Yes, I look forward to that, too, as my hutches are pretty welldesigned. I can't take credit for that because the originalcame along with a pair of rabbits that were given to us. Theprevious owner designed and built it so the forward sloping roof opensup, toward the back and will stay suspended there on its own, and thefront opens out, to hang down, making cleaning and disinfecting a snap.
One side of the hutch is devoted to a sleeping area, the other half isopen. The end of the open side is framed with a heart shapedopening, which I maintained when I built my own sturdierversion.
I added corrogate plastic roofing in lieu of standard shingles becausethe latter weighed so much. I let it project several inchesbeyond all roof edges for better weather protection. I installed a Jfeeder on the inside of the sleeping area and fabricated a hack rack aswell for the reason given above. Wheels were added to movethe hutch(es) out of inclement weather and spred urine and feces aboutthe yard, instead of it building up in one area.
I also attached lattice to the back and sides of the hutch legs toprovide more strength and less flex when being wheeled about.None to the front, where it would interfere with my feet, or provide aplace for buns to escape to when we are trying to place them back inthe hutch in the evening after a day of free ranging.
I stained hutches with a colored siding stain in lieu of paint, becauseit is easier to do, especially with the lattice(ever try to paintlattice?) and looks rather nice. The lattice work makes thehutcheslook less "livestocky," if you know what I mean?
If your husband has access to free wood, I would imagine any kind willdo, as long as it is not treated chemically in any way. Iscrew everything together, for ease of repair and/or replacement atsome later date. I attach screen door handles here and thereto ease movement and opening/closing of the roof.
I built a "screen" to fit the top when the roof is opened up and heldin place with a bracket. This top screen provides moreventilation, yet is still somewhat protected from the elements by thepartially opened and secured roof. Screen also allowsinterior to dry out better after rainy, humid days and preventssquirrels from attempting to eat the buns' food.
Tell your husband to, "think out of the box." The originalowner/designer did, and the forward sloping roof(high rear/lower front)is much more weather proof than the commercial hutch that Fauna camewith that has a high front, and lower rear. Plus, the openingtop AND opening front was a stroke of genius in my estimation.
It's not rocket science and I don't even own a table saw, so all cutsare made with a hand cirular saw and are not, therefore, terriblyaccurate, or square. Help him by thinking "rabbit" for himand imagining what a rabbit would like in its home.
Buck
