Shady Circumstances

All that lost shade from last October's destructive storm is really showing up now with temps headed towards 80.  The rabbitry is under two Crimson King maples which are not yet in leaf, not even budding yet.  And because of the shade the huge white pine and sugar maple cast on the back yard, my two Crimson Kings are not as dense as they should be.  They should fill in now, but that will take years.  And they will never grow limbs to block late afternoon sun.  It comes in low, under the limbs but directly into the hutches where they sit now.  Late afternoon is the time the bunnies need the shade the most.  They've been hot all day and the heat peaks by 5 pm, when they are already close to exhausted by it.  Fans help a lot but without shade, not enough.  I have to make changes.  I have some thoughts in mind and just staked out an area to watch the shade pattern through out the day tomorrow.  I admit, I'm worried I won't be able to come up with a solution.  And that would mean the only solution would be no more rabbits. 

Comments

[Rachel]

maybe you could use something like this?
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Medium-Triangle-Sail-Sun-Shade/1736555/product.html

[iris]

My husband says, what's the matter, doesn't she have a living room? (...in obvious reaction to my bunnies taking over our living room during extreme outdoor temps :)

[Brittany]

Would a removable garage thing work over the rabbits? the ones that come in a box and you put together and the tops are almost like tarps? I hope you can find a place for the buns so that you dont have to get rid of them. If you need temp housing let me know since we are meeting in April.

[Laurie]

And that would be more than dreadful.

[Cathy]

Oh man, I can't imagine you without bunnies. Good luck with finding a solution - tho I commend you from the bottom of my heart for thinking about their best interssts.