The health and well-being of rabbits depends on good feeding and keeping them spotlessly clean at all times. Cleaning equipment for rabbit farmers is therefore important to clean the rabbit area, inside or outside, the cages and the equipment used in the cages.
A hard broom and shovel are essential for keeping the floor area neat and clean. A clean swept floor discourages two top predators from investigating the area; rats and snakes both kill rabbits and dislike swept clear areas.
If the rabbit cages are kept on a concrete floor it is a good idea to have a layer of sawdust under the cages. This soaks up urine and water spillage and distracts flies from the area. If rabbits are in wooden cages it is necessary to have a scraper with which to clean out wet bedding and soiled areas.
Rabbits can be trained to use “potties”. Fill a 45 x 30 cm container (like a cat litter tray) with sawdust and place in the spot in the cage that the rabbit has chosen as its toilet spot. All rabbits use one spot only.
This makes cleaning very easy as the tray can be removed, cleaned, washed and replaced with fresh sawdust. Wire cages require occasional cleaning with a wire brush to remove and clogged hay, manure or bedding from nest boxes.
Buckets and a wheelbarrow simplify getting water to areas that require washing and removing from the area all sweepings and manure, which must all go to the garden compost heap. Even hair from moulting rabbits gets cleaned out and goes to the compost heap.
By Karoline Steenekamp