The American Beagler Forum

Alright, may be a dumb question here. I keep hearing about starting pens. And I'm not 100% sure what folks are talking about. Assuming they are talking about an area of land that is fenced to keep rabbits from escaping, place rabbits inside and then turn dogs loose. Similar to a running pen for coyotes. Is this correct? Or am I missing the boat?

Correct!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there and right or wrong way to build a starting pen? I have the land available to build varying sizes, it's the budget that is limited. This the thought inside my head right now, balancing my need with my budget:

Thinking about using 4ft tall chicken wire/ poultry mesh ran along my barb wire fence. The size would be approximately 30 yards long by 20 yards wide. Have several smaller limbs, small brush pile, leave some patches of grass. Put the bunny in the pen moments before the dogs and catch him shortly after they are done playing. Coyotes are thick and leaving them any longer my cost me my bunnies.

Does this sound like a viable starting pen? Too big or too small? Considerations?

Too small, unless you just have puppies, and even then a half-acre would be better. A rabbit would just get going and hit a fence in pen that small. We all face that want/budget dilemma.

Larry

Good advice. I will see what the cost would be to just fence the 4 acres. Barb wire is already there, so it would just be attaching to it to prevent the rabbit from escape. How tall should this fence be?

Most guys use the five-foot apron fence. It's hinged so about 12" folds so the rabbits can't dig out or something else dig in. Four acres would be a nice-sized pen. You might be able to recoup some of the cost starting pups for others. Fence runs around a dollar a foot. You could probably get a good discount for the amount you'd need. Check a Red Brand supplier, like TSC, or try Byrne Fence. A square four acres, 840 x 840, would take about 23 rolls.

Larry

If I already have an area fenced in with chain link fence and wanted to keep rabbits in, if adding 1 inch chicken wire to the bottom how high would you need it to be on the chain link fence.