How to make a mobile rabbit run

I couldn't find a picture or design of a mobile, fox-proof rabbit run online. So I drew one on the back of an envelope, bought some wood and made this:


Here it is from the other side:


Welded mesh is apparently essential for rabbits, and we've certainly found chicken wire can be eaten through or snagged on roots, leading to time lost chasing rabbits round the orchard. But seeing as these runs will be in the field, any escape would lead to a wild population in close proximity to our veggie patch. (Which is forbidden.)

I say 'these runs', because the boys and the girls need separate accommodation. Here's the girls' one, finished this morning:


And from the other side:


Rabbit run enthusiasts will immediately spot the rope handle, which makes moving the run considerably easier. We found some onduline, too, which makes a very professional looking roof for the hutch. Other bits of learning applied to Run II are:

o Wider bits of tongue and groove make for fewer nails and faster construction.

o Topping the run with expensive (in France anyway) mesh is a complete waste of money. I tried cutting some corrugated iron in half but it made a ridiculous noise, so I used some old chicken wire instead. The corrugated iron sheet now sits on this, creating much-needed shade in this summer heat.

Here are the measurements if you decide you like the run so much you want to make your own:


And now, back to the weather.

Baby photos

We've had some new arrivals this week. Nine babies in the bunny ward:


Eight chicks (with more on the way) on the other side of the orchard:


And these little pigs born off-site and safely delivered to the woods:


Note the high security fencing here, outside of which three strands of electric fence, outside of which will be stock fencing. We don't have time to run through the woods chasing piglets this year. I would tell you more, but I don't even have time to do that.

A trip to the not-shops

This morning I said to Her Outdoors that we had pate for lunch, but were short of a main meal for the day. (I was thinking chicken, but the butchers are pricey and the supermarket's closed - it being a Sunday and this being a country that still plays by the Old Rules.)

She said: 'Rabbit?'

Remember when I stood in the woods a couple of years ago wondering where I was going to find all the wood for the yurt platforms? It's a bit like that - down in the Orchard/Chicken Run we have (other than chickens) ten rabbits approaching the right size for the table - one male definitely heavier than the rest - and the boys have recently started fighting, despite spending all day in a run with fresh grass under their feet.

Armed with a small, sharp (boning) knife, I went down to the not-supermarket, wondering if my headache was related to what I did yesterday evening with friends, or what I was about to do with the rabbit. (I'm still in the early stages of killing, and rabbits are especially fluffy. The last two were despatched by my friend Paul.)

I talked to the rabbits, asked them if they were still fighting, nearly backed out of the whole thing, then picked out the one who had selected himself by virtue of his size. I had a little difficulty holding him by the back legs, during which time I dropped him on the ground. Immediately, in my mind, he became a threat to our veggie patch and a potential pest that had to be dealt with (all without moving a muscle), which is what happened next. I then skinned and gutted him (this I've only done one and a half times before, although I've seen it done two and a half times - I didn't do a bad job, but will research videos on youtube for technique and will post any excellent ones I find), and brought him back for dinner.

Which is what's going to happen next. (Nothing too flash - you can use any chicken recipe for rabbit - I'm going to do a casserole - it could be the last one this winter... The weather's just about to turn very, very warm.)