Things You'll Need
- Five 8-foot 2-by-4s
- Two sheets of 3/8-inch or larger plywood
- Circular saw
- Two rolls 3/8-inch hardware cloth
- Wire cutters
- Precut firing strips
- Drill with screws
- Hammer and 2-inch nails/wood staples
- Jigsaw
- Finishing nails
- Two 2-inch hinges
- Paint
- Hook and latch
- Roofing material (shingles, rolled roofing, fiberglass panel)
Instructions
Cut the frame of the rabbit hutch from 2-by-4s. Cut four 3-foot pieces, four 2-foot pieces and two additional pieces 2-feet 3-inches.
Attach the 2-by-4s, starting with the bottom of the hutch. Lay out one 3-foot piece. Attach one 2-foot section to each end. This is the bottom, back of the frame. Repeat this process with the remaining 3-foot piece, attaching one 2-foot 3-inch section to each end. This completes the bottom, front of the hutch frame. Both pieces should resemble a U shape. Connect these two assembled pieces to each other, using 2-foot 2-by-4s at each end. The frame bottom is finished.
Cut three 3-foot by 2-foot sections of plywood with a circular saw. This will be the front, back and top of the hutch. Attach the plywood to the frame using a nail gun, hammer and nails or a drill and wood screws. Use nails that are 2 inches long. The box will be enclosed on three sides.
Lay the box on its top, with the bottom facing up. Unroll the hardware cloth across the length of the hutch. Use wire cutters to cut the wire to the length of the hutch. Stretch the wire to avoid rolls and dips, once a rabbit is placed in the hutch. Affix the hardware cloth to the 2-by-4 frame on one end. Continue pulling the cloth tight as you continue to staple across the length of the hutch.
Cut four 4-foot 2-by-4s. These will be the legs of the hutch. This height protects against stray animals and other wildlife. Attach to the outside of the hutch, using screws or 2-inch nails. Level each leg, making the hutch sturdy.
Cut the door opening using a jigsaw. Placement of the door is an optional preference. Lightly sand the rough edges from around the door opening. The door opening should be at least 1 foot wide and 1 foot tall to allow for adequate room to remove the rabbit from the hutch.
Make a square using the firing strips. Be sure this is even and not off-center. This is the door frame. The door frame should be 1 inch larger on each side than the opening cut for the door. Cut the firing strips with the circular saw or mitre saw to obtain the size necessary.
Twist a hook-and-eye clasp into the door frame. Screw the eye clasp into the hutch base. Be sure the fit is snug when the door is closed. Paint the exterior of the hutch using an exterior paint to protect it from the elements.
Roll on the roofing material, placing the glued side down.
Attach 3-foot 2-by-4s to complete the frame. Fasten one to the front and back. Next, attach the two 2-foot 2-by-4s to each side. The frame box is complete, with the front being slightly higher than the back. This allows for run-off of environmental factors, protecting the rabbit and hutch.
Cut two 2-foot by 2-foot pieces of plywood with a slight angle on the top to compensate for the 3-inch slant the roof was given. Attach these to the ends of the box, using screws or a hammer and nails. The box of the hutch is complete, except for the bottom, which does not require wood.
Assemble the door frame using finishing nails. Attach the remaining hardware cloth to the door frame, creating screen door. Fasten the hinges to the frame, and then fasten the door to the hutch, using the other side of the hinge.