How to Build a Rabbit Hutch With a Breeding Box

According to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, caging can be all wire or of wire and wood construction and can be made with either a wire or a solid floor. ARBA suggests using the self-cleaning wire floors for smaller breeds and solid floors for larger or giant breeds. When building the nest or breeding box, size is important. Giant breeds require a box 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 12 inches high; medium breeds, 18 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 9 inches high; a box 12 inches long, 7 inches wide, and 6 inches high will suffice for smaller breeds.

Things You'll Need

  • Electric drill
  • Phillips head screwdriver bit
  • 1/4-inch drill bit
  • Skill saw
  • Square
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Staple gun
  • Box finish nails
  • Box 3-inch nails
  • Box 2-inch wood screws
  • Box 5/8-inch staples
  • 1 lb. small fence staples
  • 2 hinges, 4-inch
  • Chalk line
  • 3 pieces lumber, 1 inch by 6 inches by 8 feet
  • 12 pieces lumber, 2 inch by 4 inch by 8 feet
  • 2 pieces lumber 1 inch by 2 inch by 8 feet
  • 1 piece lattice, 4 feet by 8 feet
  • 1 piece plywood 1/2 inch 4 feet by 8 feet
  • Small opening chicken wire
  • 2 feet by 4 feet piece of 1/2-inch-by-1-inch wire
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Instructions

  1. How to Build a Rabbit Hutch With a Breeding Box

    • 1

      Cut wood. Cut all wood with skill saw. Use square to ensure straight cuts. Do not forget the rule of thumb for all woodworking projects̵1;measure twice; cut once.
      Cut two 1-by-2s, each into two 20-inch lengths, two 15 1/2-inch lengths and one 4-inch length. Cut one 1-by-6s each into five 19-inch lengths. Cut one 1-by-6s each into three 19-inch lengths and one 21-inch length. Cut one 1-by-6 into one 20-inch length and three 21-inch lengths. Cut six 2-by-4s, 54 inches each. Cut three 2-by-4s, 50 inches each. Cut one 2-by-4, one 50-inch length and one 26-inch length. Cut one 2-by-4 into three pieces, each 26 inches long. Cut one 2-by-4 into two 20 1/2-inch lengths. Cut lattice into a 27-inch by 53-inch rectangle, using chalk line to guarantee a straight cut. Cut plywood into 3 18-by-12 inch rectangles, one 12-by-12-inch rectangle, one 10-by-12-inch rectangle and one 8-by-12-inch rectangle. Take two 18-by-12 inch rectangles, measure 10 inches on long side; at that point, cut at angle from 12 to 8 inches. Use chalk line for straight cuts.

    • 2

      Assemble base and top frames. Using two 50-inch 2-by-4s and two 20 1/2-inch 2-by-4s and the 3-inch nails, hammer together a rectangle for base frame; repeat for top. Measure to halfway point on base frame and attach the 20 1/2-inch 1-by-6 using the 3-inch nails.

    • 3

      Attach legs. Measure 21 inches from top of six 54-inch 2-by-4s, mark. Attach legs to top frame at all four corners using 3-inch nails. Attach bottom frame at 21-inch mark on all 54-inch 2-by-4s using 3-inch nails. Measure in 25 inches on both 50-inch 2-by-4s; attach remaining 54-inch 2-by-4 legs in same manner as corner legs.

    • 4

      Install floor. Cut 1/2-inch-by-1-inch wire 23 inches by 49 inches. Using small fence staples, connect to bottom frame.

    • 5

      Attach chicken wire. Cut chicken wire, with 1/2-inch extra on all sides, to fit five openings in frame, leaving the front, left rectangle open to hang door. Staple in place, stretching taut. Using eight 19-inch 1-by-6s, attach to front and rear frame, top and bottom, covering wire ends and stabilizing construction; use 3-inch nails. Using 3-inch nails, attach four 21-inch 1-by-6s to top and bottom of frame at short ends. Again using 3-inch nails, attach four 26-inch 2-by-4s on the outside of each corner, positioning each flush to the top, covering wire ends and further stabilizing construction.

    • 6

      Attach top. Using staple gun and 5/8-inch staples, secure lattice to top frame.

    • 7

      Assemble and attach door. Find the four 20-inch and the four 15 1/2-inch 1-by-2s; cut chicken wire to size, remembering to use a 1/2-inch overhang on all sides. Put first 15 1/2-inch by 20-inch rectangle together without securing ends; lay chicken wire on top of rectangle; attach with 5/8-inch staples. Repeat 15 1/2-inch by 20-inch rectangle, positioning it on top of chicken wire. Connect all with 2-inch wood screws. Attach door to opening using 4-inch hinges, one, 2 inches from top and one 2 inches from bottom, with screws provided. To create a door closure, drill center of 1-by-4 inch block of wood with 1/4-inch drill. Attach to left-hand front with 2-inch wood screw, halfway up door opening.

    • 8

      Build breeding/nest box. Using finish nails throughout, attach the two 18-inch sides (the ones with the angles cut at the end) to the 12-by-12-inch piece at the rear of the nest box (the 12-inch-tall side of the 18-by-12 inch plywood). Attach the 18-by-12-inch piece on the bottom of the three-sided rectangle. Secure the 8-by-12-inch piece to the front, completing the rectangle begun in the first set of instructions. Attach the 10-by-12-inch plywood to the top, positioning flush to the rear of the breeding box.