The Making Of: The Bun Shed

Jan 85 min read

I can't believe the buns have had their bun run for over 3 years. With a few different additions and changes, through the past few years I thought it was time for a much needed upgrade. We have finally got the buns a shed. I have always wanted one, but needed to compromise with my parents not to 'take over the garden' but they have finally given in and allowed me to get a shed which will give me more storage for their stuff as well.

I was getting fed up of tending to the rabbits in the cold, wet and snowy weather and was in desperate need for a shed so I can clean them out and check on them without getting soaking wet.

I had originally purchased my shed with Cherry Acres Animal Housing (please avoid them at all costs) in July, but unfortunately they kept cancelling my deliveries and pushing it back weeks after weeks and their customer service was absolutely shocking. It was always me doing the chasing, asking when they were coming and I eventually gave up waiting for them and cancelled my order. I had read a few bad reviews but took them with a pinch of salt, because some of the complaints were very odd.

I was so excited to get the shed delivered and get the rabbits in as there were so many features that I really liked. For the money you are spending on their sheds, you'd expect to have a seamless experience without any delays and it turns out they didn't even make my shed in the first place. I wanted a few specific things which made my shed unique and I've seen them posting on their Facebook page ones in backstock that they have they are selling at a reduced price and I haven't seen mine featured on their page at all, so I doubt they've even made it. I cancelled my order and asked for a refund which I was doubting I would ever receive so I had plenty of ammo ready to make a complaint but luckily they actually refunded me.

I then did a bit more research into other sheds we could modify and looked around at local traders who could build a shed, but none of them came back to me with a concrete offer. Luckily, my Uncle was able to fit me into his busy schedule, with his work mate and built my shed in two days. They came back to finish a few bits off. I have added some of my bits (as you can see from the pics) and there are a few finishing touches still to be done including painting the inside and glueing down some of the vinyl.

PHOTO DIARY OF THE BUN SHED PROGRESS

Building up the foundations and external walls which took my uncle and his friend a day to do. I wanted a 10 ft H by 4ft D shed with a storage shed section and then a run section for the buns and pigs with their own balcony sections. The storage shed is 4ft and the run section is 6ft.

The next day they built up the window, the main door to the shed and installed the balcony platforms. The buns are also having a ramp installed to their balcony area which goes alongside the window so they can look out and I can see them. They came back on the Monday after to install the half barn door and the higher bits of the balconies. The rabbits balcony is chipboard with an entrance hole cut out whereas the guinea pigs balcony is wire mesh and wood with a drop down hatch so I can to them and clean them out.

Below, I was starting to organise and arrange the storage shed section and going through everything I had. I slowly went through things and worked out what I would need and what I wouldn’t use again. I put the stuff I won’t need in a separate pile and worked out what I could donate to small animal charities.

I wanted a large work bench so I can prep things and also tend to the rabbits and guinea pigs at a decent height. I then have a smaller shelf above it to display things and also store some smaller containers for their natural toys, medicine and treats.

I placed an order with Amazon and ordered some more storage units for under the work bench. I like my hay storage bins as they stack and hold the 2.5kg bags of hay from HayBox. I wanted another drawer unit but with bigger drawers and one that doesn’t squeak whenever I open a drawer (I’ve tried WD40 on it). I ordered a black one with 4 deeper drawers that also comes with wheels which I’m not using. This will be for their cleaning stuff, snuggle beds, forage bowls and cool and cosy pads.

I then wanted storage for the buns and pigs food and also the litter pellets. I found this really good one that stacks, is air tight and has wheels. The larger container is for the litter and can hold 30L of litter pellets and comes with a massive scoop. Then it came with a smaller container for their food and I ordered another one separately for the guinea pigs food so they stack on top of each other. The paper litter fits nicely down the side and I can still wheel the containers out from under the work bench.

I have a calendar on the wall so I can write out what’s happening for each month, decorated with signs and placards, a kitchen roll holder for my blue roll and some hand painted slate prints from my Dads work colleague (one he did of my bun Oreo who sadly passed away 4 years ago).

I then have a 50L bin with a pedal lid for all the rubbish and a washable recycled plastics door mat with rabbits on it. I have also put a 2 pronged coat hook on the back of the door to hang coats on. Next to the bin, I have C hooks in the wood to hang things like the dustpan and brush and lint roller up for easy access. On the outside I have a cute solar light and bird feeder from Next of two rabbits holding an umbrella. I then ordered a custom PVC cover for the windows from Kuvr, it has turn buttons to fix or remove the cover from the window. This way I can roll it up during the summer for air flow. I am looking at getting another rabbit solar light and hopefully a round log stump for decorating as well.