Jack rabbits are a wild bunch. They run all over the fields and can destroy crops. To protect your crops, or to care for young Jack Rabbits, you may want to build the following enclosures.
Jack Rabbit Hutch or Cage
You can build a hutch that’s designed like a simple chicken coop. Or you can follow a woodworking plan for a wooden Jack Rabbit hutch.
Complete material list, wood cut and measurements are in the woodworking plan.
The size of the hutch would depend on the rabbit size as well as the number of rabbits you plan to put in the cage.
All you need are some 2×4’s for the hutch frame and 4×4’s for the posts. You can use smaller wood such as 1×1’s for the door.
Use thicker wire such as 14 gauge galvanized wire mesh for the sides. These are stronger than chicken wire. Use thinner rabbit mesh for the floor to protect the rabbit’s feet.
The frame could be as simple as a rectangular box. Some hutches are even multi-layered. Check the woodworking plan for the appropriate frame design.
Measure and cut the wood pieces to length. Add dividers if you want separate pens for the rabbits. Use wood screws or nails to secure the frame.
Cover the frame with wire mesh except the spot for the door. Use an industrial staple gun to fasten the wire.
Determine the right size and the placement of the door. Construct the door and cover it with wire mesh. Use hinges to attach the door to the hutch frame and add a sliding latch for locking the door.
Next, add support posts at the bottom of the hutch. The height depends on how high you want the hutch elevated from the ground. Add brackets to the side posts for added stability.
Use corrugated roof sheets for a sturdier roofing material. Measure and cut the sheets to size. Make a foundation board for the roof. Attach the sheets over the foundation board using nails or wood screws.
Jack Rabbit Barn/House
If you want a fully enclosed structure, you may choose to build a Jack Rabbit barn/house. You can then place your Jack rabbit cages inside the barn. The barn’s design is just like a simple shed. You can follow instructions for making a shed from a woodworking plan to build the Jack Rabbit house.
Jack Rabbit Trap
It can be hard to catch these creatures. Jack Rabbit traps are handy accessories for catching these wild rabbits.
Complete material list, wood cuts, and measurements are on the woodworking plans.
To build a box style Jack rabbit trap, you will need a long 1×8” board.
Cut three two foot long boards. This is for the sides and the bottom boards. Next, cut a 22″ long board for the top board. There’s some space at the front for the door.
Cut out a shallow 1″ dado at about an inch from the top end of one side board. Repeat this on the second side board. The door will slide through these dado channels.
Measure the door width based on the space between the dadoes.
Next, drill a hole four inches from the rear end of the top board. Make sure to center the hole. This is for inserting the wooden trigger stick.
Place the notch in the trigger stick. This notch temporarily locks the trigger stick. The trigger stick gets dislodged when the rabbit goes for the bait. This will then activate the triggering mechanism to lock the door.
It may take some trial and error to figure out the right placement of the notch. Once you get the correct placement of the notch, cut out the appropriate door height.
Glue and nail the sides, top, and bottom boards together. Attach the backboard as well. Make sure the door slides through the dadoes.
Attach a wire, centered at the top of the door. Tie the other end at the top of the trigger stick.
Put a piece of board between the door and the trigger stick. This board acts as a lever for the wire to slide through when the trigger stick gets activated.
Make some adjustments to get the right placement of the lever board. The door should close every time the triggers stick gets dislodged.
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