I like it. My older hen lives in the same model, which is currently in the barn, until the big coop gets done. (Then, she moves in with the baby hens.) I especially liked the 1/2 " hardware cloth, but was surprised that the chicken poo didn't drop through it like it does for rabbits! This design for a rabbit hutch must have been around for awhile, because I got mine free with an (twice) unwanted rabbit. I kept him OUTSIDE, but it was hard keeping him warm in the winter, so he ended up living out the rest of his life in a smaller cage, but inside the building that WILL be the new chicken coop. (We ALL at BYC ought to write a cumulative book on recycling buildings and cages!!
)
My cage has a single opening that drops forward, and I keep the latched closed with a spring hook. I modified the cage bottom by screwing in an old 1/2" thick cabinet door that sits on the floor and gives "Fanny" a place to
lay (in the straw). This WAS an outside cage, but before I put a bird in it I did the following, so maybe this will help you.
--covered ALL end wires that might EVERY bit of wood with 3 coats of paint (in the summer, so it would dry well)
--painted the legs and feet of the hutch with a 4th coat
I didn't know how old it is, and despite the ashphalt roofing, I didn't want to see the wood rot. I realize that in CO, it would most likely DRY out, I advise the same--stain or paint with lots of coats.
Finally, I moved the whole thing into the barn--last minute decision. It's sometimes darker in the there, but it has had NO weather exposure. In the future, I plan to put babies that are out of the brooder, but too small to compete with the big guys. Since these hutches are built from 2 x 4's, they are wide and heavy enough to be very stable, but moveable, so I think you've made a good choice. I'm sure that you'll modify it for the weather--I'd like to see the pics when you're done, especially the ones showing birds on your ramp!
