How to Build a Large Rabbit Hutch

Take one sheet of plywood and lay it flat on the ground where you would like to build the rabbit hutch. Using a can of spray paint, draw around the plywood so that it makes a square on the ground. Lift the plywood and move it away to a safe place. Mark each corner of the square on the ground with a dot of spray paint and two more dots in the center edges of the square. These will mark where you are going to dig for your posts to go.

Begin digging the holes for your posts, they should be slightly larger than the post and at least 1 foot deep. Once your holes are dug, mix the cement according to the directions on the bag and set it aside while you place the posts inside the holes. Now take your cement and pour it around the posts inside the holes. Allow it to dry and cure for 24 hours.

Take a sheet of plywood and lay it on top of your posts that you have secured in the ground. Nail the plywood to each post with a hammer and two nails per post. It should be secure enough so that it does not wobble or sway when pushed gently.

Cut one sheet of plywood in half so that you have two 4-by-4-foot pieces. Place one of these pieces at each short end of the hutch so that the plywood overlaps the bottom piece and comes into contact with the posts at its corners. Nail these two pieces to the posts at the corners of the hutch. Then take the staple gun and staple the side pieces of plywood to the bottom sheet. Contact between the pieces should be flush and as secure as possible.

Take one sheet of galvanized metal and slide it between the two short walls and on top of the bottom piece of plywood. Drill a hole at each corner of the metal so that it goes through the metal sheet but not through the plywood. Secure the metal sheet with screws and make sure everything is secure by gently pushing and pulling.

Saw another piece of plywood in half so that it creates two 4-by-4-foot pieces. Secure one of these to the back side of the plywood and posts just as you did with the side pieces. The second piece will be your door.

Screw one side of the hinges to the side piece of wall and the other side of the hinges to the door. You should be sure that it is secure and strong and does not pull loose with gentle tugging. You should also make sure that the hinges swing freely and that the door closes securely. Now put the latch side of the safety latch onto the piece of wood on the back that is opposite the door. Place the hook side of the latch on to the side that is the door so that when the door is closed the latch can be secured tightly.

Place one full sheet of plywood on top so that it meets all three of the sides and door you placed in the previous steps. Using the staple gun, staple the top piece to all sides except over the door panel.

Take the chicken fencing wire and staple it on all sides of the front of the hutch. This will be the front of the cage, so make sure all sides are very secure and there are no openings that a rabbit or predator could slip through. Staple the door edging all the way around the edge of the chicken wire so that it is flush with the bottom and sides of the hutch and hides the sharp edges of the chicken wire.

Wrap the back, sides and top of the hutch with Tyvek plastic weather wrap, securing it with staples. This will keep rain and snow from penetrating the hutch.

Paint the door and edging trim on the front with exterior paint to give it a finished look. You may also paint the posts and bottom of the hutch if you wish.

Put siding on the sides and back of the hutch. The simplest kind to use is vinyl snap-together siding.

Staple shingles to the roof of the hutch and allow a short overhang on the sides so that rainwater flows off easily.