DIY Rabbit Hutch - Low Cost Make at Home

This is an easy to build, DIY Rabbit hutch. It has two levels so your rabbit is safe and secure,and has access to grass and digging on the lower layer.

General

• Your rabbit needs space to be healthy.

• The size of the hutch depends on the breed of rabbit: a Flanders giant needs more space than a dwarf breed.

• The hutch must have access from good size and have a warm part, and a shaded part for rest.

• It must be a safe shelter for your rabbit, which protects it against predators.

Remarks on wooden structures

• Install a good solid lock on the door, and metal hinges.

• Good joints between the roof and the structure are very important to avoid rainfall getting into the hutch: the roof must have an overhang of at least 5 cm or 2 inches all around.

• Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood.

What you will need:

Structure:

• 28x28 mm [1 17/64 x 1 17/64 inches or similar] wooden beams

Floor:

• 12 mm thickness [15/32 inch or similar] water-repellent plywood

Walls:

• 21x92 mm [53/64 x 3 5/8 inch or similar] Wooden planks, you can also use panels.
• water-repellent plywood for internal wall
• Stainless Steel hinges and lock
• Wire mesh.

Tools:

• Measuring Tape
• Hammer
• Wood Screws
• Flat head nails
• Drill
• Spirit Level
• Saw

• We start by building the outer structure. This structure, illustrated in the diagram, is made of 32x32 mm [1 17/64 x 1 17/64 inches or similar] wooden beams. Use a spirit level to check squareness and angle alignment. 

• Support frame This part of the structure is used to support the floor and to lay the walls. The size and structure shown are for reference. You can adapt the dimensions according to your preferences.

To prevent the rabbit from digging a hole in the ground, you can put a floor on the bottom of the hutch. If the holes in the ground do not bother you, consider putting a strong mesh in the ground (about 30 cm or 1 ft deep). Your rabbit will be able to dig at will, but will not be able to escape.

Before assembling the structure, cut a sheet of waterproof plywood to size and lay it in place. Make a plywood ramp and insert it into the opening as shown. Add a crosspiece to support the ramp and screw in place.

Build the walls of the hutch using wooden planks or panels screwed to the structure. Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood. Secure the mesh with a staple gun or zip ties.

The interior panel serves to protect the Rabbit and provide a sheltered space for the night. Make an opening large enough for the rabbit to enter and exit freely.

On the outside of the hutch, lay finishing strips to cover the edges of the mesh. Follow the directions given by the diagram. Drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the wood and check for squareness and angle alignment using the spirit level.

Assemble the doors following the diagram. The finishing strips must protrude slightly so that the doors fit well on the structure. Pay attention to the necessary movement space between the lower strip of the door above and the upper strip of the door below. Provide sufficient margins for any swelling of the wood. Mount the doors using two zinc-plated or stainless steel hinges each. Put a lock on each door.

Use wooden beams to make a frame that fits into the top frame of the hutch. Cut the roof panel out of 12mm [15/32 inch] or 18mm [45/64 inch] thick waterproof plywood or formwork.

Attach the roof to the hutch with two hinges. The roof must overhang at least 5 cm [2 inch] all around, and 10 cm [4 inch] at the front. This will keep the rain out and the hutch will stay dry.

It is important that the hutch roof is weatherproof: protect it with a sheet of self-adhesive bitumen felt. Or with asphalt shingles if you prefer. Start at the top side with a folded edge and secure the bottom side with galvanized nails or staples.

Finished!

This Hutch is easy to make and will take around 2 hours to build, at a cost of around $20-30 in materials.

Enjoy!