Balmoral Hutch Cover Instructions

The Balmoral Cover is initially tight-fitting.

Over time, the cover will stretch slightly, making it easier to fit, especially after you’ve done it a few times.

We’ve included a removable Velcro strip to assist with your first few fittings.

You’ll find this strip, along with the special cover screws, in the clear plastic sleeve inside the cover bag.

 

Preparation Tips

 

Before starting, we recommend placing the cover in a warm location for a few hours to make unfolding easier.

During cooler months, you can use a hairdryer on low or medium heat, or place the cover near a radiator. This helps expand the material and plastic for easier handling.

Once the cover is warmed, gently unpack it without forcing it open to avoid damaging the plastic.

PRO TIP! You can fit the Balmoral Hutch cover on your own, but having an extra pair of hands makes the process smoother.

 

 

What's Included With You Cover

1 x Hutch Cover (2 separate sections).

1 x Extra Velcro Strip.

5 x Plastic-tipped Cover Screws (located in the clear sleeve pocket of the cover bag).

 

Items You’ll Need to Fit the Cover

 

Small screwdriver (or drill - optional)

3 to 5 extra screws.

Small hammer.

Someone to help for the first fit.

For the first fitting, it’s easier to remove the roof panels and ridge cap. This allows for easier positioning of the cover.

 

STEP 1: Carefully remove the ridge cap and roof panels from both the main house and the run.

Note: Once the cover is fitted, you won’t need to remove these panels each time you want to take the cover off.

 

 

STEP 2: The house section of the cover has two metal eyelets at its tips. To start, temporarily secure the top of the cover with one screw to free up your hands.

 

 

Hang the cover on the screw, ensuring that the clear plastic window is positioned at the front.

 

 

Wrap the cover around your hutch, securing the back of the cover with another screw.

 

 

Make sure it is straight and centered, then secure the strap to the front of the cover.

Your cover should now look a little like this.

 

 

STEP 3: Attach the extra Velcro Strip to the back of the housing section.

 

 

STEP 4: Start by attaching the run section of the cover to the front of the main housing section.

Then, pulling the cover tightly from the bottom, wrap it firmly around the run section of the hutch. Ensure the corners are aligned, and the cover is straight.

 

 

 

Finally, attach the back of the run and house sections.

PRO TIP! When joining the run section to the main house section, have a second person pull the bottom of the house section down and towards the adjoining run section for a snug fit.

 

Fitting The Screws For The Eyelets:

There are 5 metal eyelets for the run and house sections of the Balmoral Hutch cover. You have two main options for securing the cover:

The easiest is simply to use a screw for each eyelet to hold up the cover.

 

Alternatively, you can fit the special fittings that have been supplied.

There are two parts to these fittings; the plastic tipped screw and metal part that goes into the woodwork.

 

 

Create a pilot hole using a drill with a suitably-sized bit to make a pilot hole.

 

 

If you don’t have a drill, you can use a screw and screwdriver: screw in and out a few times, then use the tip of the screwdriver to create the hole.

 

 

Next, you will need to push the metal part of the fitting into the hole you have created and then using a hammer carefully tap it into place.

 

 

Make sure you support the panel from behind when you are hammering.

You don't need to use excessive force. If the hole is big enough it will go in without too much effort.

Next, attach the plastic screw. In total, there are 5 eyelets strategically positioned around your hutch

 

 

In warm weather, your hutch can get dangerously hot if the cover is left on. We recommend that you remove your cover during warm weather.

We also recommend that you allow your cover and hutch to air out regularly, especially after long periods of wet or damp weather.

Failure to do so can result in a build-up of mould on the cover (and inside your hutch) and will result in the deterioration of the cover.

During periods of prolonged rain, the hutch cover will become saturated and the inside of the cover can become wet.

To prolong the life and enhance the performance of your hutch cover, especially during wet periods, the manufacturer recommends this (link).

Rabbits might nibble on small areas of the cover, and if they chew the zipper track, it could cause the zipper to come apart.

Please note that damage from chewing isn't covered by our manufacturer's guarantee.

To prevent this, we recommend taking a few extra steps to safeguard your cover against nibbling.