Mini-farm rabbit cages are a two-tier module and can be used on household plots and farms. Rabbits of any breed can be raised in such cages. The design is intended to reduce the time spent on caring for the animals.
There are several designs of such cages. They have a complex multi-tier structure, and one of their main drawbacks is their high cost.
Model 23 “Yurta” Mini-farm
The “Yurta” mini-farm is designed to house two pregnant does, which are placed in the nesting compartment in turn (at an interval of 50 days).
Model 23 “Kvarta” Mini-farm
The “Kvarta” mini-farm is divided into four sections and is intended for growing young rabbits on to a weight of 4–6 kg.
Two-tier mini-farms
Mini-farms are strictly oriented to the cardinal points. On the north side there is a solid wall that protects the rabbits from cold wind. The tier floor is made of wooden slats; the doors and walls on three sides are mesh. The roof overhangs the cage by 900 mm on the north side and by 600 mm on the south side, and is flush with the beams on the west and east.
The mini-farm consists of a base frame and two tiers, upper and lower. When installed in an open area, a roof is mounted over it. In the upper (weaning) tier the young rabbits are grown on. The tier is divided by a compound feed feeder and a drinker that serve both sides. Each compartment has hinged feeders for root crops and hay racks.
Below is the doe tier, which consists of a nesting compartment and an exercise compartment. Before kindling, a nest box is placed in the nesting compartment; the compartment has a wall with a passage hole, and its door folds down to form a platform. The exercise compartment has the same slatted floor, but the slats run in the opposite direction. It contains a hinged feeder, a hopper feeder and a canister drinker. In the floor of the exercise area there is an opening to an inclined chute connected to a manure collection bin. The chutes need to be inspected and cleaned periodically through special hatches.
One mini-farm can house up to 25 rabbits while occupying about 1.4 m².
