Our Rabbit Hutch

[helmstead]

Built over the past two days with all recycled wood and wire.  Just had to buy the hinges and latches.

Whatchathink?  Look suitable?  We even placed  it over our compost pile so the manure would go right where it's supposed to...

[GoatTalker]

Very nice hutches, I would move it, it's great to not have to clean up poo, but over the compost pile they will be swarmed with flies, and could have respiratory problems. Do you have raccoon issues where you live?

[GoatTech]

Very Nice!!! Looks great, he did such a great job!
Yes, you'll have to keep the poo cleaned up from under the cage as it warms outside, it will attract flies in the summer and rabbits can get"fly strike" which is something you do not want to have to deal with.
You will also want to make sure that they can stay out of a draft and that snow can not blow in there. Rabbits are magnets for respiratory ailments.

[helmstead]

We really don't have flies badly around here.  We use predators...and it's just not really an issue.  We DO have black knats, though (the ones that go for a horse's midline).  Anyway, Ben is playing with a base design...they're not permanently installed where they are.  We'll just have to see how it goes when it warms up.  Where ever they land, I want it to be shaded so they don't get too warm.  There are several good places around the garden.

He designed the hutch with solid side walls except for about 8" at the top on the sides for ventilation.  The door is 1/2 of the front wall...so there's good draft protection in there.

Anyone heard of making nesting drawers?  This is what Ben wants to use in lieu of boxes...

Nope, thanks to our dogs...no coons =)

[GoatTech]

Are the nesting drawers your thinking of the ones that are made below the main box? If so, I have heard of these.
What ever it is you use, you want them to allow for your removal(if you want to bring kits in and for sanitizing between litters), sheltered(from wind, rain, snow, very solid).
I use boxes made from wood. They have a mesh floor to allow for urine to pass through. Wood is not the best for sanitizing, but they were easy for my husband to throw together real quick.