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I wanted to share with you how me and my Dad built the rabbit run. It took a little bit of planning and drawing out plus sourcing the materials we were going to use. It is home to both my buns, Malibu & Zaya now they are both bonded.
One thing I did really want was a hatch door, so I can get in and out to clean the run and get to the buns if I need to pick them up and spend time with them. It’s also a bit of a funny shape as we’ve made it to fit the space by our fence and a bit of the patio that no one uses. My parents didn’t want it taking up too much of the patio space but also have it big enough for the rabbits to use.
It was trial and error in some places but it looks really good now and they both love spending time in it. They have hidey houses in it along with a tunnel and box of toys and they’re forever doing zoomies and binkies in the run and spending time in it during the night.
The one latest issue I did run into was finding the best way to weather proof the run, especially in the cold English winters and when it rains.
I managed to buy a sheet of corregated plastic which we have cut to size to go on the roof to keep the rain and snow from entering the run from above. I started off with plastic sheeting cut to size for the longest and more exposed part of the run to keep the wind and rain out. I zip tied that to the wire during the winter and cold months and remove it during the warmer months.
The plastic covering of the rabbit hutch cover goes over part of the run where Malibu spends his time sleeping on the roof of his hidey house so he likes it up there as it's protected from the elements.
But I changed that as I made improvements further down the line.
Here is a rough sketch of the run and the measurements.
THE MATERIALS
*Items were bought from HomeBase or Amazon, everything else we had already.
- *2.4mx18x28mm Untreated Wooden Rods. We bought Planed Softwood - You will need quite a lot of these. We had to keep buying more.
- *22mm x 13mm Galvanised Chicken Wire
- *Wire Staples
- Hammer - Power Drill - Wire cutters
- Hand Saw
- Sandpaper
- *Hinges
- *Screws
- Pencil - *Slide Latch Bolt Locks 1.5 inches (2 needed for the hatch door)
- Ruler/Measuring Tape
- Right Angle Jig or Try Square
HOW MUCH DID THINGS COST
25mm x 13mm Wire = £19.95 Spax Screws = £8.00 18 x 28mm Wooden Rods x8 = £30.00 (each rod was £3.75) 18 x 28mm Wooden Rods x2 = £7.50 25mm Wire = £19.95 Wire Staples (pack of 100) = £3.25
Slide Latch Bolt Locks 1.5 inches (pack of 4) = £3.99 from Amazon = £92.64
MEASUREMENTS
The shape of the run is a little bit odd as we had to make it to fit around our fence which isn’t the same as nextdoors fence as their’s is falling down. The run is 3ft high to allow plenty of space for standing on hind legs and jumping around. The main measurements of the run are 75 inches long (187.5cm) and 57 inches deep (143cm) and it hugs around the hutch for more security. It is around 6ft x 4ft x 3ft.
You can see in the picture below where our fence panel ends. We decided to put up a new panel on this side as theirs is falling down and looks rubbish but we haven’t continued it along this side yet. That may be a project for next year.
I am thinking of painting their run and hutch a nice colour in the summer so it looks more cohesive, what do you think? I’m thinking maybe a nice grey as they have quite a few grey accessories and it will go nicely with their hidey houses which are painted a sage green.
FINISHED RUN & IMPROVEMENTS
I’ve painted their hutch and run both inside and outside using the Cuprinol Garden Shades paint in Dusky Gem which is a really nice light grey colour. This is a paint recommended for people with animals especially rabbits as it’s water-based and non toxic if your buns chew the wood. It also protects the wood from mould which helps with it being outside and exposed to the elements. I’ve gone for a grey and green theme with the buns hutch and run and picking up decorations and painting others in those colours as well.
To celebrate my buns Gotcha Days, I bought this handmade bunting to go on their run that says “Happy Gotcha Day”. It has a mixture of green and grey flags with white letters. On the other side it is plain, so I can use that during the rest of the year for decoration. I plan to get other decorations as well for their run and hutch.
Other bits added to finish the run: Interlocking Horse Matting cut to the size of the run (I bought 2 packs of 6 tiles and have some bits left) = £112.00 Custom PVC Covers for the sides = £74.00 Polycarbonate plastic sheet for the roof = £42.40 Insect Mesh for the summer months - 4 metres (L) x 60cm (W) = £12.98
= £241.38
Another update to the bun run, is that I've added some side doors so I can get access to them without taking the roof off. We used some wooden battons that we already had so I saved money there and only needed to buy some new hinges and L shaped corner plates for £6.00. I sanded down the wooden battons so they were a lot smoother and we planned out how we would cut them to create two doors. We used the L brackets to strenghten the doors and hold them together and screwed them into place.
I used the existing wire on the run and stapled it into place and cut the wire so the doors would open. I was debating whether to have one door that lifted up or two doors that I could open on their own and I chose the latter. I bought a kneeling pad so I can kneel on it whilst getting into the run so I don't get dirty and it's comfy when I'm changing blankets and cleaning up.
Let me know if you’ve done anything like this for your buns or what you think of my run?
