Sennik for rabbits: dimensions and how to make a do-it-yourself feeder

Sennik is a specialized feeder that prevents animals from scattering hay all over the cage. It is impossible to do without such a design if more than two rabbits are kept in one place. These adaptations prevent animals from competing for food. There are several varieties of rabbit pens, each of which can be designed with your own hands.

What are hay feeders

Senniks are divided into two types depending on the installation location: internal and external. The first design option is more popular, as it facilitates the supply of fresh hay to animals.Internal feeders are more difficult to maintain. Such senniks are located directly in the cage, which complicates the supply of new hay.

When organizing a feeder, you should take into account the peculiarities of keeping animals. If the place of residence of the rabbits does not allow organizing an external sennik, a hole must be made in the cage through which fresh food can be poured.

Depending on the shape, senniks are divided into the following types:

• nurseries;
• in the form of a gutter;
• bunker;
• in the form of cups.

Recently, the V-shaped design has become widespread among breeders. Such products allow you to pour hay both inside and out.

Nurseries

This design is intended for supplying hay to young animals. Nursery feeders can hold two days' worth of feed. This type of construction makes it easier for young rabbits to access fresh hay. At the same time, animals cannot get into nurseries.

Gutter-shaped

Grooved designs are less popular than nurseries. Such feeders are used to supply various types of feed and water. Grooved hay boxes are elongated along one of the walls of the cage, making it easier for several rabbits to access hay at the same time.

For the manufacture of these structures, wood or old pipes are often used, cutting off part of the top from the latter.

Bunker

Bunker senniks are built to supply grains or granular vitamin supplements. Such feeders need to be filled no more than three times a day. Bunker senniks consist of two parts: the upper, presented in the form of a vertical tank with a hole, and the lower tray. Due to the special design, the grains enter the feeder gradually.

Cup-shaped

These designs are not practical.This is due to the fact that such senniks are presented in the form of a cup made of plastic or ceramic. Feeders of this type do not hold enough feed to meet the daily requirement of rabbits. In addition, the animals often knock over the feeder.

How to make a do-it-yourself haybox for rabbits

When making feeders for rabbits, it must be taken into account that senniks must meet the following requirements:

• meets (or exceeds) the daily nutritional requirement for rabbits;
• the bottom has a fine mesh to prevent feed contamination;
• product is easy to clean:
• no sharp edges;
• rabbits can't chew stuff.

Senniks are recommended to be installed so as to provide constant access to food for all rabbits.

What do you need?

Regardless of the type of design chosen, senniks are made of slate, wood (plywood), steel or tin. The latter material is preferable for feeders. Tin is durable, easy to clean and does not deteriorate from animal teeth. Also, this material is easier to process.

With that said, to create your own sennik, it is recommended to prepare:

• hacksaw and metal shears;
• hammer;
• screwdriver;
• self-tapping screws;
• marker with tape measure;
• drill.

In addition to tin, for the manufacture of a sennik you will need a fine mesh, which is laid on the bottom of the structure. If necessary, you can create a trough feeder by cutting off part of the plastic pipe.

Start making

The algorithm for erecting a sennitsa depends on the type of structure chosen. To make a nursery feeder, it is enough to cut one rectangular and 2 triangular segments from a sheet of plywood or tin (must have the same dimensions) and combine the resulting fragments into a single structure. After that, the sennik needs to be fixed on the wall of the cage.

To make a trough feeder you will need:

1. Cut off a 30mm piece from a 110mm plastic pipe.
2. Draw 2 parallel lines with a marker at a distance of 13 millimeters from each other along the pipe.
3. Apply in the center of the resulting segment 2 more perpendicular lines at a distance of 20 millimeters.
4. First, cut the pipe along the first marks, and then along the second.
5. The cut pieces are then heated with a heat gun and glued to the sides of the gutter to form a feeder.

To create a bunker structure, it is also recommended to take a plastic pipe. The feeder is made as follows:

1. From the pipe you need to cut 2 fragments 30 and 70 centimeters long.
2. A piece is cut off from one side of the short part to make a groove.
3. The part cut off from a short fragment is heated with a building hair dryer and with the help of scissors a plug is cut out that will close the end.
4. A 90-degree bend is put on top of a long fragment, a gutter from below.

After that, the hopper is fixed by placing the chute in an easily accessible place.

Other cool ideas

If it is not possible to make the above products, you can take a cardboard box and cut off one side. This solution will be temporary, as the rabbits will quickly gnaw the material. Instead of the above designs, you can use a plastic bucket or basin.These containers also need to cut off one side. A bag holder can act as a nursery feeder.

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