Cleaning Our Rabbit Pens
You have to keep rabbits clean just like your house, well maybe not as clean as your house, but you certainly can’t have it a mouldy poo mess. To prevent that happening you have to clean. Today I will tell you how we clean out our colony pens in summer. We also have hutches to clean out but I will tell you how we clean out those in another blog post.
The Pens
Our pens are paved now, but they used to have a dirt floor. We paved our pens so that it would be easier to clean and the rabbits wouldn’t be able to dig out but the downside is that when the rabbits wee on it, it gets stinky. So, the solution, litter trays
Litter Trays
We use litter trays filled with wood shavings of woods that are safe for rabbits because they like to chew their surroundings. This stops the wee from getting to the paving slabs and soaking in and stinking.
Spot Cleans
We do a spot clean every day. A spot clean is where you clean just the bits where the rabbits have been pooing using a poo scraper. You can buy them from the pet shop, but if you have a decorating scraper that will work just as well. We also clean out the litter trays. They are very quick and easy and take about 15 minutes a day, dependent on the number of rabbits in the pen and how often you do it, if you leave it a couple days, it will take a bit longer.
How Much Bedding to Use
In the summer we use minimal bedding because the paving slabs help keep them cool. In the winter we do deep litter to help keep them nice and cosy warm.
Full Cleans
We do a full clean every week. A full clean is where you clean absolutely everything out whether it is soiled or not. Sometimes because we have paved runs we jet wash them, you can’t do this with an earth run. If you have earth runs these can take up to 4 hours, of course this is dependent on the size of the run. If you have paved runs it takes less time because it is easier to use the tools. These runs take about 1 hour depending on the size of the pen.
The Tools
A manure fork has 4 prongs or tines made of spring steel and with curved shoulders. Like a pitchfork the tines should have a nice curve on them. A jet wash is optional but in the summer months I like to. If you do not have one you should either buy one or borrow one because they are so versatile, though cleaning paved rabbit pens is one of the least known things that you can do with them, but it works. Plus it is fun.
How We Do a Full Clean
In a paved run if it is really dirty with a lot of hay or if you are doing deep litter you start off with a manure fork. Then you should go over with a poo scraper to pick up the other bits and pieces. After that you can either use a big brush (like you use for sweeping your paths) or a little brush (like you use for picking up piles after you have swept your house floor.) I prefer to use a big brush because you do not have to bend down, but what brush you use is a matter of personal preference. And then you go on to the disinfection stage.
Disinfection
If all the rabbits are out and you have a jet wash at this stage you jet wash the pen. The pens have to be paved, this is very important because if it is an earth pen it will destroy the pen. In the winter we do not do this, instead we put down a ground and bedding disinfectant powder.
Cleaning Rabbit Pens In Summer Is Easy
I hope this has given you some ideas on how to clean out your rabbit pens or if you do not have rabbits yet, it shows you how to do one of the most critical things in keeping rabbits. Cleaning rabbit pens in the summer is easier because we use less bedding and everything dries faster! So bye for now. From Joshua.
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