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View Full Version : Meat rabbits, RHDv2 and bio security



Seamonkey
01-17-2021, 23:52
I'd like to hear how people are operating their meat rabbitries and managing RHDv2 risks. How are you implementing bio security and ensuring their food is safe?
Last summer I found 2 dead rabbits with symptoms similar to RHDv2. I didn't know about RHDv2 and did not notify the state. I assume it's here -- https://www.rhdv2.com/

In regards to these RHDv2 bio sec recommendations:
- Do not to provide clippings as they might be tainted.
- Ensure hay is from an area that is not infected.
- Protect the rabbitry with fine mesh screens to prevents contamination from insects, birds, rodents

The feeding plan was to provide pellets/hay supplemented with clippings from the property.
Rabbit tractors are a no go as you are putting your rabbits into a potentially contaminated area.
Clippings appear to be a no go as well. Possibly tainted by rabbits or carriers like birds, rodents, insects.
My garden is protected against rabbits but not birds or rodents.
I can store a couple bales of hay inside, not sure how to keep multiple outside bales quarantined. Chicken fence perimeter and tarps?

Ideally I'd like to combine with chickens for the Salatin style of "raken" house. Hoop house with rabbit cages on platforms over deep compost. Hens roam everywhere inside cleaning up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbmjCN4T19o

How do you ensure the food is safe?
How do you protect against contamination from birds, rodents and insects?
Hoop house? Dirt floor shed? Concrete floor with a sealant? Hanging cages in a 3 sided shed?

Never mind rabbits and go with cavies?

encorehunter
01-18-2021, 06:53
I keep our rabbits in the barn. They are in an elevated hutch, the feed is either in bags in a 55 gallon drum, or in a plastic rubbermaid tote for easy feeding. I do give them a handful of hay once in a while, we have 1500 pound bales in the next stall over. I dont have chicken down in that barn, so I use a scoop shovel to load the tractor bucket. It then goes to the compost pile. I just moved about 2 yards of compost to the garden to start getting it ready.

Seamonkey
01-25-2021, 22:21
That was the original plan, elevated cages in the barn. Chickens are free range anyways. I hadn't thought about potential infection from birds or rodents that some of the info sites mention.

tactical_2012
01-26-2021, 07:57
This is my brother-in-laws setup. He built his own cages and has them suspended from his barns rafters. Watering system is all gravity fed hoses from a bucket. Has plastic food trays to catch the dropping that he dumps into his compost pile. Has several dozen rabbits now