Knockdown Outdoor Rabbit Tractor
Intro: Knockdown Outdoor Rabbit Tractor
Without a bottom in this cage, leaving the rabbit out at night is a bit iffy. You have been warned.
The angular cuts were made with a compound miter saw, set to make 60 degree cuts.
The angular cuts were made with a compound miter saw, set to make 60 degree cuts.
STEP 1: The Ends Are Equilateral Triangles, 60 Degree Cuts, Made From 1x2s.
Each side of the equilateral triangles is as long as the width of a roll of chicken wire, which comes in 2' and 3' widths. I used a 3' wide roll.
STEP 2: Added Triangular Pieces of 1x4s for Additional Bracing.
STEP 3: The Rest of the Frame Is Two Rectangles, Hinged at the Top.
The horizontal pieces of the rectangles are 1x2's. The uprights are 1x4's, salvaged from pallets.
Having the two rectangles hinged together makes this cage easy to transport when knocked down. I used 3 hinges, equally spaced, to hinge the rectangles, and two hinges for the hatch. The two hinged rectangles are connected to the equilateral triangles by 6 bolts, 6 wing nuts and 12 washers, all stainless steel.
Having the two rectangles hinged together makes this cage easy to transport when knocked down. I used 3 hinges, equally spaced, to hinge the rectangles, and two hinges for the hatch. The two hinged rectangles are connected to the equilateral triangles by 6 bolts, 6 wing nuts and 12 washers, all stainless steel.
STEP 4: Added a Hatch.
Added a hatch to add and remove the bunny. He comes in at night, for safety from predators.
The horizontal piece to which the hatch is attached (also salvaged from a pallet) is joined to the rest of the frame using pocket hole screws and glue (not shown), the holes made with a Kreg-type pocket hole jig.
The handle for the hatch does double duty as a stop to keep the hatch in the correct position. I added two latches, one on either side of the handle. One would probably suffice.
The chicken wire is affixed to the frame using nail-in staples (I don't have a staple gun).
Be careful with the cut ends of the chicken wire - tuck them out of the way so no one gets injured handling the cage.
The horizontal piece to which the hatch is attached (also salvaged from a pallet) is joined to the rest of the frame using pocket hole screws and glue (not shown), the holes made with a Kreg-type pocket hole jig.
The handle for the hatch does double duty as a stop to keep the hatch in the correct position. I added two latches, one on either side of the handle. One would probably suffice.
The chicken wire is affixed to the frame using nail-in staples (I don't have a staple gun).
Be careful with the cut ends of the chicken wire - tuck them out of the way so no one gets injured handling the cage.
5 Comments
Mr_Liss 10 years ago
Some sad news. Our beloved Romeo checked out this morning. My sister is keeping the cage for the time being. I asked her if she knew anyone who could make good use of the cage, and while it's early stages, she does have a candidate family. I have one condition (that the new owners immediately send a picture of the the cage with its new occupants inside, preferably flanked by kids), and a request, for a bottle of scotch so we can hold a proper wake for our dear departed Romeo.
jhawkins14 10 years ago
ToolboxGuy 10 years ago
Wow! You're brave to even leave bunny unattended - my friends used to have bunnies which dug holes in the yard and slept in them at night.
Their family cat would go in and sleep with them. Got really worrisome when bunnies had babies, but cat became godmother to them and would even bring them up for mom bunny.
Mr_Liss 10 years ago
There is a chocolate lab in and out of the same yard that the bunny cage is located in. The dog is in and out pretty much all day, peeing and pooping (i.e. scent marking) the whole yard, so I think any critter scheming about a bunny meal must overcome its fear of the dog before putting our dear Romeo on the menu. The dog had a sniff around the perimeter of the cage and now pays him no attention. By the way, it's not my rabbit, but my nephew's. Way back in the mists of time, my bro and I had similar outdoor cages for guinea pigs, and we never had any issues. So far as I know, the rabbit has not tried to make a break for it. He is taken in every night.
Mr_Liss 10 years ago
Speaking of which, if you have a dog and a similar cage, might be a good idea, first thing in the morning when Fido goes outside to answer the call of Mother Nature, to have him 'mark' a new corner of the cage. I don't think the bunny will mind and I am quite certain any predators will at least consider the risks....