Fixer upper or scraps/parts hutch?

[bilder]

Got this freebie off Craigslist over the weekend. I am not sure if this would work out or if I should scrap it for parts.

It is 8 feet long by 2 feet wide. Each cage is four feet by 2 feet. Sides are particle board which I think would need changing out due to the glue in the wood and moisture getting to it over time. One side has a decent sized door that I can reach in and touch the far side, the other has a small door that would make it difficult to reach the corner.

Bottom wire is good and the legs are fine. Not sure if I should fix this one up or tear it apart and use the base for one of the three hole cages I got for free last month. Raising meat rabbits so function over fashion is fine for me.

What would you do? Fix it or scrap it? Here are some photos of it.

 

[a7736100]

I was at home depot today looking at the cost of material. If you have to buy material to fix it, I would suggest tearing it apart. However if you have the material on hand to fix it then I would fix it.

 

[Dood]

I dont like previously used wooden bunny cages just for the germs that may be lurking in the wood.

It looks sturdy enough and if disease is not a concern and utility is the plan, I would fix it up a bit and use it for grow out rather than breeders.

 

[Heritage Homestead]

Hey, with a freebie you can hardly ever lose!
I agree that buying new materials might not be cost effective, but if you got materials around it definitly has potential!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

If you decide to fix it, bleach the heck out of it, replace the chicken wire with galvanized 1x2 wire and sturdy up the legs a bit, they look kind of spindly. Or, cut the legs off half way and make the whole thing open from the top. When you say "good" floor wire, what do you mean? Is it 1/2"x1" galvanized wire? If not, then I would change it out.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I was lucky to get a free hutch off of CL as well. It was wood framed with a combination of 1/2" x 1" wire and hardware cloth.

I dismantled it and salvaged only the floor wire for rabbit use.

I would suggest you do the same and use the wood for something other than your rabbits.

 

[bilder]

Went over it again today and decided to take it apart. The legs will be used for making a base for one of the 3 or 4 hole cages I have. The floor wire will be used for repairs or replacement of the floor of one of other freebie cages I have. The floor on it is on the rusty side and needs either painting or replacing before I will feel comfortable using it.

Plywood will make a cover/roof for the cages and leftovers will go in the fire pit.