After recently getting Nigel and Roger, it was time for them to have a new house
The old one was very small and tired so i gave sketchup a play, and came up with the following design. This was my first time at using sketchup- what a useful tool :!: :!:
I morticed and tenoned some 2x2 and thought i should try the awkward sized frame in place. I was trying to maximize the space, so kept it as big as possible.
It looked fine, so it was off back to the workshop to finish assembling the rest of the frame.
The sides were plywood grooved into the 2x2 frame. Alot of the ironmongery and fittings id scavenged from what i had lying around. The mesh was from a rubbish fire guard and the catches from a huge scrap ironmongery drawer. For there upstairs bed i managed to get an old washing machine drum. I hacked off the bottom, then cut in a thick piece of wood for the front to stop there bedding from falling out.
For the doors i used left over oak and 18mm ply for the solid doors. Getting the hutch to fit was a nightmare. I hadn't allowed for the floor being so out of level, so had to butcher it over the concrete block wall so it would fit
](*,)
Allowing for Nige's and Roger's crapping requirements i fitted a galvanized steel grate into the right hand side of the floor. Any Waste could then be collected underneath in a tray. Much to my surprise, Nigel got the hang of it straight away :lol:
So i could clean them out one layer at a time, i fitted a drawbridge type setup, so i could either trap them on the first or second level
They had a few wheel spinning troubles so some wire had to be stapled to the ramp so they could get some traction. After getting this far i thought i may aswell give them a mirror, so then began ripping apart a rubbish wardrobe. :lol:
They were kept entertained for about 10 minutes with the mirror. They must have wondered what on earth was going on. :-s
On a sunny day you can often find them upstairs gawping at you gawping at them When its a bit chillier they nip downstairs where its a bit more draughtproof :wink:
The Highlight of this job, had to be the first 30 minutes of them in there new hutch. They went ballistic for about the first 10 minutes, jigging and jumping around everywhere- followed by another 20 minutes of snooping round there new gaff
Hope you enjoyed this rather bizarre build :wink:
Simon
The old one was very small and tired so i gave sketchup a play, and came up with the following design. This was my first time at using sketchup- what a useful tool :!: :!:
I morticed and tenoned some 2x2 and thought i should try the awkward sized frame in place. I was trying to maximize the space, so kept it as big as possible.
It looked fine, so it was off back to the workshop to finish assembling the rest of the frame.
The sides were plywood grooved into the 2x2 frame. Alot of the ironmongery and fittings id scavenged from what i had lying around. The mesh was from a rubbish fire guard and the catches from a huge scrap ironmongery drawer. For there upstairs bed i managed to get an old washing machine drum. I hacked off the bottom, then cut in a thick piece of wood for the front to stop there bedding from falling out.
For the doors i used left over oak and 18mm ply for the solid doors. Getting the hutch to fit was a nightmare. I hadn't allowed for the floor being so out of level, so had to butcher it over the concrete block wall so it would fit
](*,)
Allowing for Nige's and Roger's crapping requirements i fitted a galvanized steel grate into the right hand side of the floor. Any Waste could then be collected underneath in a tray. Much to my surprise, Nigel got the hang of it straight away :lol:
So i could clean them out one layer at a time, i fitted a drawbridge type setup, so i could either trap them on the first or second level
They had a few wheel spinning troubles so some wire had to be stapled to the ramp so they could get some traction. After getting this far i thought i may aswell give them a mirror, so then began ripping apart a rubbish wardrobe. :lol:
They were kept entertained for about 10 minutes with the mirror. They must have wondered what on earth was going on. :-s
On a sunny day you can often find them upstairs gawping at you gawping at them
When its a bit chillier they nip downstairs where its a bit more draughtproof :wink:
The Highlight of this job, had to be the first 30 minutes of them in there new hutch. They went ballistic for about the first 10 minutes, jigging and jumping around everywhere- followed by another 20 minutes of snooping round there new gaff
Hope you enjoyed this rather bizarre build :wink:
Simon
