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When raising rabbits at home and on a farm, it is more convenient to use cages made of steel mesh. The mesh structure is easier to clean and disinfect, it takes up less space, plus animals do not chew on it. Craft Rabbit Cages from the net you can do it yourself. You just need to choose the right materials and draw drawings.
Varieties of mesh cells
Before starting the assembly of mesh cages for rabbits, you need to decide where they will be installed. The design of their house depends on the choice of a place for the permanent keeping of eared pets. Rabbit cages from the mesh are divided into two types:
- The frameless cage is compact in size. Such a house is convenient to use when keeping animals indoors. A cage is made from one mesh, after which it is placed on a sturdy support.
- When rabbits are kept outdoors, frame technology is used for the manufacture of housing. First, a frame is assembled from wooden or metal blanks, and then sheathed with a net. In frame cells, a roof must be provided.
Any mesh structures can be installed in one, two or three tiers. The battery can be raised higher, as long as it is convenient to look after the rabbits.
The video shows a three-tiered cage:
Dimensions and drawings of rabbit cages
Having decided on the place of keeping the rabbits and the design of the house, it is necessary to draw up drawings. But first you need to calculate the size of the cage. Young animals for slaughter are kept in groups of 6–8 heads. Sometimes farmers increase the number of rabbits up to 10 individuals. One such animal is allocated 0.12 m² of free space. The young animals left for the tribe are kept by 4–8 individuals, giving them 0.17 m² of free space.
The optimal size of the cage for one adult rabbit is 80x44x128 cm. Dimensions are indicated in order: width, height and length. Housing for a rabbit is made taking into account the fact that a mother cell with dimensions of 40x40 cm and a height of 20 cm should fit inside. In principle, the proposed dimensions of the cage will be sufficient. An example of a frame structure for a rabbit with a litter is shown in the photo.
When drawing up a diagram of a mesh cage, it is necessary to provide a stand, the location of the door, drinkers, grain feeders and herbs. In the photo you can see a drawing of a frameless structure on a stand with dimensions.
And this photo shows a diagram of a cell battery. The most difficult structural element is the steel frame. Such models are more commonly used on farms.
Choosing a grid
Judging by the photo, the variety of nets on the market is great, but not every one is suitable for rabbit cages. The plastic option should be discarded immediately. Eared pets will gnaw such a net even on the ceiling, and under their feet it will quickly stretch and break through. The best option is a metal mesh, the cells of which are fixed by spot welding. This method of fixing gives strength to the material. However, for rabbits, not just any kind of net is needed, but made of wire with a minimum thickness of 2 mm.
The steel mesh is characterized by a protective coating. It can be galvanized or polymer. There are also stainless steel nets and, in general, without a protective coating. It is optimal to choose galvanized for the cage.Stainless steel and polymer-coated mesh will cost the owner a lot, and the material without a protective layer will quickly rot.
Let's take a look at what kind of mesh is used to make different elements of the cage:
- The floor mesh is used with a mesh size of 20x20 mm, or 16x25 mm. For adults, material with cells of 25x25 mm is suitable. In this case, the minimum wire cross-section is 2 mm.
- The walls are made of a mesh made of wire with a cross section of 2 mm. The optimal mesh size is 25x25 mm.
- The ceiling is made of thick mesh with large cells. The optimal material is made of wire with a cross section of 3-4 mm. The cells can be 25x150 mm in size.
The sizes of the cells can be selected individually, depending on the breed of rabbits and their age. For example, for adult giants, you can make a cage from a mesh with larger cells.
DIY rabbit cage
Now we will look at how to make our own cage from the grid. The process is simple and within the power of any owner. So, the course of work is as follows:
- To make a house for rabbits with their own hands, they begin with cutting the mesh into fragments. According to the dimensions of the drawing, two identical parts of the back and front walls are cut out. A similar procedure is carried out with the side members.
- If it is decided to build a frameless cage, then two identical fragments are also cut out for the floor and ceiling.
- The assembly of the structure begins from the side walls. The mesh is connected with pieces of galvanized wire. For this, the staples are bent with pliers. The process of connecting the mesh is shown in the photo.
- The bottom needs to be reinforced so that it does not sag under the weight of the rabbits. For this, a bar or a galvanized steel profile is inserted with a step of 400 mm.
- For the rabbit, the floor is partially sewn up with a net. A board is placed in the mother liquor and sleeping compartment.
- Frame houses installed on the street need to be insulated. Fragments equal to the walls of the structure are cut out of plywood. They are fixed to the frame with loops or hooks. In winter, the cage is closed, and in summer the plywood walls are opened.
- A support frame is made from a bar or a steel corner, on which the cage will be held. Legs must be provided. The house must rise at least 1.2 m above the ground.
- In the manufacture of the floor, a gap is provided on the side of the front wall. Insert the litter tray here.
- If several individuals will live in the cage and they need to be divided, then partitions are provided from the mesh. At the junction of the fragments, sharp protrusions of the ends of the wire will certainly remain. They are bitten off to the maximum with nippers, after which they are cut off with a file.
- The pallet is made of galvanized sheet steel. The workpiece is cut out 2 cm more on each side than the dimensions of the bottom of the structure. The stock is needed for the sides. Galvanized edges are bent at an angle of 90about... If the height of the sides does not allow the pallet to freely enter into the gap left near the floor, they are slightly trimmed. The edges of the galvanized steel must be deburred.
- A fragment of the net is bite out under the door and the feeder on the front wall with pliers. This piece will not work for a sash. The door is cut from another piece of mesh. It should be larger than the opening. The sash is fixed with rings, and a latch is placed on the opposite side of the door.
- A street cage must be equipped with a waterproof roof. First, the mesh ceiling is covered with plywood.Slate or other material is fixed so that a gap of about 40 mm is obtained between them and the plywood.
- The finished structure is equipped with a feeder and a drinker. Rabbit breeders advise attaching them to the outside to simplify the maintenance of the inventory. And rabbits will not be able to sprinkle food.
- This completes the cell assembly process. You can launch rabbits and feed them.
The video shows the assembly of cells:
In the manufacture of any type of housing for rabbits, materials containing plastic must not be used. Animals love to chew. Plastic trapped in a rabbit's stomach will cause indigestion, and the eared pet may even die.
