Outhouse/rabbit hutch

[coyotejoe]

There was an old outhouse on our new Montana property. We don't need an outhouse but I do need a rabbit hutch so, "waste-not-want-not" I decided to convert the outhouse into a hutch. First we moved it over near my workshop where there will be easy access to electrical hookups. That was a project made possible since it was built on skids of pressure treated 6x6 timbers. It was 6' wide by 4' deep, outside dimensions, with a 32" wide door about center of the long side. I wanted to be able to accommodate 6 cages 36x30". So I decided to lengthen the outhouse by 32" and relocate the door to the center of the remodeled hutch.
First pic shows the outhouse as it was after moving over next to the shop. The second pic is with door and some siding removed. Third pic shows the newly extended 32" floor frame. Forth pic is as it stood yesterday evening with the door relocated and the addition partially framed. I miscounted in my original plan and came up two studs short so today I'll run in to Libby to get studs, plywood siding, insulation, ect. to finish up. This is about the least expensive way I could think to come up with an adequate hutch but it's still a big bite out of my "expendable income". :lol:
In the background of pic #1 you can see the dog pen which has been the bunnies "summer home".
Ooops, I didn't realize the pics would appear in the reverse order.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What an adorable outhouse! Way to repurpose!

Ammonia fumes are very bad for your rabbits, so they need lots of ventilation. I would suggest buying some vents when you make your town trip. You will want to put a couple at floor level and more at the top of the front of the structure. A "whirligig" vent might also be a good idea. You could even cut out a "window" or two and screen them with hardware cloth, keeping the cut out wood for a shutter so they can be closed in inclement weather.

On the other hand, maybe you should leave the toilet in there and just train all of the bunnehs to use it instead...

 

[coyotejoe]

The stars across the top as well as the crescent moon are cutouts covered with window screen, I'll add floor level vents on the back side, thanks for making me think.

 

[Miss M]

I love it!

Great job repurposing! :greatjob:

 

[coyotejoe]

It was another hot day in the sun but I got it all ready for the roof, tomorrow I hope to get the insulation in and wiring for a light and receptacle, Oh damn, more things I forgot to buy. Well at least I can get those in Troy, only three miles away.

 

[Miss M]

:lol: Looking great!

Yeah, we have a small auto parts/garage/gas station/hardware/grocery/towing/mini storage/notary about 2 1/2 miles from us that we hit now and then for the odd hardware part we forgot.

 

[Homer]

Good job of re-purposing materials Joe. All this work you've put into this project you've been working on something else too and may not even know it.

From your very first post on the "hutch" I thought he's working on a rabbitry name as well. I dub thee the "Outhouse Rabbit Ranch" of the Kootenai River! :laugh2:

 

[coyotejoe]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Great name, I shall wear it proudly!
The exterior is ready for paint and the interior for wiring, insulation and cage racks. My cages are 36" long with some 24" wide and some 30". All my drop pans are 30x36. I'll make angle iron racks to stack three cages at each end, leaving 36" clear space at the door.

 

[Sagebrush]

I just love how you repurposed the outhouse into a "hutch".

 

[coyotejoe]

Whoopie! The outhouse has power! And I only got slightly crazy before discovering the problem was a bad light bulb. :idea: :lol: The rest, insulation, interior walls and cage racks will wait until my brother-in-law gets back from vacation. He wants to "help" and I figure insulation is something he probably can't screw up too badly. I appreciate his good intentions but the man is mechanically challenged. He was instrumental in moving the outhouse and it only took about 5 times as long as it would have taken without his "help". :lol: :lol: :lol: ever know anyone like that? :roll:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You must not like your BIL much if you are going to have him install the insulation, lol! Hubs and I built our house from the ground up (well underground up, since we have a basement) and one of the few things we paid to have done was the insulation.

Glad to hear the project is moving along, though! The bunnies will all be snug for the winter, and you will be nice and comfortable when doing your rabbitry chores too!

 

[Miss M]

I love it!

As for your BIL... yeah, that would have been my dad. :lol:

 

[coyotejoe]

Nearly all finished. It is wired, insulated and paneled ceiling and walls and one set of cage racks installed, other set tomorrow and the bunnies will move in! :mrgreen: <br /><br /> -- Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:39 pm -- <br /><br /> The bunnies have moved in! Well just the two does so far but the one doe has 12 kits so that pretty much maxes out the capacity of the outhouse. The two bucks are still in summer quarters and I'll leave them there for a while since it's still getting into the mid 70's every day. The outhouse has room for six cages stacking them three high on either side of the door. I only have 4 cages at present but have the wire and J clips to build two more. I'll also need two more drop pans. I really need six more pans because the four I got from Tractor Supply are trash but they'll work for a while.