How To Build a New Self Cleaning Rabbit Cage | Fixing Our Old Mistakes, by ABC Rabbit Farm on YouTube. 9 min 33 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 33 s
- Time to do it
- 4 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Measure your rabbit and plan the size first. Aim for at least 12 square feet of floor space and 2 feet of height for one medium rabbit, so it can stretch, stand and turn around.
Cut 2x2 timber and build a floor frame, four corner posts and a roof frame. Screw every joint so the hutch stays square when you lift it.
Tilt the floor frame about 5 degrees toward the front or side where the tray will go. A gentle slope is enough for droppings to roll; a steep one is hard on the rabbit's feet.
Fit 1/2 inch wire mesh over the sloped floor and staple it tight. Leave a solid plywood board over roughly half the floor so the rabbit can rest off the wire.
Build a shallow tray with a raised lip and slide it under the low end of the floor. Line it with newspaper or shavings so you can lift the mess out in one piece.
Cover the sides and door with 1 inch weld mesh, stapled every few centimetres. Add a hinged door with a secure latch that a rabbit cannot nudge open.
Give the roof a slight overhang and cover it with a waterproof sheet. Rain running into the hutch will ruin bedding and make the tray overflow.
Add a raised shelf, a hay rack, a water bottle and a heavy food bowl. Fix them so they cannot tip or be dragged through the mesh.
Sand rough edges and bend or file every sharp wire end inward. Run a gloved hand over the inside before your rabbit goes in.
Place the hutch in shade with the solid wall facing wind and rain, then test that the tray slides out and back without jamming.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use chicken wire for the sides; foxes and dogs bite through it, so use weld mesh instead.
Keep the slope gentle and give a solid resting board, or the wire floor can cause sore hocks.
Pull the tray every day and rinse it weekly; a self-cleaning floor still needs a quick check.
Build it where you can reach all four sides, or cleaning and repairs become a struggle.
Questions
Does a sloped wire floor really clean itself?
Mostly. Droppings and wet bedding roll or fall toward the tray, but you still need to pull the tray daily and wipe down soiled corners. It saves time, not all work.
Can I keep two rabbits in one hutch this size?
Only if they are a bonded pair, and then you need more space, closer to 12 square feet per rabbit. Two unneutered rabbits will often fight in a small cage.
What mesh size should the floor be?
Use 1/2 inch by 1 inch mesh for the floor so droppings pass through but feet do not. Larger holes catch feet and cause injuries.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
