How to Make a Wild Rabbit Hutch

Rabbits are a good source of food for many people, and a wild rabbit hutch is a perfect solution for raising rabbits for food. It's is also perfect for animal lovers who want a wild rabbit as a pet. Building it with rabbit wire on one end allows the elements to come in as they would naturally. Covering the other end with plywood adds protection from the elements and allows rabbits to build their own den.

Things You'll Need

  • Six pieces of 2-by-2-by-72-inch lumber
  • Fourteen pieces of 2-by-2-by-21-inch lumber
  • Framing square
  • Wood glue
  • 8d box nails
  • Eight pieces of 2-by-2-by-48-inch lumber
  • One piece of 2-by-2-by-22½-inch lumber
  • One piece of 48-by-51-inch rabbit wire
  • Wire cutter
  • Staple gun
  • ¾-inch staples
  • Two pieces of 48-by-24-inch rabbit wire
  • Two pieces of 24¾-by-24-by-¾-inch plywood
  • One piece of 24¾-by-52½-by-¾-inch plywood
  • One piece of 23½-by-19-by-¾-inch plywood
  • One piece of 22½-by-18-by-¾-inch plywood
  • 3d box nails
Show More

Instructions

  1. Creating the Frames

    • 1

      Place the six 72-inch lumber pieces on a work table. Measure from one end and make marks at 24 and 48 inches. Then, make marks ¾ inches on each side of those marks. Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines across the width of all four pieces.

    • 2

      Apply glue to the ends of eight of the 2-by-2-by-21-inch lumber. Secure them between the 72-inch pieces between the lines drawn in Step 1 with the 8d box nails.

    • 3

      Place four of the 48-inch pieces of lumber on the work table. Measure from one end and make marks at 24 inches. Then, make marks ¾ inches on each side of those marks. Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines across the width of all four pieces.

    • 4

      Apply glue to the ends of six 2-by-2-by-21-inch lumber. Secure them between the 48-inch pieces on the lines with the 8d box nails.

    • 5

      Apply glue to the ends of four 48-inch pieces of lumber and secure them between the two remaining 72-inch pieces with the 8d box nails. Mark the two middle 48-inch pieces at 18 inches, apply glue to the ends of the 2-by-2-by-22½-inch lumber and secure it between the middle two 48-inch pieces on the 18-inch marks.

    Putting it Together

    • 6

      Secure the frame built in Steps 3 and 4 between the one built in Steps 1 and 2 with the 8d box nails. Apply glue to the top of this assembly and secure the frame built in Step 5 to it with the 8d box nails.

    • 7

      Place the 48-by-51-inch rabbit wire on the work table. Cut a rectangle from one corner measuring 23¼-by-18 inches.

    • 8

      Secure the rabbit cage wire from Step 2 on the top of the rabbit hutch with the ¾-inch staples and the staple gun. Secure the 48-by-24-inch rabbit wire to the sides of the rabbit hutch with the ¾-inch staples and the staple gun.

    • 9

      Secure the 24¾-by-24-by-¾-inch plywood to the sides of the rabbit hutch without rabbit wire. Next, secure the 24¾-by-52½-by-¾-inch plywood to the top of the rabbit hutch without wire with the 8d box nails.

    • 10

      Place the 23½-by-19-by-¾-inch plywood on the work table along with the 22½-by-18-by-¾-inch plywood. Draw a line around the perimeter of the 23½-by-19-by-¾-inch plywood 1-inch form the edge and secure the smaller piece to it on these lines with the 3d box nails. This is the lid for the opening in the top of the hutch.