for years (for meat and manure) in "traditional" cages, but now I kinda feel "guilty" and I really wanna shift to enclosure breeding for ethical and practical reasons (seems easier to maintain and is cooler in summer heat). But since 'til now they're each one in its own cage, you've made the choice to keep the buck with the does and the kittens, isn't it dangerous for them to be with the buck everyday ? does it harass the females and attack the babies ? Many thanks in advance.
No actually. We have never had issues with the buck only with the moms abandoning their own litter. If there are two bucks, creating tension and competition that could be an issue but again, it mainly just stresses the moms out and then they are the ones actually having the issue with the babies. But I would definitely only recommend one at a time just to create that Harmony that’s needed.
Nice video :) Is there a reason you have all whites? just wondering :)
We used to have some broken New Zealand as well, they are the brown and white spotted ones. Commercial growers usually do white only because if there is a little bit of hair, it’s hardly noticeable :-) I think it’s more marketable for them selling to the cruise lines and, the Elite restaurants that buy that meat. I just wanted my breed to be pure. Just preference. But I definitely like the New Zealand brand if you are wanting a back up source of protein because it is fantastic meat!
@@mantihomestead Okay! Thanks for answering my question :)
What size coolers are the nesting boxes? Also you can get a livestock marker in either crayon or aresol if you need to mark a rabbit for any reason. Very interesting video. Thank you.😊
Thanks for the tips! These are just the regular size cooler. I’ll see if I can figure out how many gallons. But they’re only about 20 inches long. Just the cheapest coolers you can find.
Isn't lawn clippings cut with a motor bad because the blade makes the blade of grass explode which releases a negative thing for them to ingest?
I’m not sure but we’ve had long success doing it. They love it. But we do it as a supplement usually and still have pellets
You just don’t want the grass to ferment - it needs to dry out before storage.
How deep did you put the mesh in the ground? And what size mesh?
So we put the heavier gauge with 1 in.² holes and just did it directly on the ground. Everything that you see that we’re stepping on is their compost mixed with straw
Right on thanks for the quick reply. Definitely going with this set up asap. Waiting on the snow to melt. Can't stand the cages anymore lol.
Do you keep all the bucks and females together?
Yes, I keep one buck with the females and then I have a spare buck that I keep up in the cage just in case something happens to the other guy. I leave the bucks down with the mom and all the babies and have had no issues with him.
2 questions. You say you have 6 does, 1 buck and all the babies in one colony so what is the size of the structure square footage roughly to support that many rabbits without problem.? And what is the fenced off area inside for?
So we normally just have the seven rabbits in the whole area. When they have babies, it definitely gets crowded. When they get to about that three month of age, we just put a little fence and put all of the fryers on one side and then the breeding does on the other. That’s mainly to help us for when we Sell them to the meat truck :-)
How do you recommend I find a local meat truck to sell rabbits? Thanks for the info!
One of the easiest ways I have found is to get on a rabbit forum on Facebook. Especially if you can find one specific to your state. Where are you located? So I would just search up anything to do with rabbit and then subscribe and ask people in that group.
How do you deal with flies? I use fly tape and fly traps. Still way toany flies.
Hi. Im wondering if you do tours and how to sign up for a tour. Im in slc, utah and im just starting a 20x20 wallpini greenhouse.
Hello, that is so exciting for your greenhouse! You will love it! Yes, I would love to show you. One of these days when I get done with this remodel I’m going to set up a formal touring schedule on Saturdays probably. I’ll try to think of a way to get my contact information out to you. Best of luck with the Greenhouse!
What size are these coolers?
It is just the normal size cooler. I don’t know how many gallons it would be considered, but it is about 14”x24” on inside
Do the rabbits use any other ice chest other than one? Will each mom have the same box every litter? Do they poop and pee in the ice chests? Please video cleaning the colony yard down to the wire.
Colony is the best way, so you can't keep two bucks together?
We have tried that, but it got a little too wild. It’s better to just have one in the active colony, but I am a firm believer to have a spare buck in a separate cage.
Please what's the diameter of your corrugated pipe?
6 inch corrugated pipe. It seems small but they love it.
What size is the corrugated pipe?
It is 6 inch
Listen. Put Becca in front of the camera. You stand behind it 🙂
Ha! That would be perfect!!
How do you keep the boxes clean to avoid kit deaths? Is it a huge pain?
It is not too bad, because I can just lift up the back, cover and latchet open, and then just dig it out with a small shovel. I’ve noticed sometimes, though the rabbits will go in and clean it out themselves while preparing their nest.
From South Africa, what about the possibility of in breeding in the colony system .I love colony because its creates natural behaviour
We only have one buck at a time. when the baby's get about 6 lbs (right before they are mature enough to breed) we sale them to the Meat Truck. without doing that you would have the inbreeding issues..
that lone spare buck in a cage having to see all the other ones run around relatively free is the saddest thing I've seen in awhile....at least set up a small area for him to walk around by himself.
He did just breed with the lone doe:) happy times!
Honestly, he's not bad. He might enjoy the time to himself. And not having to compete. I'm sure they switch the bucks every now and then.
Not really. If there are babies running around from different buck he will go and kill them sometimes.
🙂🤙
Thanks for watching!
How to prevent Flees?
I don’t really have any good ideas for that. If you hear of anything, let me know. We have had to treat them for mites a few time. One drop of ivermectin gets rid of it very quick.
Maybe try using flea tree leaves and branches strewn around.
It grows wild here. Also called wax myrtle.
Several uses for the shrubs. I use the leaves like bay leaves. A guy I know boiled the berries and skimmed the wax off the surface of the water. I fed handfuls to quail and chickens.
A neighbor asked my kids to get some branches and leaves for her to throw around her porch and under her dogs cushions. I have no idea if it works but she swore by it.
@mantihomestead, do you put the of directly in the ears to treat the mites?
I watched for a minute and 30 seconds ,and learned NADA why do you think We have nothing else to do ??? BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE
@@coloyikes thanks for watching:)
That poor rabbit up top.
He does get to alternate with the other buck. Normally meat, rabbits are all separated in cages. The colony that we have is kind of an exception to that rule.