Backyard Bunny Bunk

A couple years back, my family moved into a new house of a new development. Just a couple years before we moved into the new house, it was an empty field full of diverse wild life. Today, some of the homes are still being built and the neighborhood backs up to a wildlife preserve. All of this to say, our home displaced some creatures that want nothing more than to come home. We have spiders, snakes, squirrels, birds, coyotes and rabbits, all pushing back against our new home. Some of these are welcome, some, not so much. We want to encourage the rabbits, so when a rabbit chose our back yard as the birth place for her litter of kittens, we wanted to accommodate. I immediately had a vision for the house I would build them, I knew the materials and I knew how I would accomplish this.

Mama rabbit chose our yard in late June to have a litter in. We have seen rabbits lounging in our backyard since we moved in. Having rabbits around us is nothing new, but we still gush every time we see one. I've been toying with the idea of creating a more inviting space for them. We have been looking into different plants they rabbits might like, where they come in from and what kind of space they prefer. So when I decided to finally build a house for them, the idea wasn't completely new.

I went to my local home center and found some fir pine that was made for exterior use. These were boards used as siding and for encasing an entrance, so I knew they would hold up to the outside and time. I kept things simple and square, using minimal cuts and simple angles. The whole thing is about 2' cubed with an additional 6" for the roof and a ramp off one side. I added hinges to one side of the roof for easy access inside, to clean between uses. In my original plan, I attached the ramp along one side to minimize the footprint of the unit. However, after I completed this project, I thought of a much better way to attach the ramp and updated the plans accordingly. In my original design, the ramp is attached directly to the frame of the house, this does not allow for any change in angle. In my updated plan, I have the ramp extending out the side and attached with hinges so the ramp can automatically adjust its angle in relation to the ground. This ensures the ramp sits flush to the ground and isn't raised up or supporting the weight of the house.

The prototype was completed in a day and I moved it out to the back yard the next day. I think I was late to this round, as once I set the unit out side, the kittens were already exploring the yard and ready to strike out on their own. I only hope they remember the house we built them and return when they need it. We see rabbits out back, weekly, however we haven't had a new litter yet. I want to make up a small planter to go under, with some rabbit food to entice them. This plan is actually quite versatile and could be adapted as a home for outdoor cats, small dogs or any number of small domesticated animals. The legs could be shortened and the ramp removed for those that don't like the height.

If you would like to build your own, I have plans for purchase here: https://www.etsy.com/PecanTreeDesign/listing/1274573118/outdoor-rabbitdogcat-hutchhouse-digital?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1661114478607

All the tools I used can be found here:

Table Saw: https://amzn.to/414Jzpr

Miter Saw: https://amzn.to/3KV9RVF

Brad Nailer: https://amzn.to/3KAVrse

Drill/Driver: https://amzn.to/3zTMWnq

Caulk Gun: https://amzn.to/3zTEp3C

Clamps(at least four over 24"): https://amzn.to/3ZX2S2E