Raken House (Rabbit-Chicken Symbiosis) — FarmPal
A symbiotic housing system where rabbits are raised in elevated cages above a deep-bedding floor where chickens scratch. Rabbit manure and spilled feed fall to the chickens below, who scratch and aerate the bedding, creating compost and reducing waste.
Species Involved
Rabbits (meat or fiber breeds)
Laying hens or broilers
Key Principles
- •Rabbits in elevated wire cages drop manure and spilled feed to floor below
- •Chickens below scratch through droppings, eating spilled grain and fly larvae
- •Deep carbonaceous bedding (wood chips, leaves, straw) absorbs moisture
- •Chickens aerate bedding through scratching, preventing anaerobic conditions
- •Combined manure + bedding creates excellent garden compost
Infrastructure
Sturdy shelter (can be simple hoop house or shed)
Elevated rabbit cages (wire bottom) 3-4 feet off floor
Deep bedding system on floor (12+ inches to start)
Nest boxes for rabbits and chickens
Ventilation to manage moisture and ammonia
Water systems for both species (drip for rabbits, ground-level for chickens)