How to Build an Outside Rabbit Hutch

How to Build an Outside Rabbit Hutch. An outside rabbit hutch needs to be both comfortable for your rabbit and easy for you to clean. The bottom of the cage should have holes no wider that 1/2-inch so your bunny cannot get her feet caught in the wire, but wider wire is OK for the sides and top of your cage. Using woven wire for the cage allows bedding and feces to pass through the holes, minimizing how often you need to clean the cage.

Things Needed

• One 18-inch-by-132-inch piece of 1-inch-by-1-inch woven 14-gauge wire
• One 30-inch-by-36-inch piece of 1-inch-by-1/2-inch woven 14-gauge wire
• One 30-inch-by-36-inch piece of 1-inch-by-1-inch woven 14-gauge wire
• Wire cutters
• 3/8-inch hog rings
• Hog ring pliers
• Measuring tape
• One 15-inch-by-16-inch piece of 1-inch-by-1-inch woven 14-gauge wire
• Pre-made door latches

Step 1

Form your cage’s front, back and sides. Fold the 18-inch-by-132-inch piece of woven wire at 36 inches from one end, again at 30 inches from that fold, and again 36 inches from the second fold.

Step 2

Close the front, back and sides of your cage. Connect the edge of the 30-inch side to the edge of the 36-inch side at 4-inch intervals with hog rings.

Step 3

Attach the top of your cage. Connect the edges of the 1-inch-by-1-inch woven wire to the edges of the frame you created at 4-inch intervals with hog rings.

Step 4

Attach the bottom of your cage. Connect the edges of the 1-inch-by-1/2-inch woven wire to the edges of the frame you created at 4-inch intervals with hog rings.

Step 5

Create the door to your cage. Select one end of the 36-inch side and cut a 13-inch wide and 14-inch tall hole. Fasten the 15-inch-by-16-inch piece of wire over this hole at one end with hog rings. Fasten the door latches to the side of your door that opens.

Step 6

Cut the hole to put your feeder through. You should position the hole 2 inches from the bottom of the cage on any side where inserting the feed trough is most convenient for you to access. Your feeder hole should be the size of your feeder’s trough, which is typically 2 inches by 8 inches.

Warnings

• You should consider building a nestbox for your rabbit to go inside the hutch. This will add to her comfort and further reduce your difficulty of cleaning the cage.

References

• Rabbitweb.net: How to build a rabbit cage