homestead.fyi / RABBIT-TRACTOR

Rabbit Tractor

A 4 x 3 ft bottomless pen for four rabbits, a 2x4 frame wrapped in hardware cloth under a sloped metal roof, moved daily.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.

4Rabbits

48 x 36 inFootprint

12 sq ftFloor

17 to 20 inHeight

5 to 8 hrBuild time

$192.87Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished

3D view, framingsiding and roof removed

Front elevation

Right elevation

Plan viewfrom above

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

Qty	Stock	Length	Part	Cut
1	2x4	41	Front top rail	on edge
1	2x4	41	Back top rail	on edge
3	2x4	40 1/8	Rafter	both ends plumb cut 4.8°
1	2x4	29	Left top rail	on edge, ends cut to the slope
1	2x4	29	Right top rail	on edge, ends cut to the slope
2	2x4	16 1/2	Post
2	2x4	13 1/2	Post
1	2x4 PT	48	Base front	on edge
1	2x4 PT	48	Base back	on edge
1	2x4 PT	33	Base left	on edge
1	2x4 PT	33	Base right	on edge
3	roof	40 1/8	Roof panel	cut to length, lap one rib

Cut list: sheet goods

Part	Stock	Size
Roof deck 1	1/2 ply	25 x 40 1/8
Roof deck 2	1/2 ply	25 x 40 1/8
Front mesh	cloth	41 x 0
Back mesh	cloth	41 x 0
Left mesh	cloth	0 x 29
Right mesh	cloth	0 x 29

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 10 ft

Back top rail 41Left top rail 29Post 1 16 1/2Post 2 16 1/2Post 4 13 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 2 40 1/8Rafter 3 40 1/8Right top rail 29

2x4 x 8 ft

Front top rail 41Rafter 1 40 1/8Post 3 13 1/2

2x4 PT x 8 ft

Base front 48Base left 33

2x4 PT x 8 ft

Base back 48Base right 33

roof x 8 ft

Roof panel 1 40 1/8Roof panel 2 40 1/8

roof x 8 ft

Roof panel 3 40 1/8

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Shopping list $192.87 checked / $0.00 estimated

Item	Store	Qty	Each	Line	Note
2x4x8 stud, SPF	Home Depot	1	$4.15	$4.15	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x10 stud, SPF	Home Depot	2	$5.46	$10.92	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treated	Home Depot	2	$4.68	$9.36	see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated galvanized roof panel, 8 ft (Gibraltar 31 ga; check width)	Home Depot	2	$19.98	$39.96	see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheet	Lowe's	1	$32.26	$32.26	see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 2 ft x 25 ft, 19-ga	Home Depot	1	$30.40	$30.40	uses about 140 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)	Home Depot	1	$6.60	$6.60	door
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 in	Home Depot	1	$6.78	$6.78	door
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box	Home Depot	1	$29.97	$29.97
Roofing screws #10 x 1-1/2 in with neoprene washer, 200 ct	Home Depot	1	$17.98	$17.98
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lb	Southern States	1	$4.49	$4.49
Total before tax				$192.87

Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

Build the base from pressure-treated 2x4s on edge and check square by measuring both diagonals.
Screw a 2x4 post inside each corner, then the top rails.
Cut the 3 rafters with plumb cuts at 4.8° on both ends and set them on the rails.
Screw on the roof deck and the 3 metal panels, lapping one rib.
Staple hardware cloth to the outside of the posts, rails and base from the ground up on all four sides. Overlap seams by 2 in.
Hinge one half of the front as a lift-up door so you can reach in.
Lay a skirt of cloth flat around the outside if you have digging predators.

Before you start

Sized for 4 rabbits at 3 sq ft each. Move it every day or two onto fresh grass.
Rabbits dig. A bottomless pen needs a cloth skirt on the ground or it will not hold them.
Shade and a dry sleeping corner are the minimum. In hot weather, move it to shade and offer ice bottles.
Rabbits on grass get coccidiosis and worms from their own droppings. Only use fresh grass and move often.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.