Closing Running Pens for Summer

[Larry G]

Some say it is better and will let the rabbits raise young in peace. Others say it will let the predators in and will result in fewer rabbits come fall. I really don't know.

Where I have been running in the wild lately there are some rabbits, but I have seen about a dozen or more places where only feathers remain from something eating a bird.... dove, bluejay, many kinds of birds and it is always in a path or trail in the woods. Got me to wondering what could be killing and eating all those birds. Seen no rabbit leavings so far.

[DRamey]

screech owls are death on small rabbits. I raised several litters and turned them loose and within 2-3 nights you could hear screech owls everywhere around. WIthin another 2 days, small tufts of fur I assume where the owl actually took the rabbit was all that was left. the thing about this is that rabbits have so many young during the spring, summer and early fall that there are plenty anyway. Rabbits that were born last month will have babies in June, their offspring can possibly have young before cold weather depending on where you live. When you get 3 generations at once having litters, no wonder we see them in the road so much during the growing season.

[Tony Jr]

I'd shut it down for April if you concerned about young rabbits but other than that I wouldn't. I know some folks that run everyday, year round in their pen and never have an issue with it. Just a matter of preference I guess.