Do you want to provide comfortable shelters for your dogs? Doghouses are important to keep dogs warm during winter and cool during summer. If you are a dog lover, you have nothing to worry about having a dog shelter. You can save money by learning how to build a two-room doghouse in your backyard. Discussed below are the steps that you can follow to finish this project.

Materials

To finish the project easily, you need to get all the materials beforehand. The materials that you need include a ¾-inch plywood, 13 pieces of wood that has a dimension of 2×4 and a piece of 2×2 wood. In addition to these, you need a saber saw, weather resistant nails and screws, a nail gun and a hammer.

Procedures

The initial step in this project is to measure the pets that will be occupying the house. Determine the length of the animals. The length of the animals will be the basis for the width of the houses. Do not forget to add 12 inches to the total length of the dogs. To determine the length of the houses, you need to add 18 inches to the total length of the animals.

Measure the height of the animals while sitting. Add nine inches to the height to get the height of the doghouse. Use the 2×4 wood pieces to make the frame of the house’s base. Secure the base of the house using the water resistant screws.

Get the ¾-inch plywood to install the floor. Cut the remaining wood pieces based on the length and height of the doghouse. Use these in creating the sides of the house. Secure the sides with the water resistant nails.

Create the front and back of the house by cutting pieces of wood using the height measurements. Attach the wood pieces to the frame using the screws. Get the plywood and cut a sloped roof. Use the saber saw to cut the wood easily.

Use the saw to make a hole on the front to serve as the entrance to the animals. To know the height of the entrance, measure the height of your pets while standing. Add six inches to the measurement. To make the doghouse more attractive, you can paint it and you can add designs to the house. After painting the wood, you can apply gel coat to make the doghouse more durable to climate changes. You can also paint the names of your pets on the doghouse.

You will want to know how to build a hutch if you’re either raising rabbits or your kid just wants to keep one as a pet. Either way, you will have to construct a hutch for these little animals if you want to keep them at home. You can spend a good deal of money if you buy one at a pet store. Another alternative is to construct one of your own and save about half the cost of purchasing one.

Needed Tools and Materials

For this project you’ll need a pound of one-inch nails, a pound of three-inch nails, a measuring tape, a straight edge, hammer, screwdriver, wire cutters, and pliers. You’ll also need materials like staples, 1×2 boards that are about six feet long, eight pieces of 2×4s that are about eight feet in length, a couple of sheets of plywood, a latching device, and chicken wire.

How to Build a Hutch

The first step on how to build a hutch is to grab a pen and paper and make a sketch of your hutch. Make sure you write down your intended measurements. You should decide on its dimensions based on how much space you have available. You should also decide on how many rabbits you want it to hold. Once you have all the plans laid out you can begin constructing the frame.

The next step on how to build a hutch is to construct the frame. Use your 2×4 boards to build the frame. Cut four 2×4 boards to a length of 48 inches. Next, cut eight boards to 24” in length. Join these one of each piece to form an ‘L’ shape. The 24-inch board must be located on the inside section of your frame.

Join two pieces of ‘L’ shaped wood to form a ‘U’ like shape. Do the same with the rest of the pieces thus making two ‘U’ shapes. Combine both of these sections of the frame to form a rectangle. Next, grab four 24” inch boards and nail each one to a corresponding corner of the rectangle making posts.

Nail similar pieces of wood on the top of the posts thus making a rectangular box with the ends forming a square. Cut the sheets of plywood to fit each side of the box except for the side you’re going to use as a door. Nail these sheets to make the cage a closed box. Construct a door using the remaining pieces of wood and the chicken wire. You can either nail the chicken wire to the door or staple it on. Attach the latching mechanism/device to let the door open and close.

The finishing touches on how to build a hutch includes adding legs to raise it to the desired height and painting the cage. You can add partitions if you like or just keep the animals together in a large space.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on bird feeders. You can build a bird feeder using only the following supplies.

Required Tools and Materials

Dowels
Wire
PVC pipe (3” x 12” x 1’ long)
Drill
Aluminum foil
Post
Tuna can
Nails
Metal pie plate
Bird seed or sunflower seeds

Step 1

Wash the pipe first. Drill holes on the pipe’s opposing sides. The holes should measure 5/8”. Keep making these holes, spacing them out by 5 inches. Put a 5/8” dowel through two holes. Make sure a couple of inches will hang out. This will serve as the perches.

Step 2

Make holes a couple of inches over the dowels. Make 5/8” holes. This will be for the sunflower seeds.

Step 3

The next step to build a bird feeder is to drill two more holes 1 ½” above the feeder. The holes need to be on opposing sides. Put a wire through so a loop is made.

Step 4

Clog the pipe’s bottom with aluminum foil. You can also glue the pipe to a metal plate if you prefer. In fact you can use any container so long as it is able to hold in the seeds and close the bottom.

Step 5

Put sunflower or bird seeds in it. Use the tuna can as cover to prevent the seeds from being wet. Finally, you should put it close to shrubs. This will give your feathered friends more covering.

Making a Platform Feeder

Required Tools and Materials

Drill
Thin wood scraps
Wood (2 ft long x 10 inches wide)

Step 1

To build a bird feeder using these materials, start by sticking wood scraps on the 2 x 10 wood. Put the small wood pieces on the sides. This is to keep the seeds from slipping off.

Step 2

Get your drill and make holes in the wood. You just want water to go though so the spacing can be random. Do try to spread it out so water doesn’t accumulate.

Step 3

Put the structure on a post near trees. Put the bird seeds or sunflower seeds on it. Now you just have to wait for the birds to come.

Tips and Warnings

Those who build a bird feeder use different types of seeds to attract birds. The best choices are black oil sunflower seeds. These are the most nutritious and enjoyed by a lot of birds.

You can also use striped sunflower seeds. However they are not of the same quality. You can also use the mixed types. Other popular choices are cracked corn and nuts.

If you want to make fancy bird feeders, you should look at some of the stuff sold in stores. But remember that it is the seeds that matter. Birds won’t know -or care- if the feeder is worth $500 or made from wood scrap.

As you can tell, it’s very easy to build a bird feeder. Why should you go out and buy one when it’s possible to create it at little or no cost?

The best way to build a dog kennel is to start with a sketch design. Examine some existing kennels to get some ideas for your kennel. If you already have concepts in mind, note them down.

Required Tools and Materials

Fence materials
Wood or other building material
Hammer, saw and other tools for installing the fence (you can ask the store personnel what tools you’ll need)
Doghouse

Step 1

Check the local building code in your location first. In some cities there may be restrictions imposed on the size of the kennels. There may also be standards that need to be met during construction.

Step 2

After drawing the sketch, decide on the dimensions. Decide how big the whole structure will be. Also note down the distance of the kennel from your home. You should also consider how far it is from your neighbors.

Step 3

Once you have the materials you can begin to build a dog kennel. Measure the entire area. When you have the figures, install the fence. The fence needs to be put deep in the ground. This not only makes the fence stronger but will keep the dog from digging out of it.

Heavy duty fences are the best option as they’re durable. The fence also needs to be toxic free and with no sharp points.

Note: if your dog is a high leaper, you’ll need to get a higher fence.

Step 4

After the fence is installed, you can work on the door. Ensure the door latch is secure so the animal can’t get out.

Step 5

When you build a dog kennel, it’s a good idea to make separate shaded and open areas. A doghouse will protect the animal from rain and heat. If you don’t know how to build a doghouse, you can buy one. Put it in a spot that provides shading.

While you want an open space for the dog, there should still be some sort of shield from the heat. The dog run should be created near the tree. You can also use any type of material as long as it provides shading. However the shading material should still permit air to come through.

Step 6

When you are finished, clean the area. Take out all the tools you used. Check the fence again for any sharp edges.

Tips and Warnings

Here are a few other things to bear in mind when you build a dog kennel. The structure should be set on an elevated surface. This is to prevent the ground from being soaked in mud after snowfall or torrential rain. To avoid this problem, do not put your kennel on sloping grounds or at the bottom of a hilly spot.

Another thing to consider is separation anxiety. Think of this first before setting up the kennel. On the other hand, some dogs are perfectly happy to be alone.

A lot of planning and thinking is necessary here. But this is absolutely essential. By outlining your plans, you’ll be able to build a dog kennel properly.

Man should never leave their best friend homeless. Fortunately, man can easily learn how to build a dog house to give their faithful canine companion the shelter they deserve.

The materials from which one will build a dog house are a sheet of exterior grade plywood with a thickness of 4’x8’ and 5/8”, two pressure treated boards measuring 2”x4”x8’, an untreated board measuring 2”x4”x8’, a box of 1 to 5/8” galvanized deck screws, a bundle of composite roof shingles, and a tube of wet/dry roof cement. The tools to be used are a hammer, a tape measure, a table or circular saw, a drill, a pencil or pen, and a caulking gun.

Before one starts how to build a dog house, one should make certain that it will be big and comfortable enough for the dog to be able to fit and move around in, but it should be small enough to maintain their body heat. In order to insulate the house from cold weather, it would help to elevate the dog house’s floor if possible.

The first step is building the dog house’s foundation or base. Since dog houses usually sit exactly on the ground, one may want to construct the base out of pressure treated wood. However, pressure treated wood can be toxic, so they have to be closed off from the dog to prevent them from chewing on it. The base is framed out according to the desired specifications, after which it is nailed together with the use of penny nails. The sides of the foundation are drilled with 1” holes to keep the wood from rotting and so that moisture from the ground is allowed to evaporate. Small screens are placed over the holes in order to keep out birds and rodents.

In order to verify if all of the dog house’s sides match up to the roof and the foundation and are level with each other, the wood should be properly measured and cut before one starts to nail them to the base at random, cutting the walls and the roof at the same time. The side frames are then attached to the base, after which construction of the roof frame begins. Via an angle of 45 degrees, the struts and rafters are cut and then attached to the walls, completing the dog house frame.

The large plywood sheet is used to build the roof and walls of the dog house. After the plywood is attached, one can now attach shingles to the roof using either nails or wet/dry roof cement. If one opts to use mails, they have to be bent on the inside of the house so that the dog will not get scratched by them. One may want to construct a removable roof (for easy cleaning) by having one side be of a larger size than the other side, using screws to adjoin them. Wet/dry roof cement is applied to areas in the roof that appear at risk of springing a leak. In lieu of using the rafters, the roof will simply be attached to the walls. On the downside, it wouldn’t be very sturdy, so one would need to go and clean off the snow from the roof during winter.

After construction has been completed, the finishing touches in how to build a dog house are coating it with weatherproof paint in order to avoid water damage and wood rot, and placing in a carpet topped by a blanket for some padding and additional insulation. Finally, one’s beloved pet now has a nice, warm and comfortable place to call home.

The instructions provided here will allow you to build a parrot cage measuring 8 x 8 x 8 ft. You’ll need to change the material quantities if you’re going to make a bigger cage.

Required Tools and Materials

Shovel
Electric drill
Lumber (4 pieces; 4” x 4” x 10 ft)
Lumber (8 pieces; 2” x 2” x 10 ft)
5 gallon bucket
Fence post mortar (50 lb bag)
Water
Staple gun
Wire mesh (1” wide holes)
Post hole digger
A box of wood screws (3")
Tin snips

Step 1

Dig four holes with the post hole digger. Each one should be 8 feet apart. When you build a parrot cage, make each hole 2 feet deep and 8 inches in diameter.

Step 2

Mix the fence mortar in the bucket.

Step 3

Get the 4” x 4” x 10 ft pieces of lumber. Put them in the four holes you dug. Hold one post steady and pour in the mortar mix. Repeat this process for the other posts. Allow the mortar to dry completely.

Step 4

Get four of the 2” x 2” x 10 ft pieces of lumber. Connect them to the four posts. This will be the square roof frame. You can utilize the drill and the wood screws for this task.

Continue to build a parrot cage by setting one of the 2” x 2” x 10 on the outer edge of the posts. It should be parallel to the ground so the end joins up with the other posts. Flush the lumber ends and put on two wood screws. Drill them into the post. Repeat this for the three other 2” x 2” x 10 ft pieces of lumber.

Step 5

Get the other four 2” x 2” x 10 ft lumber pieces. Screw them to the bottom of the four posts. They should be set near the soil line. Put the lumber posts outside the posts. These need to be parallel to the soil. Use the drill to put in the wood screws.

Step 6

The next step to build a parrot cage is to connect the wire mesh. Slice 5 pieces (shaped like squares) measuring 8 x 8 ft. Make straight cuts using the tin snips. Set them on the wood framework and on the sides.

Put the wire mesh on the frame. Begin with one frame and move on to the nxt. Fasten the mesh with some staples. Take the top edge and fold it to make a seal. Put as many staples as needed to put them in place.

Tips and Warnings

Do not paint the wood or waterproof them. The cage here is for one average sized parrot. You should increase the bird cage if you’re going to get more parrots. Inspect the cage regularly for any damages.

If you’re going to put the bird cage outside, make sure rain doesn’t get to it. Ensure the measurements you cut are right so joining the pieces will be easy.

If you want to build a parrot cage, you’ll need to set aside a few hours. But it’s a worthwhile project and something your parrot will appreciate.

Before you start to build a cat house, you need to make a sketch. You can be as creative as you want, but stick to the basic building principles outlined here.

Required Tools and Materials

Nail gun
Four wood planks (12” L x 7” W x 1” thick)
Catnip
Marker
Two wood planks (12” x 4” x 1”)
Hammer
Plywood sheet
Handsaw
Padding (can be blankets, towels, carpet etc)

Step 1

Start by marking the wood planks. The 12 x 7 x 1 wood pieces are for the sides; the 12 x 4 x 1 planks are for the doorway frame.

Step 2

Begin to build a cat house by putting two 12 x 7 x 1s side by side. They need to be perpendicular to you. Set one wood plank above the other. Nail it. Repeat the process with the other 12 x 7 x 1 wood pieces.

Step 3

Stand these nailed planks up. Position them so it looks like a teepee. Make sure the top parts are as even as possible. The bottom parts need to be uniform as well. Nail the planks. Measure the space from the point where the wood meets the flooring. The space should be 18 inches.

Step 4

Put the plywood sheet behind the tepee. Get the marker and trace the points where the wood edge terminates on the plywood.

Step 5

Take your handsaw and start cutting a triangular shape. To build a cat house, you need to make sure the excess plywood is removed. When finished, nail the planks so the cat house has a back.

Step 6

Get the 12 x 4 x 1 planks. Set one of the planks down on its wide size. Set it on the cat house’s front. The result will be a frame measuring 4 inches. Get the other wood plank and position it in the same way.

Step 7

Get the padding and put in the cat house. How you arrange this is up to you. When it is set, put some catnip in and around the house. Now you can put your pet in its new home.

Tips and Warnings

The procedure described here to build a cat house is a simple one. However you’ll need to get more wood pieces if the cat house will be larger. The fancier you cat house will be, the more you’ll need to rely on your sketch. For this reason, you need to make the
sketches as detailed as possible.

Never saw wood without wearing safety glasses. After making the cat house, make sure you clean the area. Clear the place of saw dust, nails etc. Do not put too much catnip in the place. Some cats tend to get too hyper around it. Instead of making a large cat house for several cats, it’s better to make separate cat houses for each one.

It really doesn’t take a lot of effort to build a cat house, and seeing your pet sleeping and playing in it will make all the work worth it.

Just like humans, dogs are not free from separation anxiety. During times when they miss the presence of the owners, they express their sadness by escaping, whining and barking. At times, they can also exhibit different types of destructive behavior. In worse cases, they can even go for self-mutilation. The possible solutions to this kind of problem include drugs and therapy. For a better chance of solving this problem, it is good to know how to fix dog separation anxiety.

Materials Needed

Just like other common health problems in dogs, fixing separation anxiety can is not that easy. In fact, this moderately challenging task requires the understanding, patience and care of pet owners. Aside from these essential emotional aspects, there are certain materials that can actually make this job easier. These are dog treats, dog toys and a dog leash. Aside from these, it is also good to have dog dishes and dog bones.

Steps

For a better understanding of the problem at hand, it is important to consult the veterinarian right away, which can provide you with the proper diagnosis of such condition. In case the problem is beyond the scope of expertise, this expert can easily refer you to an animal behaviorist, who is more or less more knowledgeable about such condition. This animal expert can prescribe the proper treatment for the anxieties of your dog.

Try to leave your dog for a short time. Get your keys and then leave the house, preferably for just a minute or two. Slowly increase the number of minutes you are about to leave the house. This can help the dog get accustomed to your not being there little by little. When leaving the house, try not to be too emotional about it. Instead of emotional goodbyes and greetings, a simple pat on the head and a short goodbye is enough.

While you are out of the house, it is best to leave the dog in a confined but safe place. Of course, it is important to prepare a bowl of water and some toys for the dog to chew on and play while you are gone. Everyday, make it a habit to take the dog for a walk in new places aside from your home or yard. This can actually help the dog become more relaxed and comfortable. In addition, try to build the confidence of your dog by praising it a lot. Punishing it can only make the situation worse, because fear and anxiety are developed further.

Before you build a hen house, understand that they come in a variety of sizes and dimensions. The type you make will depend on your needs.

Required Tools and Materials

Sketch plans
Wood beams
Nails
2 x 4s
Hammer
Saw
Canvas (waterproof)
Nest boxes
Plywood

Step 1

Decide on the size of the hen house. The small ones you can just reach into, while others are big enough people can go in. Just keep in mind that a single hen needs 4 to 4 ½ ft of individual space. Make a sketch of the hen house style you want.

Step 2

Before you start to build a hen house, pick a ground site that is level and firm. You also want the hen house raised a bit from the ground. Cut a couple of 72 in 4 x 4 skids. Now saw the floor boards and set it on the skids.

If you are making a smaller hen house, it’s okay to dig a few feet in the ground and put four posts there. The hen can be set on these posts.

Step 3

Determine the size of the floor. Now cut the 2 x 4s according to the desired dimensions. Make sure the shape is square (or whatever it is you want). Next, cut the support beams for the floor. Make sure the beams are distributed evenly across the floor.

The number of support beams will depend on the size of the floor. Often, those who build a hen house will put a couple of support beams 24 inches at the outer part of the frame.

Step 4

Nail the support beams on the floor. Ensure all the joints are on studs.

Step 5

Get the 2 x 4s and saw them according to the desired length. Hammer the nails Depending on your hen house design, the floor plate may need to be set on wall studs. Other designs will require the floor to be nailed straight onto the floor.

Step 6

After the corner studs are set up, the support beams can be nailed down. Refer to your sketch plans on where to put the studs.

Step 7

After you build a hen house’s floor, you can put in the roof. Cut the roof to the desired shape. Install them over the roof supports. If you want to add windows and doors, trace the shapes on the plywood and cut them to the desired length.

Step 8

If the hen house is small, you should put the nest boxes in before the roof. Otherwise, you can put them in last. Put the waterproof canvas all around the nest boxes. Next, add in the plywood.

Tips and Warnings

A 6 sq ft 74 in high hen house will be good enough for eight hens. You’ll want to make it bigger if you have more hens. Make it smaller if you have only a few hens.

Finally, you should always wear safety goggles when you build a hen house. When it’s finished, you can start putting in the hens.

Pole barns are common features in farms, as they can serve a variety of purposes and are easy to set up. The proceeding instructions will show you how to build a pole barn.

Required Tools and Materials

Poles
Shovel
Roof trusses
Straight nails
Stakes
Roofing nails
Concrete or gravel
Hammer
Tin roofing sections
Saw
Caulking gun
Several storm clips
Braces
Lumber (8 ft long; 2 x 4s and 2 x 6s)

Step 1

Find a suitable location. Two things are necessary; the surface must be flat and the site doesn’t retain water. If it does, you’ll need to set up a drainage system which can be time consuming.

Step 2

Draw a sketch of the barn and refer to it as you build. If necessary, cut the lumber into 8 ft long sections. For the frames, use the 2 x 4s. For the roof stringers, use the 2 x 6 boards. To build a pole barn’s wall, cut the plywood to your preferred size. The corrugated tin will be for the roof.

Step 3

Dig holes for the posts. Space the holes according to the dimensions of your barn. Make sure the corners are set to 90 degrees. Put the stake in the hole’s center. Pour concrete in the hole. Try to pour the concrete in the loose soil. Add six inches of gravel. Pack the gravel in.

Step 4

Put the posts in the holes. Brace the poles until the poles are secured. Make sure the structures are upright.

Step 5

Fasten the stringers on the poles’ tops. When you build a pole barn, the stringers need to be secured tight. They need to be firm because it will carry the trusses and the roof.

Step 6

Install the roof trusses using the braces (you can also utilize a rope). To add additional trusses, just brace them against the one you have installed. Next, add the purlins. These are the 2 x 4s used to support the trusses. Fasten them on the stringers’ outer edge.

Step 7

Use the roofing nails to fasten the tin roof on. When installing, overlap the short roofing sections. Overlapping will make the roof more resistant to weather changes. Use a caulking gun on these overlapping parts. As you build a pole barn roof, install the tin ridge cap on top of it.

Step 8

If your plans include walls, install them now. You can use the 2 x4s as brace for the plywood walls.

Tips and Warnings

You can add the storm clips to the barn. This is optional, but it will fortify the barn. Double check your measurements; a single misalignment may cause the entire structure to collapse. Get some help from your friends if you think you can’t complete the project by yourself. Wear eye goggles and gloves when using these tools.

The most important thing to remember when you build a pole barn is its strength. By making sure it is fortified, the structure will be able to meet your needs adequately.