Outdoor Cage Project Q's

[deleur2]

This weekend starts our project of expanding and doing the rabbit cages over again. We've changed their surroundings several times since they first arrived because, well we just didn't know what to do. And now we have more.

The picture is their current set up. I have seen some wonderful hutches on here, I'm jealous!!! My husband thinks we are going to house Gorillas with the way he builds things, and I want their spaces to be big enough. I read that they should have an hour or several hours of "exercise" out of their cages, but I don't have much time to do so, so I'm hoping to make their cages large enough to let them stretch and hop and do all the things bunnies like to do. I think this "hutch" provides them with that space. What we think we are building would give each rabbit a 2' wide by 4' long cage the rear part enclosed maybe about 1 1/2' all the way across. And the rest would be open for their exercise/play space. But not sure. I saw somewhere online that a person used that wire shelving that you can buy just about anywhere that's about 18" deep and coated and come in many different lengths for flooring for them. Or a 1" x 1/2" wire of some sort. I'd appreciate any input ya'll have. I tend to realllly overthink things.

I know with out question that I want a tray underneath for their droppings, not one that you pull out, their other wood pre-made hutch has that and it's a pain. I love the corrugated material that directs it's to a bucket or something of the like, as I want to compost Currently we do waste a lot of hay because it falls through the cage floors and its all intermingled. So I want to put those hay feeders in as well. I need a trip to PetCo or somewhere in a bad way!

Thanks everyone for responding to my posts, as nobody I know or talk to is into rabbits and I feel like a goof expressing my happiness over rabbits to them. LOL

 

[Zass]

Thanks everyone for responding to my posts, as nobody I know or talk to is into rabbits and I feel like a goof expressing my happiness over rabbits to them. LOL

My sentiments exactly

 

[Wheels]

I don't think it's a bad thing that your husband wants to overbuild - creatures who want to eat your rabbit are incredibly strong for their size and will do some awful things (raccoons and dogs are horrible). Be more concerned about keeping them out than keeping your rabbit in and you'll be on the right track. Rabbits are pretty crafty too with some sharp teeth so avoid cheap wire - they can trim a hole out of chicken wire PDQ if they ever set their mind to it.

 

[deleur2]

Oh, I know they are little stinkers, can be wonderful escape artists! No chicken wire, I know that's just asking for trouble. I never really thought about something wanting to eat THEM, myself included . We don't get critters in our yard currently, but the possibility is always there, probably more now that there would be something for them to come in it for. I have seen a sneaky squirrel sharing some pellets that the buns spilled out of the cages. And my feed bin is gnawed up, assuming from the same squirrel. We've had the buck and doe since April and I only started getting paranoid and worrisome when the kits came. Dilly and Wooly have been great all along. Two was good, three seemed ok too, now with nine it's a little intimidating. I'm totally outnumbered now. lol

 

[Marinea]

I think your idea for cage size is fine. I am not sure I would enclose any of it though, because during the hot months you are effectively having them give up cage space as they likely won't go in the enclosed area when it's hot. If you are worried about winters, I would be more likely to add a box then, and remove it otherwise.

As to the floor wire, I would definitely go with a good 1/2x1" wire. I personally stay away from the coated kind after reading that some buns chew on it. Baby saver wire for your doe's cage is a must- a good 4-6" wrapping of the same material as the floor wire around the bottom of the cage sides.

As to your idea for waste handling, we use the slantboards, and I love them. Here is a pic of one of our cages:

The board is made of a combination of coil stock and aluminum flashing, because they were cheap and wide enough for our 7' long cage. Under the slantboard is a series of wood lathe strips, and it's just screwed down to the frame. The guttering runs to a 5 gallon bucket. The guttering is supported with regular gutter hangers attached to the frame. It is very easy to clean. I dump the buckets a few times a week into our compost bin, or directly into a garden bed.