How to Build a Two Story Rabbit Hutch

There are a variety of styles and shapes of rabbit hutches. They can be built for a single rabbit or for several. In a two-story rabbit hutch, plastic trays are used to protect the bottom rabbit from droppings from the top rabbit. If this hutch will be kept inside, adjust the height according to the height of the room.

Things You'll Need

  • 16-gauge hardware cloth
  • 1-by-1-inch 14-gauge woven wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Measuring tape
  • Saw
  • 4 hinges
  • 2 latches
  • Screws
  • Drill
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
  • 8 2-by-4s, 10 feet long
  • 2 4'-by-8' ¾-inch sheets of plywood
  • 8 L-brackets
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Cut two 74-inch lengths from two of the 10-foot 2-by-4s to form two front legs. Mark as "A."

    • 2

      Cut two 68-inch lengths from two 10-foot 2-by-4 to form two back legs. Mark as "B." (They are shorter to create a sloped roof).

    • 3

      Cut four 35-1/4 inch pieces of 2-by-4 to use as sides of the cage-support frame. Mark as "C."

    • 4

      Cut four 38-inch pieces of 2-by-4 to use as front and back of the cage-support frame. Mark as "D."

    • 5

      Cut two 44-1/8 inch pieces of 2-by-4 to use as front and back roof support. Mark as "E."

    • 6

      Cut two 4-foot pieces of 2-by-4 for side roof supports. Mark as "F."

    • 7

      Cut two 25-1/2 inch pieces of 2-by-4 for a cage frame for the hutch door. Mark as "G."

    • 8

      Cut four 7-inch pieces of 2-by-4 for top and bottom pieces of the hutch door. Mark as "H."

    • 9

      Cut four 25-1/2 inch pieces of 2-by-4 for side pieces of the hutch door. Mark as "I."

    • 10

      Cut two pieces 38 inches by 35 ¼ inches out of the 3/4 inch thick plywood for the top and bottom floors of the cage. Mark as "J."

    • 11

      Cut one piece of plywood to 48 inch by 48 inch for the hutch roof. Mark as "K."

    Construction

    • 12

      Screw the two cage support frames together. Lay the bottom four cage support frame pieces on edge on a flat surface. (two C and two D) They should form a rectangle, with the 38-inch front and back pieces (D) between the 35-1/4 inch side pieces (C). Screw the outside face of a sidepiece into the end of the back piece to make the corner. Screw three other corners together in the same fashion to complete the cage support frame. Create the top cage support frame in the same way.

    • 13

      Mark one end of each of the legs (A and B) with a pencil to indicate the bottom and to avoid confusion during construction. Measure up from the bottom of each leg 18 inches and 48 inches, and draw a straight line across the inside face of each leg at these points. These marks represent the height of the cage support frame for both levels.

    • 14

      Screw the legs to the ends of the cage support frame, with the bottom of the frame even with the lines marked on the legs.

    • 15

      Screw the L-brackets to the inside of the cage legs 3 inches below the points marked above.

    • 16

      Place one J on top of the L-brackets at 15 inches. Place the second J on top of the L-brackets at 45 inches.

    • 17

      Staple the 14-gauge woven wire to the top of the cage support frame pieces at both 18 inches and 48 inches.

    • 18

      Slide the plastic trays under the 14-gauge woven wire on top of the plywood sheets (J). These trays will catch all the urine and waste and make it easy to clean both layers of the cage.

    • 19

      Screw the front and back roof supports (E) to the legs (A &B). The top edge of the front roof support E) should be slightly higher than the top of the front legs (A) to prevent the front legs (A) from being in the way when it comes time to put on the plywood roof.

    • 20

      Take one of the side roof supports (F) and hold it in place against the legs (A &B) on the right side of the hutch. With a pencil, mark the angled cut you will need to make at the side roof support's (F) ends so it fits snugly between the tall front legs(A) and the short back legs(B). Cut the piece to size, and attach it with screws to the front and back roof supports (E). For added strength, screw it to the tops of the legs (A &B) as well.

    • 21

      Repeat Step 9 for the left side.

    • 22

      Cut four isosceles triangles from plywood, with the equal sides being 10 inches long. Screw these braces to the hutch.

    • 23

      Screw the 25-1/2 inch section (G) to the front of the frame, 10 inches from the left on both levels. This will be the frame for the hutch doors.

    • 24

      Lay the bottom four hutch door frame pieces on a flat surface. (Both H and I) They should form a rectangle, with the 7-inch top and bottom pieces (H) between the 25-1/2 inch side pieces (I). Screw them together. Screw two hinges on the right side of the frame. Place one 3 inches from the top and the other 3 inches from the bottom. Attach the hinges to the right side of the rabbit hutch.

    • 25

      Lay the top four hutch door frame pieces on a flat surface. (Both H and I) They should form a rectangle, with the 7-inch top and bottom pieces (H) between the 25-1/2 inch sidepieces (I). Screw them together. Screw two hinges on the right side of the frame. Place one 3 inches from the top and the other 3 inches from the bottom. Attach the hinges to the right side of the rabbit hutch.

    • 26

      Screw the plywood roof (K) to the roof support pieces(E &F). The roof should overhang all four sides, to help keep rain or snow out of the hutch. A large overhang along the front will give extra protection to attached feeders.

    • 27

      Cut the 16-gauge hardware cloth to cover each of the four sides, and the hutch doors. Staple the wire mesh to the wood frame.