DIY Hutch
Making your own hutch for animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs means that you can tailor it to your own requirements. Any hutch should allow the occupant plenty of room; for example, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends a minimum rabbit hutch size of 4 by 2 by 2 feet. Rabbits and many other small creatures are nocturnal and will need a dark, secure sleeping area in their hutch. Use a hutch in conjunction with a wire fencing run to make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Four wooden posts
- Plywood
- Saw
- Hammer and nails
- Jigsaw
- 1-by-1/2-inch wooden posts
- Strong wire netting
- Staples
- Hinges
- Bolt
- Screws and screwdriver
- Roofing paper
- Roofing tacks
- Cardboard box
- Bedding such as hay
- Feed and water containers
Instructions
-
-
1
Plan your hutch. The finished hutch should allow your pet plenty of space to move, stand and lie down. Teresa Murphy, founder of Cavy Spirit, a guinea pig rescue society in California, recommends a minimum hutch size of 7 1/2 square feet for a guinea pig.
-
2
Consider where you will locate your hutch. If you are placing it outside, it will need to be in a sheltered area with plenty of shade and protection from strong winds and rain. You should also raise the hutch off the ground to minimize dampness and prevent rats from gaining access. You, however, will need good clear access to the hutch for cleaning and feeding.
-
-
3
Make the hutch with four sturdy corner posts to give the structure stability. The finished hutch will be freestanding so you can move it around as necessary. Make a three-sided, long box with a floor and roof of plywood and fix it to the corner posts. The roof should overhang the sides by about 6 inches all around to offer protection from the weather.
-
4
Make the fourth side of the box by cutting a piece of plywood the same size as the other long side. Use a jigsaw to cut a square hole at one end for a doorway. Affix the plywood in place as the front of the hutch.
-
5
Make a door frame from 1-by-1/2-inch strips of timber. Stretch strong wire netting over the frame and staple it into place. This will allow light and air into the hutch. Secure the door to the plywood with hinges, and screw on the bolt so you can keep the door securely closed.
-
6
Cover the roof with roofing paper, nailing it firmly into place. Place a cardboard box in the hutch with plenty of bedding material such as hay. Add a food dish and clip a water bottle to the wire door.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use strong materials for your hutch as rabbits and similar pets are gnawing animals and can chew through soft wood and twine.
Solid floors are better than wire floors, especially for smaller animals that risk catching legs in wire.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Maria Teijeiro/Digital Vision/Getty Images
