what to plant in a running pen?

[rabbitatfarm]

A friend of mine uses 55 gallon plastic barrels cut in half lengthwise with a 4" half-moon cut in each end so the rabbits can get in. Keeps them dry and good cover.

[sbeagler]

i do the same cut the barrel top to bottom in half so you have 2 half barrels i cut a hole at each end a tad bigger than a football underneath i keep the bottom of 5 gallon bucket cut about 3 inches tall to keep it full of rabbit pellets or in the winter just stuff alfalfa hay underneath can cut a few limbs to lay across if just making cover and not feeders pallets are nice too 2 stacked on top with brush added also 4-6 inch diameter pcv pipe scatered around. mix sevin dust in play sand put under a barrel make a good flea and tick rooting area rabbits like to roll and root in it. ## food use seasonal plots about september vegation becomes less palatable time for your oats alfalfa mix plots if you are near a sweet potatoe ware house get the seconds cheap make good feed for fall winter spring just a few here and there sweet potatoes are the most nutious of all veggies i keep them out when stocking rabbits around the fence for a quick meal helps them get over stress sooner and they get fat and healthy. i scatter a few every other day at different places they are no good if mushey. i have seen wild rabbits come out in broad day light as soon as i threw one on the ground. they also bed within 15-25 feet of my areas i drop them at helps get easy jumps when you are short on time after work. Really they are like candy to them amazing! Makes theri coat shine eyes look brighter fatter healthier run better too.

[TallPaul]

I WOULD NOT PLANT RUSSIAN/AUTUMN OLIVE, I'd plant a mix of scotch pine and white pine, leave some 40 +/- foot circles and throw some raspberries bushes in there. Try to stay with native vegetation. Dogwoods are fast growing scrubs.

Paul

[rabbitatfarm]

White pine's growth characteristic is not suitable for rabbits. Plus it would take a while for them to get very big. Scotch, planted in groups, might work. I've looked at a lot of literature on rabbit habitat over 20 years and pines are not recommended by any agency, even though rabbits love Christmas tree farms. They are used primarily for winter cover because it's warmer beneath the boughs. Gray dogwood, nannyberry, Roselow crab or sumac would be better choices but it depends on where you live. I'm in SW Michigan. I agree with the berry canes, black or red raspberry or blackberry.