oscarbunny
Warren Veteran
I have always had a problem with water, and it getting into the runs and i have tried just about everything to keep the floor of the run dry for the bunnies (they have 24hr access). Even when i covered the hutches and runs with tarpaulin, water still got in as the ground was sightly uneven and due to the sheet amount of rainfall.
Anyway I think i have finally solved the problem, and i have had an awful lot of rain to test out my solution and so far so good. It hasnt stopped raining for about 4 days now :shock:.
First, we raised the hutches and runs by adding a second layer of paving slabs.
The tarpaulin is stapled to the back of the hutch using a heavy duty staple gun (the best £20 i ever spent). This allows the tarpaulin to be rolled up and placed on top of the hutches when the weather is good. It also stops it flapping about in the wind.
I have placed pop bottles (filled with water) on top of the runs to keep the tarpaulin in place. The water collects on top (in a small puddle, which i drain using a dustpan and chuck it on the garden :lol.
There are smaller bits of slabs on the bottom to keep the tarpaulin from flapping about, and i have added extra polythene at the sides (stapled on) whilst at the same time allowing enough ventilation for the bunnies.
I just remove the pop bottles and slabs when i need to check on them/feed them/clean them.
The floor of the run is completely dry which means no sore feet, and dry hay (they refuse to eat damp or wet hay) and happy bunnies
Pics below:
and in this pic you can see the floor around it soaking wet but inside of the run is dry
Anyway I think i have finally solved the problem, and i have had an awful lot of rain to test out my solution and so far so good. It hasnt stopped raining for about 4 days now :shock:.
First, we raised the hutches and runs by adding a second layer of paving slabs.
The tarpaulin is stapled to the back of the hutch using a heavy duty staple gun (the best £20 i ever spent). This allows the tarpaulin to be rolled up and placed on top of the hutches when the weather is good. It also stops it flapping about in the wind.
I have placed pop bottles (filled with water) on top of the runs to keep the tarpaulin in place. The water collects on top (in a small puddle, which i drain using a dustpan and chuck it on the garden :lol.
There are smaller bits of slabs on the bottom to keep the tarpaulin from flapping about, and i have added extra polythene at the sides (stapled on) whilst at the same time allowing enough ventilation for the bunnies.
I just remove the pop bottles and slabs when i need to check on them/feed them/clean them.
The floor of the run is completely dry which means no sore feet, and dry hay (they refuse to eat damp or wet hay) and happy bunnies
Pics below:
and in this pic you can see the floor around it soaking wet but inside of the run is dry