Hutch for guinea pigs

pug_in_a_bed

Hello, just after some recommendations really.

My three pigs live in a large c and c cage in my living room, they have a run in my mums garden and go there every day for pigsitting whilst I am at work (and to cut her lawn lol)

Anyway, I'm moving and will finally have my own garden!
I'd like them to have a hutch and a run so I'd know they would be secure during the day whilst I'm out, as at the moment my mum is in all day so they're ok in just a run with their little hidey boxes, as she keeps an eye on them

They'll still be living in the house at night and as their main residence though. Obviously they won't be out in the cold either.

Any suggestions on good quality hutch and runs (or a hutch I can attach my run to) would be most welcome, or recommended suppliers.

louisdog

Mine live in an "Annie's Chicken Ark" from Flyte so Fancy chicken house in the summer:-

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Annie_s_Chicken_Ark.html

I like it cos they are well off the ground in the house so cannot get damp, plus it maximises the run space and doesn't kill the lawn by having a house sat on it.

Forsham do some good ones too including http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/cat-prod-forsham-chicken-coops.htm

The triangular traditional ark style is probably perfect for day-time only use, you can buy much cheaper versions and could maybe even make your own!

linda.b_4

Mine live in a shed with a tunnel out to a run. Last weekend I took out the tunnel, boarded up the hole and have the heater in the shed to come on at night. I would leave it till spring to have them out as its really damp and not very warm. I never let them out on wet grass as it can give them bloat. My rabbits still have access to a run and will all winter, but they are much more hardy than guinea pigs, and I think yours will be much happier in the house till weather gets warm again. Can you let them out for a run round your room on an evening for a bit of exercise?

louisdog

Yeah mine are inside all winter too, as I heard they don't do too well outside in UK winter.

pac-man

We have at great expense purchased an 'omlet' guinea pig run (origionally made to keep chickens in an urban area). we had problems with foxes and one broke in to my previous wooden run in broad daylight taking poor Kevin and leaving a pile of ginger fluff in his place . Perry was still there,but was a bit traumatised.

Like yours they live indoors in a C&C cage, but when they go out on the grass the omlet has withstood attempted fox attacks. It also gives them somewhere to hide when startled. That said it did cost us about £250- £300, but they sell on e-bay for quite a lot, so I figure we won't loose much on the investment when we come to get rid of it.

pug_in_a_bed

Thanks for these, will look into all the suggestions.
The pigs do indeed run round the flat and my lounge in the evenings, they like to camp behind the couch near the radiator lol

As its gotten so cold now they will only have limited time outside so will plan for the hutch for the spring

Missy_Spud

Hiya, I really wouldn't have your guinea pigs out at all now, its way too cold for them, bringing them in and out varying the temps can make them really ill aswell, id wait til its starts getting warm next yr now before putting them out again.

Ive had guinea pigs for over 10 years, and ive never bought a run lol always made my own its so much cheaper and you make it how you want it, just go to your local wood merchant they do wood cut to what ever size you need I usually get the wood to make a frame and then cover with chicken wire, and its usually quite cheap all you need to do is bang it together with some screws/nails and put tack on some chicken wire around the ouside and you have a lovely run, i made mine so the whole lid came up so i could get in and catch them as you probably know guinea pigs most deffo give you the run around when its in time during the summer! lol

louisdog

Mine are still outside until Monday evening as I won't have their winter housing set up before then, but I am giving them lots of food and lots of bedding. Their house is up off the ground too which should help.

Just a word of warning re Omlet Eglus - they are great but do make sure you check the run clips regularly as they can degrade in sunlight over time. I learned the hard way when a fox trashed my Eglu run and one of my chickens died, safe inside the Eglu house, died of fear I suppose