Stairs/ramps for multilevel hutch?

[Deleted User]

I want to upcycle an entertainment center into a multilevel indoor hutch for my buns. The only thing I have no idea what to do is how to get them up each level. Have any of you guys made your own hutches with multiple levels? Did you make “stairs” or use ramps? I want it to be easy for them to get up but I’m not sure the best way to construct it.

[Wick & Fable]

I forget how old/big your buns are, but depending on the height, they could just jump to the other level; you just need to show them they can with a treat or by putting them up there first.

Wick’s hutch ramp is just a piece of wood with smaller pieces secured on perpendicularly to make it more climbable (like the letter “H”)

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[vanessa]

Mine has a 5ft long ramp with carpet, leading up to her 2ft level. And a railing incase she gets clumsy and slips off.

[vanessa]

I did make mine. It has 2 levels, 4ft tall in total, with an 18″ high attic for storage. So 5.5ft. And it’s 6 ft long. The front is open so I can clean it easily, and thesecond leve has a fence of NIC panels incase of clumsy bunny falling off. Well not really clumsy – just paranoid mama. The ramp is a 5ft long piece of wood shelf with a wooden railing. Carpeted. The second level of the cunny condo has a nonskid surface.

[Deleted User]

Ah they are both still little! One is 6 months and the other 2 months. My resident bun is free range and the other bun will be too, once he is neutered and they are bonded, so it will be a while before they get into it. By then, they would be a bit older but both still under 1 year. I’m trying to get started on this project now though, because I am a full time student and I work a full time job so I really don’t have a lot of free time on my hands and I know it will take me time to complete this project. The issue is that it is basically a TV stand with drawers. The space for the tv is quite tall, and there are two drawers below it and a space above. I was originally going to separate it into three levels, which I think they could easily make the jump between. But as I got to thinking I thought maybe I would use the top space for storage and just use the tv space and combine the two drawers at the bottom for a single space so that each space was higher up and they could stand in it? Maybe a shelf half way up the space so they could jump on that then on to the next level?

[Deleted User]

I was looking around the internet and saw someone who used a ramp with carpet! the only issue is that I don’t have that much space in my apartment for a ramp that long, and I didn’t want something so steep that they couldn’t get up it… hmmm… If I take the space of the two drawers at the bottom and figure out a way to make two “doors” that are held together by a latch. Essentially attach cabinet-like doors so I could just open that on the bottom and they can enter the bottom level. The space between the levels is about 2-2.5 feet. I suppose they could make that jump or have maybe just one ledge half way so they don’t have to make the full jump. What do you use as flooring? I have seen that some people use drawer liners but I don’t know that it would be safe, if they can get a grip on it they may decide to munch on it?

[Wick & Fable]

If you want to save space for a ramp, you can do elevating platforms/stairs instead.

You can take carpet samples from stores sometimes.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[vanessa]

I think rabits can handle steep. Try a 45 degree ramp? If the level is 2.5ft, the, a 42inch long ramp will give you a 45 degree ramp, and will only take up 2.5 feet of floor space. A squared + B squared = C squared. So the 42inch ramp wont take up 42 inches of floor space – only 2.5 feet. A half-step is also a good idea. I’v done that too. Make a step that is 1 square foot, place it at 1.25 foot high, and it takes up even less space. I used to do that with a pvc frame, some u-clamps, and a 1 square foot piece of pine shelving. If you post a pic of what you’re working with, that will help generate some ideas.

[Deleted User]

Ok so my sister is the one who came across it she just sent me a picture. It’s actually not as tall as I thought it was, and the space between looks closer to 1.5- 2 ft, but I haven’t seen it in person. She’s going to measure it once they get it back to the workshop. I’ll also put a picture of what I was going for based off a pinterest idea.

We were thinking of two ways to do this:

1. Leave the top space and have two areas. We would take the bottom two drawers out and combine that into one space, and the tv space would be the other space.

2. Cut out the shelves, bottom space for tv and what’s separating the drawers and start over making 3 levels.

Obviously, option 1 would be the easiest. I have never built a hutch though so I don’t know what’s best for the buns, to have steps or a just a ledge to jump on? She came across this for $20 and I have been looking for something stand up, because I don’t have room for the long dressers. She told me she found something for $20 and I was like heck yeah get it! I know this isn’t that big, but this is only a space for them to go hang out because I don’t have a lot of places that can be “theirs” around my small apartment. They wont be confined to just this. Of course there will be painting and lots of re-vamping and any suggestions would be great!

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User]

We wanted to figure out a way to fashion two doors on the bottom that are like this, but held together with a latch so they can be closed in the case that maintenance is in the unit, etc. Her husband says he has an idea for how to do it. And the top space I would just cover with that same type of wire stuff so they couldn’t jump out from there.

[vanessa]

Is go with option 1 and put the ramp inside.

[vanessa]

Is cut a hole at the back corner left or right, and have the eamp lead up to the hole. Is place the ramp against the back wall of the lower half. All the way from top (example left) corner to bottom (example right) corner. If the ateepness concerns u, which I wouldn’t worry about. You could do a wrap-around ramp at back and side. But that isn’t steep enough to worry me.

[Azerane]

I’m always in favour of stairs over ramps. My buns haves steps up to their second level. Each step is 14 inches square. The first step is 14 inches high and the second step is only an additional 7 or so inches above that, then anothe 7 inches up to the second level. The also have a platform up in the second level, the platform is also about 14 inches high and they jump up and down with ease. The main thing to keep in mind is that the take off area for jumping up has to be non-slippery. Otherwise their back feet can slip out and they may connect with the step instead of making it onto the step. A slippery surface is handled well by my pair with a calm jump, but once during a cage clean out when the floor was bare the got spooked and bolted upstairs, because they were rushing Apollo’s feet slipped out and his tummy connected with the corner of the step.

As a side note, my buns are 2.5kg and 3kg. So medium-ish size.

[Deleted User]

I think stairs may be the better option for me, since space is limited. I could figure out a way to have doors at the bottom and they can just enter through there and go up to the second level, so I wouldn’t have to fool around with a ramp leading to the second level. Honestly I don’t know if they will even use this lol. They have a cage but neither likes to be in it (obviously) because I leave the door open and they only go in the cage to get their pellets! But I wanted them to have a space that was “theirs” because currently Ophelia lays behind the couch and my new bun Quincy is confined to my room and he hangs out under the bed. Once he is neutered and recovered we will start bonding and once they are bonded then both buns will not be allowed in the room, so I was hoping they will use this “hutch” type thing as their own space.

Do you guys have any suggestions on flooring? Should I leave it wood? We have a staple gun so I could get some comfy fabric that would be used to make a blanket and staple that down around the corners?

[Mel]

I made a hutch out of an IKEA tv cabinet so I dealt with some of your same issues. The latch should be pretty easy to get from home depot, or you could screw a magnetic cabinet door latch to the inside of the cage area maybe on the floor if there are no separating walls. Dulce has two of those in her cage and hasn’t tried to chew (though she seems to be very good about not chewing things she isn’t supposed to). Chicken wire is a cheap option that you could staple to the inside of the doors as long as you cut off the sharp edges (it can be hard to even cut without hurting yourself). 

I tiled my floor, which was A HUGE PAIN. I love it, but I didn’t have the supplies on hand so it was expensive and took me hours. It is a good option if you are trying to “waterproof” your floors. I wouldn’t leave it as wood since if they have an accident it might soak in before you get a chance to clean. I have seen people get vinyl flooring and cut it to size.

Here’s a link to what mine looks like:
Cage Pictures

If you want closer pictures of it or any of the links to the blogs that gave me step-by-steps let me know! Good luck with your DIY adventure.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Mine have a very sturdy wooden box with a carpet tile stuck on it which they use to jump up to the next level (made from NIC cubes)
Try not to paint any wood where your bunnies WILL chew it.

NiC cubes really are a good option and makes a ‘light’ option for the house (not a heavy bulky bit of furniture for a small house / room). And you can then make the shape you want to (and make extensions or take apart)… Maybe you could find second hand ones on Craigslist or ebay…?

[Deleted User]

I considered doing NIC but I think I prefer the look of a hutch because I can make it fit into the furniture. Plus I am obsessed with crafts and DIY and I am super excited to try to make this thing turn out how I see it in my mind. I went to the craft store today and bought this thick fabric that is kinda feels like carpet, but they have nothing they can pull up from it and it would give them great grip going up a ramp. I have this whole vision in my head and it’s just hard to try to explain it lol. I didn’t even consider the fact of them having accidents and wetting the wood… I guess because they are both so good about going in the litter tray that it slipped my mind.. Taking that into consideration I now am not so sure about this carpet fabric…perhaps we will go with vinyl. Mel, unfortunately I can’t follow the link- it brings up an error message! Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Vinyl is good and very cleanable but mine need a carpet on the top level (on top of the lino) otherwise the lino is too slippery. I have found that on the ground floor level of the condo they choose to pee outside of the boxes sometimes, so definitely no carpet downstairs. Upstairs they have not weed one drop, yay !
Don’t forget to put a tiiiiny bit (un-nibblable) of silicone in the joins of the wood to prevent wee dribbling down….

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Mel on 7/13/2017 10:24 PM

I made a hutch out of an IKEA tv cabinet so I dealt with some of your same issues. The latch should be pretty easy to get from home depot, or you could screw a magnetic cabinet door latch to the inside of the cage area maybe on the floor if there are no separating walls. Dulce has two of those in her cage and hasn’t tried to chew (though she seems to be very good about not chewing things she isn’t supposed to). Chicken wire is a cheap option that you could staple to the inside of the doors as long as you cut off the sharp edges (it can be hard to even cut without hurting yourself). 

I tiled my floor, which was A HUGE PAIN. I love it, but I didn’t have the supplies on hand so it was expensive and took me hours. It is a good option if you are trying to “waterproof” your floors. I wouldn’t leave it as wood since if they have an accident it might soak in before you get a chance to clean. I have seen people get vinyl flooring and cut it to size.

Here’s a link to what mine looks like:
Cage Pictures

If you want closer pictures of it or any of the links to the blogs that gave me step-by-steps let me know! Good luck with your DIY adventure.

Hi Mel

Ive fixed the link to the cage pic. It had been opening as an error page.  I put link to your thread in Welcome section, Was that what you intended or did you have pics elsewhere? 

Awesome looking hutch!

[Author]

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