Sturdy hutches available commercially?

[PatS]

Am I going to have to learn carpentry to raise rabbits? Or are high quality, sturdy hutches available commercially?

I am looking for outside hutches, wire and wood (mostly wire but with a wood top and a side shelter area), 10 sq. ft. or so. (I was thinking about 2.5 ft by 4 ft, does that sound good for a meat rabbit?) It seems like when I was a kid this kind of shelter was commonplace in backyards, but now all I seem to see are thin little things that wouldn't hold up in real life. If I buy a hutch I expect it to last decades. =)

Does such a thing exist anymore?

If not, and I am forced to wield a hammer, does the vinyl covered wire work well for flooring? What size would you recommend? Where can I look for plans for someone who hasn't a clue what she's doing? :lol:

Thank you!

 

[currituckbun]

Bass equipment has basic cages that can be set up in a shelter but you will need to make the shelter. My neighbor bought a potting shed kit and assembled it . I think you could find something like that might work.
Good luck finding something.

 

[PatS]

Thank you currituckburn. I am thinking more along the lines of a few stand alone hutches that I can place in a semi-sheltered area, but not inside a building. I've looked at Bass's website and was surprised they didn't seem to have any really nice big, sturdy hutches, at any price.

 

[currituckbun]

Look at Oneacre's set up. They have Bass cages under a shelter. Almost looks like a pavilion idea. I too wanted the wood/metal combo but nothing within a reasonable price came up when I looked.Now that I have my husband on board ,he is going to build me a shelter similar to oneacre's outside set up. I did a lot of cooking of rabbit to win him over.the best so far we call Peking rabbit.mmmmmm it is good. Tariaki marinated then frozen.thaw and put on the grill.cook slow on indirect then char for the last bit. He will now build anything I want

 

[MamaSheepdog]

With the cost of lumber, I would think that if you framed a shelter to cover several hutches you would save on material costs. Any wood that the rabbits can chew or urinate on will degrade over time, so not having it directly attached to the wire hutches would be preferable.

 

[PatS]

Thank you both. I tried to find photos on this web site of One Acre's set-up, and found her personal web site. There were a few shots taken from inside a sheltered place (love the slant boards for the pooh!) but not enough to give me a great idea of how it is built. Is there somewhere else I should be looking? Her new outside open-air area looks too exposed for our winters.

The hanging cages are interesting -- do they come in sizes that would give me about 10 square feet, or would a cage that big sag? Hers looked pretty strong.

Thanks again.

 

[MaggieJ]

PatS, if you google custom rabbit hutches you will find plans, pictures and manufactuerers. Perhaps you can find something there that you like. Floor wire should be 1' x 1/2" strong welded wire... I think 14 gauge is recommended.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Thank you both. I tried to find photos on this web site of One Acre's set-up, and found her personal web site. There were a few shots taken from inside a sheltered place (love the slant boards for the pooh!) but not enough to give me a great idea of how it is built. Is there somewhere else I should be looking? Her new outside open-air area looks too exposed for our winters.

The hanging cages are interesting -- do they come in sizes that would give me about 10 square feet, or would a cage that big sag? Hers looked pretty strong.

Thanks again.

PatS,

Here is a link to a more thorough explanation of how we re-did the shed... http://rabbittalk.com/rabbit-shed-makeover-pic-heavy-t4927.html?hilit= rabbit shed makeover This was our first rabbit area and we made some changes to our original setup. It is now our "Maternity Ward".

Here is a link to pics of that outdoor setup...http://rabbittalk.com/new-rabbit-shed-pics-t4463.html?hilit= new setup
I close this in with tarp in bad weather, but you could make it two levels with both levels facing the front, put slant board between and them and close in the other three sides with wood. I just like the convenience of letting the poop fall.

We are about to build another one like this, but larger.

PVC coated wire will get chewed on and then rust. What you want is a 14g Galvanized After Weld wire mesh. 1/2" x 1" for the floor, and 1" x 2" for the sides and tops. I made my first cages, the ones in the shed and they turned out good, but it was A LOT of work! The other cages we ordered from a small animal supply place that makes them to order. It was actually cheaper to get them to make them than to purchase the stuff and make myself. My breeding doe cages are 30" x 36" or 30" x 30" at the smallest. My open doe, buck and growouts are 24" x 30" and 30" x 30". I had them made in banks of three cages, which are easily maneuverable and don't sag at all. Let me know if you want more details and I will be glad to help you in any way I can...

 

[PatS]

Oh my gosh, what a set-up!

A couple of questions: I am getting into this endeavor in my fifties, and I want to set up something that will work when I am old and tottering around. The hutches with the slanted fronts -- they look like they are easy to us and reach into. Are they? But with your new rabbitry, it looks like you have straight fronts. (Although I like the idea of feeders in the doors.) Which do you prefer? The place that custom built your cages, can you share the name with me? I can't even begin to imagine how much my hands would hurt crimping all those little j-clips!

Do you have any threat of predators in your area? One of the reasons I was thinking of the old fashioned hutches with the hide-y box was protection from nighttime visitors plus the thought that it would be the next best thing to a burrow that a rabbit could retreat into to feel safe and warm. But I have to say, your set-up would make cleaning so much easier.

Thanks for warning me about the rabbits chewing the plastic.

And thank you MaggieJ, I'll go a-googling right now!

 

[5dognightfarm]

Check out some local rabbit shows. Most have vendors, at least in our neck of the woods, and you can get in contact with a good cage dealer. Ours is very happy to custom build large cages for my Checkered Giants, maybe you can get hooked up with someone who will build what you're looking for.

 

[seagullplayer]

Ever you these?

http://www.ruralking.com/30-in-x-30-in-rabbit-cage.html

 

[PatS]

We are having our falling down shed replaced this spring/summer and after seeing Oneacre's BEAUTIFUL set up and all the other ones pictured on this site, I think hanging some cages on the north side might be an idea. My one concern is that, in winter, the cages won't get any direct sunlight. We're zone 8 here so it doesn't get below the teens, usually not lower than 20 or so, but if I were in a cage I'd like some direct sunlight to lounge in. Conversely, we have hot summers, so if I were to put them on any of the other sides, they might be too warm.

North, east, south or west, which do your bunnies like the best?

 

[hoodat]

Am I going to have to learn carpentry to raise rabbits? Or are high quality, sturdy hutches available commercially?

I am looking for outside hutches, wire and wood (mostly wire but with a wood top and a side shelter area), 10 sq. ft. or so. (I was thinking about 2.5 ft by 4 ft, does that sound good for a meat rabbit?) It seems like when I was a kid this kind of shelter was commonplace in backyards, but now all I seem to see are thin little things that wouldn't hold up in real life. If I buy a hutch I expect it to last decades. =)

Does such a thing exist anymore?

If not, and I am forced to wield a hammer, does the vinyl covered wire work well for flooring? What size would you recommend? Where can I look for plans for someone who hasn't a clue what she's doing? :lol:

Thank you!

If you are unable to build it yourself Home Depot usually has people hanging around looking for a days work in these hard times.
Just a caution about the vinyl covered wire. Many rabbits find it fun to strip. Once the vinyl has a scratch that goes all the way through it holds moisture and actually speeds up the rusting of the wire inside.

 

[Secuono]

Just never make or buy cages deeper than 24in...you'll never catch a rabbit or baby if they stuff themselves in a back corner.

 

[jmarc]

If you have some carpentry skills or know a carpenter, there is a set of plans for a very nice (and sturdy) hutch at this site. They have step by step instructions with lots of photos that show you how to build one. The craftsman is in Maryland, so that's pretty far away to have one custom built

Rabbit Hutch Plans

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Look at Oneacre's set up. They have Bass cages under a shelter. Almost looks like a pavilion idea. I too wanted the wood/metal combo but nothing within a reasonable price came up when I looked.Now that I have my husband on board ,he is going to build me a shelter similar to oneacre's outside set up. I did a lot of cooking of rabbit to win him over.the best so far we call Peking rabbit.mmmmmm it is good. Tariaki marinated then frozen.thaw and put on the grill.cook slow on indirect then char for the last bit. He will now build anything I want

Actually we ordered those cages from a local supplier, not Bass, but the same concept.

__________ Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:53 am __________

We are having our falling down shed replaced this spring/summer and after seeing Oneacre's BEAUTIFUL set up and all the other ones pictured on this site, I think hanging some cages on the north side might be an idea. My one concern is that, in winter, the cages won't get any direct sunlight. We're zone 8 here so it doesn't get below the teens, usually not lower than 20 or so, but if I were in a cage I'd like some direct sunlight to lounge in. Conversely, we have hot summers, so if I were to put them on any of the other sides, they might be too warm.

North, east, south or west, which do your bunnies like the best?

Actually, you don't want your bunnies in direct sunlight. They handle cold weather much better than they handle warm weather. If your temps get no lower than the teens, you will be fine.<br /><br />__________ Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:54 am __________<br /><br />

Just never make or buy cages deeper than 24in...you'll never catch a rabbit or baby if they stuff themselves in a back corner.

You can if you make the door big enough, it won't be an issue. Just make the doors as large as possible and center it on the front of the cage, instead of offsetting it to one side.