How to Heat a Greenhouse With Rabbits

Heating a greenhouse, or house, with animal manure is a centuries-old technique. Heating greenhouses with a manure bed was popularized in the 18th century. Thomas Jefferson used this technique at Monticello. Rabbit manure can be used for this same process, as any manure and bedding combination create heat as they decompose.

Things You'll Need

  • Crates or wooden boxes
  • Boards or planks
  • Fresh rabbit manure with bedding
  • Greenhouse
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Fill large (3 feet deep and up) crates or wooden boxes with rabbit manure. Set planks or shelves across the top of the box to rest the plants on.

    • 2

      Use dug out beds instead of raised boxes. Dig 5 inches out of floor along both sides of the greenhouse. Leave a path in the middle. Fill the trenches with at least 2 feet of manure. Place plant benches or raised planks over the manure beds. Set plants on these and be sure they are fairly close to the bed.

    • 3

      Dig a large hole about 2 feet deep in the center of a small green house. Box off the hole with wood, bricks or concrete blocks. Fill the hole with the rabbit manure and let it spill over the wood or blocks of the frame. Set trays of plants on top of the manure bed.