Has Anyone Used a Rabbit Hutch, as a Chicken Coop?

Just wondering...

Hi Melva!! I have two rabbitt hutches and use both of them when I need to and they work just fine. Have a great day. Haystack

My dad has used them as coops. Its to cold here for all year round but many do. :)

Did you shorten the legs on the rabbit hutch or just make the little ramp into similar to Mt Everest for the chicks? I've got a couple rabbit hutches but they are like 4 feet off the ground.. was seriously debating on converting them into chicken coups for the younger chicks. Did you change anything about them at all?

I was seriously thinking about it till a neighbor's dog tore mine apart and killed 2 roos that were inside.. :(

I still have it and was considering putting walls around it.. and a ramp. If I were gonna use it for chicks.. I'd cut it down a little lower too.

I saw one coop online somewhere that made the ramp go 1/2 way down then turn and go the rest of the way down in the opposite direction! That was pretty clever.. Looked like a spiral staircase.. :) Good luck getting chicks up that.. LOL

i use my rabbit hutches for quail but just be careful if you bought the cages used. clean it good just in case there was coccidiosis contamination. don't mean to sound so "doom and gloom" but wouldn't want anyone to loss and birds or rabbits.

I did change one thing. The floor for the rabbitts was hardware cloth, so I cut a sheet of plywood that slips in and out for the floor. I don't buy feeders and waterers, I make my own out of stainless steel dishes from the second hand store. That way i can attach them to the hardware cloth and put them at a height so the chickens cannot foul them. It sure takes the work out of caring for birds, as they tend to foul anything they can. Also the waterers and feeders are priced way to high at the feed stores. If you have a large flock then it's different but when it comes to small pens with 12 or less birds I make my own. Haystack

GreyKyttyn I made a ladder. I used 1x3 for the rails and 3/4" dowels for the rungs. My wife thought I was crazy, but the girls love going up and down the ladder. What can I say. It was easier than cutting off legs and trying to hold the coop up at the same time. Hay

Haystack - lol i can just picture you trying to hold up the side of the hutch & sawing at the leg to shorten it. I bet my girls would love the ladder idea... the roos too. I have a 1x6 for a ramp & they walk down in the morning & fly up to the door & in at night.. sometimes i wonder why we even made the ramp. My chicken coup has hardware cloth on the floor.. the idea at the time was the chicken poo would fall thru.. I have since learned it does not.

The ramp in my baby pen is always a source of comedy and entertainment.. it's a crack up to watch a Modern Game baby go up.... LOL The long legs can reach 6" to the next rung.. they grab a hold with their gnarly toes and go S L O W.. at first.. Then they just fly out in the morning.. Some have learned to make a quick U turn as to not crash into the wire wall..

Hey Greykyttyn I can so remember the day's when I thought the same thing, experiences are always so great for a good laugh. A good or bad expereience is never a waste, especially when they can be shared with friends. LOL Haystack

ZZ's thats what is so great and entertaining about these birds. Watching their crazy antics and watching them learn is a riot, and then watching some of their owners (ZZ's) is better than a day in the park. Hay

Yep..me too..I've used rabbit hutches for chickens!

Ginger

Yup, I use a house modifie from a hutch.

I made the floor a large drawer - just plywood sitting on 2x4 runners. the floor is 4x3 and inside is around 4' tall.