Building a hutch.

Katie1504

Young Bun

• Sep 20, 2012

• #1

Hello all,

This might be in the wrong section but has anyone built their own hutch? Where do you start etc etc? I want to have a go.

 

Alibunmum

Wise Old Thumper

• Sep 20, 2012

• #2

I have made a few and here are some photos from the first one.

Back

With sides and floor

Front frame and solid doors

Finished. Roof is OSB covered with felt.

It is extremely satisfying, go for it!

 

R.P.B.G.G

Mama Doe

• Sep 20, 2012

• #3

My brother built a 3 tier hutch which is over 7ft high (I can just about get the cover on/off the top and im 5'8 having to use a chair :lol: and over 9ft long,
We used shuttering board for the 'skeleton' with batons to strengthen, then covered with 5mm ply inside, and roofing felt on the whole exterior so it is completely weather proof, adding tiles to the floors and painting the rest,
Much Much bigger than anything you can buy and worked out much cheaper as hubby can get materials cheaper through work

 

lucy24

Mama Doe

• Sep 20, 2012

• #4

not meaning to high jack but what wood is best to use?

 

Bunny Buddy

Wise Old Thumper

• Sep 20, 2012

• #5

lucy24 said:

not meaning to high jack but what wood is best to use?

Click to expand...

It depends on where they hutch is to go (eg inside an outbuilding/outside); your level of skill and equipment available etc. The size of the hutch may also have a bearing on the materials.

I made one a couple of years ago using planed softwood for the frame and plywood for the walls/floor/door. I fancy having a go at making a deluxe one with loglap (basically T&G but logs). I wouldn't have had the skill to do it with the first one but now I've done that one I could do a more elaborate one.

 

Bunny Buddy

Wise Old Thumper

• Sep 20, 2012

• #6

Katie1504 said:

Hello all,

This might be in the wrong section but has anyone built their own hutch? Where do you start etc etc? I want to have a go.

Click to expand...

I started by looking at the hutches I'd made and thinking of what I liked and what I would do differently.

I made a 5ft x 3ft hutch with thick plywood and it is very, very solid, I'm really pleased with it but the only downside is that I made it in a way that it can't easily be dismantled and it is really heavy! I will be able to shove it a few feet in either direction but I will never be able to carry it to another part of the garden.

Here's some pictures of early progress on it.

 

Last edited: Sep 20, 2012

R.P.B.G.G

Mama Doe

• Sep 20, 2012

• #7

Agree about the weight,
My brother built ours facing the way the sun comes up, but also the way the wind blows in the winter, so we had to turn it around, oh my, it weighs a tonne, we wont be moving house, so not so much of an issue.

 

fall3n-ang3l

Alpha Buck

• Sep 21, 2012

• #8

hubbie made the shell and put the house insulation in and then just built the cage up,the top 2 levels are for the piggies,the bottom 2 are for the bunnies and it also connects to another cage

this is the top level for the piggies

this is the bottom level of the bunnies,the first hole is there hidey hole,the second hole,there is a tunnel that connects to the second hutch

top level of the buns

and the tube that connects it to the bottom level

 

T

tonibun

Wise Old Thumper

• Sep 21, 2012

• #9

You might not be able to replicate that last one but try to put a shelf in as all bunnies love them and it provides them with exercise on days when they are stuck in.