How can I turn my cages into a rabbit hutch?

I have two 30 x 36'; rabbit cages, but I need a hutch. I read online that you just stack up concrete blocks and put plywood around the sides and on top, but that doesn't sound very stable. Any ideas? I also need to know how to build a nest box. ThanksHow can I turn my cages into a rabbit hutch?
Well, you can turn them into a hutch pretty easily. First you want to basically build a shelter for the cages to sit under. You can either build a 4-legged frame out of treated 2x4's or 4x4's and set it on the ground or you can use 4x4 poles and set them in the ground and build a frame.





Build a roof on top the frame. Build the roof high enough so you can walk under it without hitting your head. I'd recommend extending the roof about 2-3 feet from the front of the cages to somewhat give you a place to somewhat give you a little protection from the rain while feeding. Nail on plywood sides to the frame. In the winter tack on plywood or plastic sheeting to the back of the frame to avoid a draft on the rabbits and to help prevent them from getting pneumonia. During the summer, remove the plastic or plywood on the back to allow a breeze through to help cool them down.





If you don't put the posts in the ground and just set the frame on the ground. At least put one post in the ground behind the frame and anchor the hutch to it. That will help prevent the hutch from flipping over in a strong wind. Nothing is worse than chasing loose rabbits around a wet yard on a stormy windy night.





Also build or place your hutch under a good shade tree such as a maple to give your rabbit protection from the sun in the summer to help keep them cool.





You can hang the cages in the frame with chain or with wire, or you can set them on a wood frame. If you set them on a wood frame, make sure that the wood frame is not underneath the corners of the cage. Rabbits pee and poop in the corners, and poop will build up in the corners if the supporting wood frame underneath the cage is in the corner. Inset the frame at least 6 inches or so from the corners.





As far as a nest box. Measure your rabbit laying down. Build the nestbox 1-2'; wider and 1-2'; longer than the rabbit measures laying down. Use pegboard for the bottom of the nestbox to allow the urine to drip out. And give the nestbox enough height show she can get in and out easily. The front board should be high enough so that it is about 2'; above the top of the straw bedding in the nest box to prevent the babies from jumping out. Angle the opening at the front at about 45 degrees from the front to the top of the nest box. A nest box has to feel like a place the rabbit can hide. Too big and they don't feel like they can hide. Too small and it is hard for them to get in and out or be comfortable.