Guttering for a rabbit hutch. Or any other suggestions

Christmasshopper

I have just bought this super-duper rabbit hutch (not Moneysaving, but it's what I've been Moneysaving for!)
After struggling to get it home and spending a whole weekend staining it and fitting vinyl floor covering inside it I have discovered a problem. The rain runs straight down the pitched roof and angles in to flood the top floor of the hutch. From there the rain runs down the stairs and wets the downstairs.
This morning I phoned the pet shop's head office. They couldn't have been more helpful. They suggested either swapping it for another one the same, a full refund or paying for any adaptations to make it rain-proof. Because of the time, money and effort already spent on this hutch I would prefer to adapt it, but I don't know how. I thought maybe little guttering under the roof might do the job, but I don't even know if little guttering exists.
Please can anyone suggest a way of angling the rain-water away from the hutch?

OddjobKIA

from what i can see from the photo the roof folds over the bottom and the water will be channeld by this. Water will only drip of a shrap edge.

if you can get hold of a strip of flexible plastic type mateiral. fold it in half length way. fix this to the under side of the roof eaves so that it hangs down (doesnt need to be big) the water will then collect on the rim and drip away from the hut.

Also the openings do seem to very large you could try fixing a heath robinson blind type plastic sheet so that it can be hung down when the rain really poors.

Becles

I had a similar problem with a cheaper Pets at Home hutch. I bought it during a dry spell, so didn't notice the problem until it was too late to complain!

I solved it by putting some off cuts of wood about an inch high under the back legs of the hutch. This tilted it forward enough to stop the rain pouring in, but not enough to tip the animals out!

It's worth a try if you've got anything lying around that you could raise the back legs with.

tru

We built a double-decker run in the garden and had the same problem. We bought some waste pipe - not sure of the size, but it's the same one you'd use for the waste from the kitchen sink Cut it in half lengthways, then nail it on. It's a bit fiddly to do though.

Christmasshopper

Thank you for your suggestion Oddjobkia, but I'm not sure what you mean about the flexible plastic. Could you explain in more detail please.

I think cutting a waste pipe in half lengthways might do the trick. And I have checked that the rabbit hutch is level, so maybe I do need to tilt it forward.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

OddjobKIA

if you get a piece of plastic (DIY store ask for pond liner type plastic) 2 inches wide by the length of the circumfrance of you hutch make sure it is flexible enough to fold down the length (so it is 1 inch wide folded over) fix 1 half of it to the hutch/ let the other half hang down. I will try to get a picture to you if I can

Mr_Warren_2

I have built my own in the past and used a large piece of vinyl floor covering as a waterproof medium (nailed in the wood of the hutch). Worked a treat for more than 10 years and 3 sets of rabbits.

Christmasshopper

Oddjobkia I would appreciate that picture please.

SnowyOwl_2

An old bicycle tyre cut then straightened out might do the job. It'd be a right pain to tack on but it'd look v.cool specially if it's a big thick mountain bike one!