Up-cyled Housing / Enrichment Elements
In this file I’d like to share some of the up-cycled projects that I’ve created for my rabbits.
It’s important to remember that just because something is free or second hand, it doesn’t mean it is low quality and it certainly doesn’t have to be ugly!
The first project is the ‘Pink Bunker’
The ‘cabin’ of the Pink Bunker is the top of a well used/second hand dog kennel that was gifted to me. The composite decking and the timber used for the framing came from the Hamilton Dump Shop, costing only a few dollars.
I framed up the top using the timber, making a hole in one corner that would be the ‘escape hatch’ from upstairs to downstairs. The framing was then covered with the decking. Next I added legs and simply cut the decking to fit, screwing it on to the legs and the framing of the top. The base has a higher opening at the front and a ‘bolt hole’ smaller opening at the back.
The kennel top simply sits on top, held in position by strips of ‘L’ shaped extruded aluminium strips installed on the inside to stop it moving. A later addition was a raised decked floor to keep bun feet nice and dry in the wet weather.
This design gives the rabbits numerous options for entering and exiting the Bunker both upstairs and downstairs. This is really important because it emulates a wild rabbit warren system which has multiple options to enter and leave the warren.
The Kennel top was treated with an anti mould product, then water blasted before being left to dry in the sun. Once dry it was primed with Resene Smooth Surface Sealer and then painted with 3 coats of Resene Lustacryl.
All of the rabbits that have used the Pink Bunker have absolutely loved it, making full use of all of the entrances and exits.
The second project is the ‘Blue Box’
The Blue Box is made from the base of the dog kennel mentioned above. It’s had numerous uses …
After preparing it for painted in the same manner as the Pink Bunker, it was also painted with 3 coats Resene Lustacryl.
I planned to use the base upside down, so I made a lid for it. this was so that bun feet weren’t resting on the raised ridges that formed the original bottom of the kennel. The Blue Box was then used in my Shed Units as a snuggly/hidey box.
Next I decided to repurpose it as a 1/2 way station between Lola and Roux’s Zippi pen and the patio. To make this work I added a ply floor and made a hinged ply door in the original doorway. Next I added two Zippi Tunnel mounting plates. I placed a jute mat inside the box to soften the ply floor.
This system was fantastic and Lola and Roux loved it. It proved a safe escape zone/bold hole for the buns if they were startled or frightened when out in their Zippi pen on the grass.
The Blue Boxes latest use is under cover inside the Cabuna for Chuchu and Jasper. The hinged ply door has been removed and one tunnel has been added, with more to follow.
The third project is the ‘Mezzanine Box’
This project utilises another donated dog kennel. It’s original use was as a digging chamber that was part of Lola and Roux’s Zippi tunnel system.
I first made a ply plate to enclose the doorway. To this I added a Zippi tunnel mounting plate. I also made side windows in the top by cutting out the window holes, then I cut out window surrounds from ply. To this I stapled weld-mesh before screwing the meshed window surrounds to the kennel top lined up over the window holes. This provided some ventilation and a way for the buns to look out.
The kennel base was then put in place, 1/2 filled with screened, bagged topsoil, the top was put on and the box was connected to the rest of the tunnel system.
The next use was as a ball/digging pit in the Cabuna. Fo this I first removed the tunnel mounting plate, then I painted the top using the same approach as above. I filled the base with plastic ball pit balls and waited to see what the buns thought … which as it turns out, wasn’t much so I went back to the drawing board!
I decided I would emulate the very successful and popular Pink Bunker concept. First I removed the doorway plate. Next I installed a mezzanine floor with an escape hatch to the ground floor. Finally I cut an entry/exit hole in each side as well as in the back of the base. Along with the front door, this gave 4 entry/exit points in the base. The mezzanine can be accessed via a jump up from the front door or via the base through the trap door in the floor. A soft mat was plce on the mezzanine to cushion bun feet from the ply.
This final highly successful version has proven to be an absolute winner with buns ranging in size from Netherland Dwarf to Flemish Giant!
The fourth project is the Concrete Tunnels
These tunnels came up from the Landfill shop in Wellington compliments of my son. They’ve been used in a few locations, initially in Westley and Buttercup’s outdoor enclosure. Latterly, after they were painted (same method as above) they’ve been used in the Cabuna where they provide a cool place to chill out on hot days.
The last project is an old hutch conversion
This hutch was donated to me. As is usual with these types of housing it was only in so-so condition. It was initially used in one of the Shed Units as an extra hidey house.
The first alterations that were done was to remove the internal divider, remove the door and replacing the mesh front with a piece of ply with a 2nd door hole cut in it. Although ‘ugly’ this approach proved to be really popular with the rabbits in the rescue. Once I decided to move this hutch to the Cabuna as an enrichment element I further upgraded it significantly.
First I replaced the front, back and floor with ply. The front plate which has two doors was deliberately made longer than the floor to provide added ‘hiding’ space underneath the hutch. Next a bigger sheet of ply was screwed to the exisiting roof to provide added weather protection. A Zippi tunnel mounting plate was added to the smaller doorway and the whole hutch was painted inside and out. The interior and exterior were painted with 3 coats ofWattyl SolaGaurd House paint. this is self priming. I also used this to prime the rook before doing two coats of Resene Lustacryl.
The resulting unit has proven to be popular with the rabbits - who especially love using the Zippi tunnel to enter and exit the house. The large top is also very popular with the buns as an elevated resting space.
