Long ago, when I lived on a farm, I turned an old corn crib into a rabbit hutch. It worked great, was easy to clean, and it was kept dry. The diy rabbit hutch below was printed in 1901. It is more for those who are interested in breeding rabbits for pets or food.
Belgian Hare Hutch
The Belgian hare fad is slowly abating, no doubt, and yet I find that people take a good deal of interest in these animals.
One reader, Thomas Edwards of Colorado, gave me a plan for a rabbit hutch that strikes me as excellent and tempts me to build one exactly like it. The construction is shown in accompanying illustrations.
My correspondent describes it as follows:
“The building should have the floor at least two inches off the ground, and banked up as much as possible all around, for warmth. Nest boxes for breeding does should have partition in for nest. Partitions between pens should be of wood, as some hares will fight through wire and they will not do well. Nest boxes should have the lid hung with hinges, so that the dirt can be removed and the boxes opened.
“I feed once a day corn-chop, and alfalfa green when I can get it, and when I cannot, alfalfa hay leaves. I do not change the food at any time, and I have as fine hares as anyone around here. I give plenty of fresh water and keep them supplied with salt. Climate has a great deal to do with the successful raising of Belgian hares. They require a very dry and fairly warm place, well protected from cold winds and shaded from the hot sunshine. The reason I feed my hares the way I do is that corn is fattening, and I find they grow better on it than on oats or wheat. Rabbits naturally are all muscle. They require some green food the year round, but not to excess, as it will cause bowel complaint; neither can they live on all dry food, as they cannot digest it. They require fresh water and, above all, they must be kept absolutely dry; the least dampness will kill them off quickly. Keep each breeding doe separate and handle as little as possible. Do not breed a doe again until you can take the young from her. You will get better young ones and keep the doe in better condition. If hutches are kept clean you will find the hares will also be clean and more healthy.”
Source: Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]), 25 July 1901.
