Things You'll Need
Two sheets of plywood, untreated
16 feet of 4-by-4s
40 feet of 2-by-2s
Sandpaper, 80 grit
Circular saw
Measuring tape
Yardstick
Carpenter's crayon
Power screwdriver
Wood screws, 2 1/2-inch length
Wood screws, 3-inch length
Wire mesh
Wire cutters
Stapler
Vinyl flooring squares
Hasp latch
Caribiner
Two hinges and accompanying hardware
Warning
Use protective eyewear when operating a circular saw.
Keep tools away from children.
Always use untreated wood for pet projects. Treated wood contains toxins that may injure your pets.
An outdoor rabbit hutch affords your pet the opportunity to lounge in the sun and take in a few hours of fresh air, but it must be secure enough to protect her from predators. Instead of purchasing a premade hutch, which can be painful to the wallet, you can fashion your own with some ingenuity, patience and a few hours of spare time.
Step 1
Determine the size of your hutch. For a pair of rabbits, the hutch should be a minimum size of 6 feet in length, and 2 feet in height and width.
Step 2
Measure out a 6-by-2 rectangular piece from the plywood for the floor. Measure out a plywood piece for your roof. This piece should measure 6 feet in length and 2 1/2 feet in width.
Step 3
Cut your plywood floor and roof according to the measurements you took is step 2, using the circular saw. Sand to remove any rough edges.
Step 4
Measure out four 4-foot 4-by-4s for the legs of the hutch.
Step 5
Using the circular saw, cut your 4-by-4s.
Step 6
Measure out your 2-by-2s as follows. Measure out one piece, 4 1/2 feet in length, three pieces, 6 feet in length, one piece, 2 1/2 feet in length, two pieces, 18 inches in length, two pieces 30 inches in length and two pieces 20 inches in length.
Step 7
Measure out two plywood pieces for the sides of your hutch, 2 feet in length and 2 1/2 feet in height. On the left-hand edge of each piece, make a mark at the 2-foot point. Using the yardstick, connect the 2-foot mark with the upper right-hand corner, and draw a line connecting the two points. This will angle your sides to allow for a slanted roof.
Step 8
Using the circular saw, cut your side pieces according to the measurements you took in step 9. Sand to remove any rough edges.
Step 9
Using the power screwdriver and 3-inch wood screws, attach the 4-by-4 legs to the four corners of your plywood floor piece. Place one screw at each corner of the 4-by-4 for maximum stability.
Step 10
Using the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws, attach the 4 1/2-foot long 2-by-2 to the front edge of the floor piece, with the 2-by-2 flush with the front right-hand corner of the floor.
Step 11
Using the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws, attach the 6-foot long 2-by-2 to the rear edge of the floor piece.
Step 12
Using the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws, attach the two 20-inch 2-by-2s to the side edges of the floor piece.
Step 13
Using the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws, attach the bottom edge of the side pieces to the floor piece, mounting the sides to the 2-by-2s running along the floor's edge.
Step 14
Connect the two sides pieces together using the remaining 6-foot 2-by-2s, the power screwdriver and the 2 1/2-inch wood screws. Place the 2-by-2s at the top of the side pieces in the front and back, along the roofline, where the roof will connect. Measure the distance along the angle of the side pieces, between the two 2-by-2s and cut two additional 2-by-2s according to these measurements.
Step 15
Attach these 2-by-2s to the angled upper edge of the side pieces using the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws. You'll attach the roof to these 2-by-2s.
Step 16
Cut out a 2-by-6 piece of wire mesh, using the wire cutters.
Step 17
Using the stapler, attach the wire mesh to the 2-by-2s to create the back of the hutch. Place a staple every few inches to make sure predators cannot make their way into the hutch.
Step 18
Attach the roof by placing the screws through the plywood roof piece into the 2-by-2s along the edges. Place a screw every few inches for maximum stability. Allow equal roof overhang in the front and back of the hutch.
Step 19
Cover the plywood floor piece with vinyl flooring squares. This will make cleanup easy, and is kinder to your rabbit's feet than a wire mesh floor.
Step 20
Attach the 2 1/2 foot long 2-by-2 to the floor and roof pieces, and the 4-foot 2-by-2 along the front edge of the floor piece, running vertically. Use the power screwdriver and 2 1/2-inch wood screws to attach the vertical 2-by-2 to the roof and floor pieces, and the 3-inch wood screws to attach the vertical 2-by-2 to the horizontal 2-by-2.
Step 21
Cut a piece of wire mesh 4 1/2 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide, using the wire cutters.
Step 22
Attach the wire mesh to the front of the hutch using the stapler. This will leave an opening where you'll place your door. Place the staples a few inches apart for maximum security against predators.
Step 23
Using the two 18-inch 2-by-2s and the two 30-inch 2-by-2s, fashion a rectangular door for the front of the hutch. Attach the 2-by-2s with the power screwdriver and the 2 1/2-inch wood screws.
Step 24
Cut a wire mesh panel measuring 18-by-30 inches to cover the door you made in step 27. Attach the wire to the door using the staple gun and staples.
Step 25
Attach the door to the hutch using the hinges and accompanying hardware. Attach the hasp latch to the door using the accompanying hardware. Use the caribiner to keep the hasp closed.