Starting pen cover

[WTV]

Hey Guys and Gals, Any opinions on what is the best thing to plant for cover in a puppy statrting pen. I was thinking something which would grow 18" - 20" high would be nice. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Good Running and Hunting.

[Hand_beagler]

Honestly, dont plant a thing. I dont know what you have in there right now, or if you are creating one. But either burn whatever is currently there or mow/disc it up and just let it go. I promise you that you have all the cover you need, waiting in little seeds in the soil bank, just waiting to start growing. It wont be that great on the first year, but the 2nd year it should really start taking shape, and the 3rd will be awesome! After 3 to 4 years, you start to get too many saplings coming up and start to loose the amount of thickets you once had, so you should start a cutting rotation. Mentally divide the pen into thirds, and bush hog a third every year, obviously rotating which section you cut. This will allow you to keep your rabbits and maintain the necessary cover but not letting it get out of control. Good luck

[WTV]

Thank You for the reply. You are probably right, Mother Nature probably knows best. I have a 7/8 acre pen that my son and I built in winter 2011. It was actually a beautiful centipede yard before we put the wire up. I have used mostly man made cover from christmas trees and shrub piles and work puppies mostly in the dark starting with them at about 12 weeks old. I have been very successful starting the few puppies I have started, but thought if I left the centipede alone and untouched weeds and other growth would eventually take over. I am going to take your advise and till it up good and see what it will do. I'm not starting any puppies any time soon unless for an occasional friend. Thank You Again!!!

[Hand_beagler]

Glad I could help. Just be patient with it but I bet come July/Aug it will be looking good, and next year's May you will have a BIG smile