How to Make a Rabbit Nest Box

As the name implies, a nest box is basically a rabbit's equivalent of a bird's nest, with the obvious difference being that the box is man-made. Nesting boxes are often used as shelters for rabbits who are new mothers and for their offspring to bond and take shelter from the elements. Making a box is rather simple and can usually be done in less than an hour.

Things You'll Need

  • Two large sheets of plywood
  • Table saw
  • Hammer
  • Finishing nails
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a table saw to carve up a half sheet of untreated plywood into pieces that will be used as the floor and walls of the box. If the rabbit is small or medium in size, cut one rectangular, 14 1/2-by-9-inch piece and two 14-by-9-inch pieces. The longest board is for the bottom of the nesting box. The size of the pieces is flexible; if the rabbit is a large adult, the board dimensions can be up to 20-by-12 inches.

    • 2

      Carve out two more pieces of plywood, with one being about 12-by-9 inches and the other 12-by-6 inches. The bigger piece will serve as the nest's back wall and the other piece will be the front. Nail the side pieces to the front and back pieces of plywood with finishing nails.

    • 3

      Cut a piece of plywood that is 6-by-12 inches. This will be the nest's partial roof covering. Then lay the 14-by 9-inch piece of plywood -- or 20-by-12-inch for a large rabbit -- on a flat surface. Set the body of the box on top of it and nail the two pieces together.

    • 4

      Round off the corners of the plywood piece that will be the front of the roof. Using a table saw, saw down the corners of the wood until the sharp edges are blunt enough that the rabbits can't hurt themselves on it. Then nail the covering to the top of the nesting box.