"Top Tips for Constructing the Perfect Outdoor Summer House for English Angora Rabbits"

We created our rabbits' summer habitat from a large dog kennel. Here are some tips to help you build a spacious and breezy summer home for your fiber bunnies.

To be more cost-effective, while building this rabbit habitat we used recycled materials whenever possible. A dog kennel that was not being used was our first recycled item. A shady spot under cypress trees seemed to be the coolest spot in our yard. We concreted four posts into the ground, one on each corner of the kennel. This allowed us to build the roof of the pen without having any weight on the kennel.

• Determine the dimensions of the roof and calculate the number of posts needed.

• Measure and mark the locations where the posts will be installed around the perimeter of the kennel.

• Use a post hole digger to dig the holes, then place poles in hole and add the concrete.

Posts on each corner of the kennel

Once the concrete has cured, attach wooden beams to the tops of the posts. These beams will provide support for the roofing material.

• Use screws or nails to secure the beams to the posts, ensuring they are level and evenly spaced.

• Use pressure-treated lumber.

We added a slight pitch toward the back

We recently re-roofed an old barn, so the salvaged tin was recycled and used for the roof, and also around the sides to help with blowing rain. If using recycled tin, make sure the sheets of tin are clean and free from any sharp edges or excessive rust.

• Measure the dimensions of the roof area of your rabbit enclosure to determine how many tin sheets you'll need and what size they should be.

• Leave some overhang on each side to ensure adequate coverage.

• Use tin snips to cut the sheets to the appropriate size according to your measurements.

• Place the cut sheets on top of the enclosure frame, overlapping them slightly if necessary.

• Use screws or nails to secure the sheets to the frame, ensuring they are evenly spaced and tightly fastened.

Back view of pen

Next, we built and secured wooden frames to the inside walls of the kennel to hold the wire cages. Building a board frame to hold rabbit cages off the ground is a practical way to provide ventilation and prevent moisture buildup. You can also add box fans for more ventilation, if necessary

• Determine the size of the board frame based on the dimensions of the rabbit cages you'll be placing on top.

Board frame for cages

Smaller area to be used for storage

We angled a piece of tin from the back of each rabbit cage to the ground. This allows poop and urine to fall to the ground. We can then easily rinse off the tin as necessary, and there is never any poop inside the enclosure.

Tin angled for poop control

Using a foldable baby playpen (also recycled) for the bunnies has provided them with a safe and controlled environment to exercise and explore. Just ensure the playpen is suitable for rabbits and meets their specific needs for space, safety, and enrichment. We used pea gravel inside the pen, which has helped with dust control.

Playtime with the buns

They love their outside pen!

Lots of fresh air and sunshine.

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