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care:outdoors [2019/08/01 15:08] beckercare:outdoors [2019/08/01 16:43] becker
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-|{{:housing:outdoor-very-old.jpg?direct&200 |}}These are my old hutches. They were built in 1992 out of construction site scraps (except the wire and hardware). They are 45"x30". The paint is 'mistint'. We've found that if you buy 4-5 gallons and mix them you can often get colours that match your usual 'decor'. We finally replaced them with new hutches in 2012. In case you didn't do the math - that's 20 years' worth of use.\\ +|{{:housing:outdoor-very-old.jpg?direct&350 |}}These are my old hutches. They were built in 1992 out of construction site scraps (except the wire and hardware). They are 45"x30". The paint is 'mistint'. We've found that if you buy 4-5 gallons and mix them you can often get colours that match your usual 'decor'. We finally replaced them with new hutches in 2012. \\ 
-They all had a solid (removable) bottom on the left side with a shelf above that they could sit on. Before we had rabbitry we would cover the wire fronts with corrugated plastic in the winter using mirror clips as fasteners (and before that I cut up an old tent and made shades that I could roll down and fasten to the bottom).+\\ 
 +In case you didn't do the math - that's 20 years' worth of use.\\ 
 +\\ 
 +They all had a solid (removable) bottom on the left side with a shelf above that they could sit on. Before we had an indoor rabbitry we would cover the wire fronts with corrugated plastic in the winter using mirror clips as fasteners (and before that I cut up an old tent and made shades that I could roll down and fasten to the bottom).\\ 
 +They got lots of hay stuffed in the solid bottom side. \\ 
 +I never lost a bun to the cold, and had no cases of frostbite - even with cold spells down to 40 below. The wire side of the bottom was always open to allow for air circulation.
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-|{{:housing:2012-04-03-14-48-17b_wm.jpg?direct&200 |}} {{ :housing:outdoor-triple.jpg?direct&220|}}This is a triple-decker, 36x30 with a house off the far side. I originally built these as a 2x4 frame for some all wire cages I bought second hand. When the all wire cages got too rusty and beat up, I saved the wire that was still good, and rebuilt the frame into hutches. There are covers over the feeders (made of corrugated plastic) to keep out the rain. The top one doesn't need one because the roofs hangs over. The right image shows the houses off the sides. The top of the houses lift for access and the right sides also fold down for easier cleaning. The entire house is attached about 2" lower than the rest of the level. The bunnies seem to love lying in their houses with their heads sticking through the doorway resting on the raised floor. The total floor space is close to 10 sq. ft. I usually use these for bucks.+|{{:housing:2012-04-03-14-48-17b_wm.jpg?direct&250 |}} {{ :housing:outdoor-triple.jpg?direct&280|}}This is a triple-decker, 36x30 with a house off the far side. I originally built these as a 2x4 frame for some all wire cages I bought second hand. When the all wire cages got too rusty and beat up, I saved the wire that was still good, and rebuilt the frame into hutches. There are covers over the feeders (made of corrugated plastic) to keep out the rain. The top one doesn't need one because the roof hangs over. \\ 
 +\\ 
 +The right image shows the houses off the sides. The top of the houses lift for access and the right sides also fold down for easier cleaning. The entire house is attached about 2" lower than the rest of the level. The bunnies seem to love lying in their houses with their heads sticking through the doorway resting on the raised floor. \\ 
 +The total floor space is close to 10 sq. ft. I usually use these for bucks.\\ 
 +And yes, those are litter pans. Most happily use them, which helps to keep everything cleaner.
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-|{{:housing:outdoor-old-2.jpg?direct&200 |}}This one is 30X60 (12.5 sq. ft.) - recycled from a 2x4 frame I originally built for all wire cages. Originally each level housed 2 30x30 all wire cages. When it was time to 'retire' the cages, I decided to re-use the frame and build 3 single cages instead. Each has an enclosed house (with a separate access door) that has a resting space above. The 'floor' of each level is 1/2 solid wood and 1/wire. The wire is open to the cage below. I started out using these for does with litters, but I now use them for bucks.+|{{:housing:outdoor-old-2.jpg?direct&250 |}}This one is 30X60 (12.5 sq. ft.) - recycled from a 2x4 frame I originally built for all wire cages. Originally each level housed 2 30x30 all wire cages. When it was time to 'retire' the cages, I decided to re-use the frame and build 3 single cages instead.\\ 
 +Each has an enclosed house (with a separate access door) that has a resting space above. The 'floor' of each level is 2/3 solid wood and 1/wire. The wire is open to the cage below.\\ 
 +I started out using these for does with litters, but I now use them for bucks.
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-|{{:housing:new-60x30-1a.jpg?direct&200 |}} This is my now standard hutch: 60" wide by 30" deep (12.5 sq. ft.), two separate levels. Each has a house area about 18" wide by 11" high, which leaves room for a resting area above. Everything is put together with screws so I can replace parts easily.+|{{:housing:new-60x30-1a.jpg?direct&250 |}} This is my now standard hutch: 60" wide by 30" deep (12.5 sq. ft.), two separate levels. Each has a house area about 18" wide by 11" high (and 30" deep), which leaves room for a resting area above and makes the total floor space about 16.5 sq. ft. Everything (except the wire) is put together with screws so I can replace parts easily.
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-|{{:housing:new-60x30-1b.jpg?direct&200 |}} The new hutches (2010) before the wire and doors went on - showing the houses. The houses are built using 2x2 wood for the frame and plywood for the top, floor and side. The side is a square piece of wood - it doesn't require any fancy sawing and it's easy to replace when it gets chewed.\\+|{{:housing:new-60x30-1b.jpg?direct&250 |}} The new hutches (2010) before the wire and doors went on - showing the houses. The house part is built using 2x2 wood for the frame and plywood for the top, floor and side. The side is a square piece of wood - it doesn't require any fancy sawing and it's easy to replace when it gets chewed.\\
 \\ \\
 I used to use OSB but learned that if it gets wet long enough it will come apart. Plus, plywood is easier to clean - I use a pressure washer to clean and it has a tendency to pry the 'oriented strands' off of the OSB. I used to use OSB but learned that if it gets wet long enough it will come apart. Plus, plywood is easier to clean - I use a pressure washer to clean and it has a tendency to pry the 'oriented strands' off of the OSB.
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-|{{:housing:new-60x30-2.jpg?direct&200 |}} Standard outdoor hutch: 60" wide by 30" deep, two levels. On the whole they are working extremely well. There are a few changes I would make to the design: 1. Add a cover for the feeders so they don't get soaked in the rain 2. Attach hardware cloth to the supports under the wire part of the floor (some of the does have chewed on the toes of babies in the upstairs hutch) Being partially open to the hutch below can cause some problems, but they really like to lay on the wire when it's hot, so they must like the air flow.\\+|{{:housing:new-60x30-2.jpg?direct&250 |}} Standard outdoor hutch: 60" wide by 30" deep, two levels. On the whole they are working extremely well.\\ 
 +There are a few changes I would make to the design: 
 +  - Add a cover for the feeders so they don't get soaked in the rain. (Note: this was resolved by adding the awnings in 2016.) 
 +  - Attach hardware cloth to the supports under the wire part of the floor (some of the does have chewed on the toes of babies in the upstairs hutch) Being partially open to the hutch below can cause some problems, but they really like to lay on the wire when it's hot, so they must like the air flow. 
 +  - Place the door in the middle of the front instead of to one side. It's hard to reach the buns if they sit at the far left side.
 \\ \\
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 We also installed a misting system this year. The spray is aimed outward so the rabbits don't get wet. Rabbits don't do especially well in the heat and the mist helps to keep the air cool when it gets really hot. We usually only get a handful of days that are very hot (over 30C/86F) and it worked quite well this past summer (2014). We also installed a misting system this year. The spray is aimed outward so the rabbits don't get wet. Rabbits don't do especially well in the heat and the mist helps to keep the air cool when it gets really hot. We usually only get a handful of days that are very hot (over 30C/86F) and it worked quite well this past summer (2014).
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-|{{:care:2016-09-18_19-34-03_wm.jpg?nolink&200 |}}{{ :care:2016-09-18_19-34-13_wm.jpg?nolink&200|}} In addition to the misting system, we now (2016) have roofing over the hutches. It is slightly pitched, but does not attach directly to the backs of the hutches so that the wind can flow through, increasing the cooling effect.+|{{:care:2016-09-18_19-34-03_wm.jpg?nolink&250 |}}{{ :care:2016-09-18_19-34-13_wm.jpg?nolink&250|}} In addition to the misting system, we now (2016) have roofing over the hutches. It is slightly pitched, but does not attach directly to the backs of the hutches so that the wind can flow through, increasing the cooling effect.
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-|{{:care:2016-07-09_15-16-40_wm.jpg?nolink&200 |}}{{ :care:2016-07-09_15-17-48_wm.jpg?nolink&200|}}+|{{:care:2016-07-09_15-16-40_wm.jpg?nolink&250 |}}{{ :care:2016-07-09_15-17-48_wm.jpg?nolink&250|}}
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  • care/outdoors.txt
  • Last modified: 2023/08/14 00:21
  • by becker