We're building this

[Cottie]

This is what we've settled on (with some modifications).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6re8Hzozzo[/youtube]

We're going to make it 10'x6'x3, with 4 holes back to back, facing North/South. Each rabbit area will be just shy of 5'x3'x3. We want it very standardized - even though it's a little more space than strictly necessary for a single buck, We'll be able to house 2 does, their buck, and the grow-outs in the same unit.

We won't have any plywood aside from the hiding area, and won't have that neat sliding-up door. The support members under the wire will be "engineered" wood, so it won't rot.

Instead of making 1 unit, we're going to construction a base, and 4 hutches of identical sizing so they will more or less slide in. That way if one gets ruined, we'll only have to remove a few screws. Or if we need to quarantine someone, we can swap out compartments.

By "we" I mean my fiancee is trying to get in touch with his carpenter friend. This would be a nice afternoon project for him and a frustrating month's long endeavor for us. :lol:

 

[Britz86]

Ooh I like that may have to show my hubby and r neighbour this lol they made my last three but I need 3 more by the end of summer and I really like the idea for the roof

 

[Marinea]

VERY good idea about the four separate compartments. I think it's gonna be an awesome hutch.

 

[Cottie]

I'm fairly stoked. We've been mentally building it all night. At least the last 5 months of experimentation on housing have taught us wasn't doesn't work for us...? And it's still cheaper than an animal husbandry degree...

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

Ooooo.... this may be something I have to price out. We've been looking into making our own hutches, but the wire is just so dang expensive! It's also VERY hard to find around here for some reason. *sigh*

 

[Lowell]

Very nice!! Makes me want to build another hutch. Seems like there is always need for more room.

 

[DitchDoc]

:camera3: Awesome hutch! I hope you'll share pics as you build yours...will be fun to follow along!

 

[ladysown]

will you have the cages resting on the wood bottom?

If so, how will you prevent poop from building up in the corners?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You could make life really easy and just build the frame and roof and hang all wire cages from the rafters. No possibility of poop build-up on the wood that way.

 

[Cottie]

I want some areas that are near-fully enclosed. This will be outdoors, and I don't think the rabbits would do too well in all-wire cages in January. There will be a door to each back compartment for easy sweeping.

The idea has been kind of expanding, as they are prone to do. I'm trying to think of every luxury item I would want to include. One thing includes gutters that feed into a water tank under the roof that is hooked up to automatic waterers.

Another is the DIY AC unit I posted about, also stored in the roof area, and piping in dead center. The fan would run off solar, and the placement wouldn't totally blast the rabbits with cold air, but would keep the temperature in the interior down a teensy bit.

I've also considered the underground box idea - I can't remember who on here had that. It wouldn't be that hard ("that hard") to dig out a small area underneath the hutch for a latched hiding box. I'd probably find kits down there, though...

Providing heating isn't a large concern. I think they'll be OK in the cold as long as they have somewhere dry and wind-proof. I like the idea of the water tank up top because then we can insulate it and pour in warm water in the morning to delay freezing.<br /><br />__________ Sun Sep 29, 2013 4:40 pm __________<br /><br />Reviving this.

We're probably axing (mostly) the meat rabbit project. I do want to get into angoras, though. That was really one of my original goals, but I wanted to learn the ropes with hardier breeds.

The meat rabbits' cages - if I have any alive - are going into a 6'x12'x6' chain link kennel with some kind of vines growing up the sides and top (probably grape) next Spring.

This project, however, is still in my mind. I want to build this for angoras. I'm torn on breed. I really want to do Germans, but they're so hard to find.

We've got a lot of thinking to do on whether or not we even want to pursue this. I'm anticipating starting this up the way I really want to will run over $750, and that's only starting with two does and buck.

Going to percolate on this some more over the winter and see how the current stock does. If they all continue to mysteriously die, I'll stop fighting and accept I don't have a knack for rabbits.