Homemade hutch ideas please BUILT with Pics

I have decided to move the guinea pig boys out of the rabbit's playhouse. It doesn't feel right anymore having pigs and buns together, especially since Buddy is so small, I worry about him. So, I'm going to build a hutch and put them in the aviary on top of the bun's hutch in there.

I will need to use recycled wood from Ikea as I have no funds for a hutch, so how do you go about building a hutch from scratch? Do you need to build a frame first or can you just whack the sides together with nails or screws? I'm a bit stumped with this one

There are all sorts of ways to do it, i think the best way is to build a frame and then add the wood, but if you havent got the funds, then i guess you could just whack them together! A piggy hutch i got for free was done in this way, and it was really solid and sturdy!! I would use screws though rather than nails.

Im not the best person to ask though! Maysie's Mike builds their hutches, maybe ask Maysie for some advice??

I made a nest box in the playhouse by wedgeing in the sides, no screws at all! It is so tightly wedged there is no danger of it collapsing (unless the pressure causes the playhouse to burst )

Vince the bunny wrote: I made a nest box in the playhouse by wedgeing in the sides, no screws at all! It is so tightly wedged there is no danger of it collapsing (unless the pressure causes the playhouse to burst )

Im intrigued! How did you do that???

I know nothing about hutch building, but OH is a joiner and I know you should def use screws rather than nails. Screws will get a much better hold than nails, so it will be much more secure

Yeah, I will use screws, experience has taught me it's better that way

In the play house I put in a front with a cut out for them to get in and out, then put in the back, they were a very tight fit, I then measured two sides and wedged them in and put a roof on it so Icould clean it out. It fits flush with half of the play house.

Thats fab hehe. I tried to make something similar, but it didnt go very well!

PM me a list of what timber you have got in what sizes and I'll get hudad to design something for you with a cutting list

Thank you, I will be going to Ikea either tomorrow (friday) or monday next week so it greatly depends on what they have in their recycling bin as to what I can make.

It will be sitting inside an avairy and pigs don't really chew on stuff like the buns do. It will need to be no bigger than 5 and a half feet wide so it sits on the buns hutch safely.

thank you

If it'as for the piggies, it doesn't need to be very tall. Hudad thinks 12"-14" should be plenty for height if that helps in your selection of timber.

Father Jack

I got some laminated chipboard stuff from Ikea this morning, 3 long pieces and several short pieces. I measure the long bits to 5ft 8 inches as then it would fit in the avairy. It was kinda obvious how it was going to go together so I scewed a back top and bottom together (right barrel of laughs that was when you are trying to do it by yourself ) Then I measured up 2 side bits and built a frame with some spare timber I had on to which I can hinge some mesh doors onto.

It's a bit 'homemade' looking but it'll do for the pigs inside the avairy. Just need to pop to Wickes tomorrow for some extra bits of timber and 2 wire panels,and they will be able to move in! I had some spare lino so put that in the bottom to protect the base.

I will post a photo tomorrow when I have done it. Thanks for offering to help me, I got carried away with the moment once I got the 'wood' home I love building things

I built it! I'm really pleased how it turned out, I haven't ever built a hutch before so all in all I'm chuffed with it. My main priorities was that it was big (it's 5ft 8inches so it would fit in the avairy), airy and bright and easy to clean. I put some textured lino on the base, and as it is in the avairy, rain won't get on it.

Here it is



It's just pieces of laminated chipboard screwed together, with a frame built on the front to support 3 opening doors for easy access/cleaning, and mesh at the whole front to aid in ventilation and to keep it bright and airy.









The best bit it it cost me nowt to make! Well, I did buy 2 mesh panels and 3 pieces of wood, but that only came to £8. I got the wood from Ikea's recycling bit in the car park, and the hardware I already had.

I've added a towel to drape over the front overnight, and I may make some little hidey holes for the winter to keep them warm (I'll cover it with a duvet or something anyway for extra insulation)

The boys seem to like it

That's really impressive

Hudad just said 'I thought she said she had limited skills' - high praise indeed from such a power-tool freak

Wow, very impressed.

LOL, I have limited tools, a knackered old saw that needs sharpening (can you sharpen them?) and some over used screwdrivers that I bought for using on the motorbikes donkeys years ago.
I do have unlimited imagination though I'm already looking at building Vince and the girls a hutch to match it.... hmmmmmmmmm. I feel another trip to Ikea coming on.

It's fab! And the boys seem very impressed!

I was not expecting that!! Its fab!! Lovely and spacious, i bet the piggies love it!!! And for £8 Its spot on

Blimey! Thats amazing!

Im speechless!

Vince the bunny wrote:LOL, I have limited tools, a knackered old saw that needs sharpening (can you sharpen them?) and some over used screwdrivers that I bought for using on the motorbikes donkeys years ago.
I do have unlimited imagination though I'm already looking at building Vince and the girls a hutch to match it.... hmmmmmmmmm. I feel another trip to Ikea coming on.

If your saw is a hardpoint saw, hudad says to bin it, they can't be re-sharpened. He recommends getting a Bacho 244 (blue handle) for about £7-£8 from any local builder's merchants. He uses them himself and they last forever.

That's brilliant and Mike think's it's great

Mike has those saw's Father Jack they are very good he said

I will have a look for one of those saws, thanks for the tip. My current one is getting to the point where it wouldn't cut through hot sh**

Can you buy screwdrivers on a ratchet? That would save my poor wrists.

Yes you can but hudad would recommend a cordless drill driver. He'll have a look on eBay and Amazon and recommend a few

How fab is that!!! Well done!!

omg,how did i miss this thread i love your projects,it looks amazing

Guess what??? I'm building another one!!

Vince has been chewing his hutch and has almost chewed the legs off The hutch I have made is quite solid and heavy so I decided to make another one. So I went down to Ikea again to get some more materials. There's no stopping me now! Must buy some decent tools though.

I'll post another piccy when I have finished it. It should look real smart in the avairy now, with two matching hutches