Things You'll Need
- Non-pressure-treated wood
- Wire mesh or chicken wire (1-by-1/2-inch gauge)
- Linoleum
- Wire snips
- 3 small hinges
- Hammer
- Nails
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Tape measure or ruler
- Saw
- Fence staples
Instructions
Plan the location and size of the cage. You should have a solid picture in your mind of the kind of cage you will build. This particular example is a two-level cage enclosed by wire mesh. Make two square frames with a length and width of 24 inches from 2-by-2-inch wood. For the insides of the frame, put two 20-inch 2-by-2-inch boards for added support. This should be parallel to one of the sides of the square, spaced about 8 inches from the side of the square and another 8 inches from the first 20-inch support. These will make the lower and upper frames of the cage. Nail the edges and make sure they are secure.
Prepare two 48-inch and two 44-inch 2-by-2-inch blocks of wood for the cage legs. Cut five 18-inch and four 16-inch 2-by-2-inch blocks that will be used for the cage door frame, the separation of the lower and upper frames and the roof.
For the cage door, cut a piece of wood 10 inches long, 1 or 2 inches wide and 17 inches tall. Screw two hinges 1 inch from the top and bottom of the left side of the door. Make sure the hinges open outward.
For the ramp, cut a 14-by-1-by-10-inch piece of wood. This will be later attached to the upper frame on the first inside support panel located at the right of the left side of the upper frame.
For the roof, cut the wood into a piece that is 24 inches long, 1 or 2 inches wide and 24 inches tall.
Attach the legs to one of the frames. Nail the two 48-inch legs on the front edges of the frame and the 44-inch legs on the rear edges.
Cut a 24-by-24-inch piece of wire mesh and using the fence staples, staple them to the frame. This will act as the first frame's floor.
Attach the two 18-inch blocks to the upper front edges of the lower frame and the two 16-inch blocks at the rear.
Attach the upper frame to the support attached to the lower frame using nails. This will elevate the upper frame in order to make two levels.
Attach the ramp to the first inside support panel of the second frame. Use another hinge and some screws to do this. The ramp should lie comfortably on the wire mesh floor. It should also move when the ramp is raised. This will be useful when closing the ramp.
Attach two blocks of the 18-inch wood on the upper front part of the upper frame. The two 16-inch blocks go to the rear. Hammer in the nails.
On the front side of the cage, measure 11 inches from the left leg on the upper frame. Attach the last 18-inch block there. It should be parallel to the two 18-inch blocks that will provide support for the roof. On the middle of this 18-inch block nail a 1-by-1-by-2-inch piece of wood that will be the latch of the door.
Fasten the door on the left leg of the upper frame using the hinges and some screws. Make sure the door opens upward. Secure the closed door with the latch.
Cover the lower level with the wire mesh on all sides. Use the wire snips to cut the wire mesh and the fence staples to fasten them. The dimensions follow the dimensions of the frame.
Cover the floor of the second level with the wire mesh; do not include a 10x5 inch area staring from the edge of the ramp attached to the frame. This will allow the rabbits to pass through. Use the fence staples to fasten the mesh. Cover the sides as well, not including the door.
Attach the roof on the support. Also nail the roof on the extra 18-inch block used as door frame