cheap materials for making a hutch

Sparky, I think you may be able to help with this. If I were to build some hutches cheap and fast, would OSB be ok? Needs to be cheap and need only last through the winter in the short term? an you suggets anything else? Thanks

The big shed was mostly made of OSB, with a coat of cheap paint on it. The boards are still immaculate - some of them are being used for the new build. And nobunn has chewed it

It's a shame you're so far away, we have tons of it out the back at the moment

Thanks Sparky, yes it is a shame, I could do with making 3 6ft hutches for someone who needs them urgently. If I were to paint the insides with pet friendly paint, would that stop any wee soaking in? Would they need a tarp to keep them dry from the rain? Thanks Sparky

Hudad says OBS board from somewhere like B&Q (about £15 per sheet) or Jewsons/Travis Perkins/etc. it would be around £11 per sheet. Use something like 1 1/2" square timber for a frame, planed preferably or plain rough sawn - don't use tanalised if you can help it. If you need mesh for doors, etc. Hudad recommends at least 19 gauge (the lower the number the thicker the wire) and no more than 1" x 1" holes.

Both huparents recommend the Cuprinol range of wood stains as bun safe Like what they've used on our hutches.

Thanks Father Jack. When building the frame, do I just build a rectangular cube shape and then screw the OSB to it once cut to size? I was thinking it would be best if the frame was on the outside so the buns don't chew it but I can't get my head around how to do that

I wondered how the guage of meash was measured, thanks for that tip. Hopefully the hutches won't be needed for long so I'm not overly bothered how they look as long as they are safe.

Thanks for your help.

Just build your frames as squares or rectangles, then screw the board to it. Give the board a coat of stain and then just screw together as normal once dry to build the hutch

When I built a hutch I just started with the floor laid down and attached framing to it round all sides then attached the upright sections for the back, then screwed the back panel on. I then attached the piece of framework to the top back between the uprights, then did the sides in the same way. Then the front as that was the hardest. I wasn't very confident on everything fitting together well so I suppose I was just doing it what felt the safest way to make sure I didn't make any errors, it probably wasn't the fastest way.

If I was do make another I would do the framework onto the floor panel and then turn it over so the framework was under the floor and effectively taking up less floor space. The only drawback I can think of with this design is all the bits of grot can get into the cracks - if the framework is on the top of the floor it gets into corners but not cracks.

I also struggled with the roofing felt as I didn't know you couldn't bend it right round without cracking it. I'd definitely need to work on designing the roof better because of this.

The bloke in the timber yard thought I'd got my measurements wrong and was showing me the 5ft x 3ft floor and saying, "How big are these rabbits??" 'cause it's probably about four times the floorspace of any bunny hutch he'd seen before.

We cover our floors in lino before building onto them. A can of spray adhesive and slightly stretch the lino right to the edges

Also with the roof, don't bother trying to fold the felt, just cut it to the size of the roof and glue it down. You can finish the edge with an angle trim, just stain or paint the inside of it before fitting and then run a line of clear silicone sealant into the middle of the Vee so it seals the edge of the felt. Then pin with panel pins through the sides into the roof board

I have a built a prototype using the laminated chip board (furniture board?) from IKEA. I built a frame but TBH I have a creative mind and not a logical one, so found building a frame quite difficult Anyway, built it, just need to finish the front panel. I would have liked to have felted the roof and pitched it, but skilld and money do not allow so I will cover it with tarp.



It's 5ft by 2ft by 2ft

I (with my limited skill) managed create a sloping roof simply by putting a piece of wood across the top of the framework at the front (raising the roof at the front) and then just attaching the same size strips to the outside to block the gap. It's not hugely different to how the Rabbit Hutch Shop does their rooves. Even if you are doing a quick job and using tarp it might be worth the effort so it doesn't puddle.

Looks really good so far

Aye, looking good

I assume you're planning to put something on the floor, as the laminate will be very slippery?

Thanks Bigears I will have a rethink on the roof as I don't want it to puddle when raining.

Sparky, yes, the floor is like an ice rink so will need to scrounge some lino from somewhere, else bunny will be sustaining injuries. The bun it's for is called Graham, he is a beautiful brown & white dutch lionhead cross. I'm building hutches for a local foster carer of rescue rabbits and she got a bit unindated.

The hutch will be sat on another hutch thats why it doesn't have legs.

Finished it



It weighes a ton, so need to buy some OSB or similar to try and keep weight down.

If I use pet friendly paint on OSB wll it be waterproof if out in the rain or will it turn to mush? Thanks

The lower panel here is OSB and has only had one coat of Cuprinol

The hutch looks fabaroonie The weight shows the quality hudad says

Wow Thats amazing! God I cant hang a picture so blimmin fair play to you!!

The hutch looks fab! Love the bunny on the door

The hutch looks fab, and the bunny is very cute

OSB is pretty heavy too, but it will last - the Hu-parents were really impressed with how the shed looked after almost a year. That only had cheap paint on, but having been so impressed with the Cuprinol they wouldn't go with cheap paint again, especially if you can find the Cuprinol on offer as they did (in Homebase at the time).

Well the bunny (Graham) is in the hutch now and the hutch is looking good in the rain. I made a cover for it and a clear plastic flap for the mesh at the front. I sealed all the edges of the laminated chipboard an d the OSB with 3 coats of paint. I used Wilkos brand cos I couldn't have two colours with the cuprinol cos of the price of it. Buying it on offer is the way forward as the Wilkos stuff is a little thin.

The bunny has been painted again as it looked a bit blotchy in the photo. I think I will paint a abunny on all my hutches now