We've been keeping our four mini-lops outside for about two months now. We have a 3.5x3.5m chicken wire run, 2m high. Then inside that we have the 2m version of this:
Which they get locked into last thing at night.
Inside that enclosure I put an OSB box with a lid, with two openings (see attachment, I've removed the middle separator). They have been sleeping in there together over the summer on occasion, but it's also common to see one of them sitting under the box, which is raised about 30cm above ground, mainly to avoid killing the grass under it.
I've put corrugated sheet over the enclosure so they have around 1m x 2m covered area they can move around in without getting rained on, but it's often a little damp on the ground. The whole arrangement gets moved about every week to a new 3.5x3.5m area although I think with winter approaching that's going to have to be more frequent with the grass growing less. I supplement the grass with blackberry bushes, that they seem to love (tried nettles but they're not keen). They also like gooseberry bush branches, and they get the odd apple branch. I'm giving them some hay in the sleeping area but they don't get through it very quickly. They get two lots of pellets morning and night as they always have done.
A couple of things I noticed, first one of them is a bit dumb about getting under cover when it's raining and seems to often be wetter than the others. She seems in good health, and I hope she's just getting used to being outside. Also, now the weather's getting colder I'm wondering if this is going to be good enough through the winter. Do they need a larger 'indoor' area, or is it good enough just to have somewhere to snuggle together when they sleep?
Which they get locked into last thing at night.
Inside that enclosure I put an OSB box with a lid, with two openings (see attachment, I've removed the middle separator). They have been sleeping in there together over the summer on occasion, but it's also common to see one of them sitting under the box, which is raised about 30cm above ground, mainly to avoid killing the grass under it.
I've put corrugated sheet over the enclosure so they have around 1m x 2m covered area they can move around in without getting rained on, but it's often a little damp on the ground. The whole arrangement gets moved about every week to a new 3.5x3.5m area although I think with winter approaching that's going to have to be more frequent with the grass growing less. I supplement the grass with blackberry bushes, that they seem to love (tried nettles but they're not keen). They also like gooseberry bush branches, and they get the odd apple branch. I'm giving them some hay in the sleeping area but they don't get through it very quickly. They get two lots of pellets morning and night as they always have done.
A couple of things I noticed, first one of them is a bit dumb about getting under cover when it's raining and seems to often be wetter than the others. She seems in good health, and I hope she's just getting used to being outside. Also, now the weather's getting colder I'm wondering if this is going to be good enough through the winter. Do they need a larger 'indoor' area, or is it good enough just to have somewhere to snuggle together when they sleep?
