Bedding in outdoor hutches

[Sarah33]

Hello, I'm new on here and would like some advice please.
I have 2 outdoor hutches, 1 with two girls in and other with two boys in and I currently use shavings and lots of hay, which is very messy to clean if windy out. The hutches are sheltered would I be ok to use the chenille bath mats and use lino to protect the wood with either puppy pads or newspaper then the mats on top. Pictures of my setups added, still waiting for my husband to build shelter around the boys hutch in the same way he has the girls . Thanks in advance for any advice given .

 

[Siikibam]

I think some use newspaper with hay on top fit bedding then they can roll it up for disposal. Could you try newspapers under the shavings? Otherwise I don’t know that the bath mats would be a good idea in winter. Those whose piggies live outside don’t use fleece/fabric bedding in winter because it’s not as likely to dry.

I’d tag but my mind is blank as to who has outdoor piggies.

 

[Sarah33]

If it was possible to use them. They would be changed every day . I've tried newspaper underneath the shavings and it doesn't work for me . Thanks for a quick reply

 

[Swissgreys]

I have an outdoor rabbit hutch with a similar shelter set up to you.
Both floors are lined with lino to protect the wood and help with draft proofing.

I do use bath mats on the top floor which is the most sheltered and never gets wet, and have shavings on the bottom floor.
Of course rabbits are litter trained so this makes it easier to keep everything dry, but you could always give bath mats a go in part of the hutch and see how often they need changing.
Something else that might help is having part of the floor with a bath mat and the other part with a huge underbed storage box with disposable bedding and hay in it to contain the mess a bit.
We use this for our rabbits and it is super easy to life to plastic box out and dump the contents in the compost bin.

 

[Sarah33]

I have an outdoor rabbit hutch with a similar shelter set up to you.
Both floors are lined with lino to protect the wood and help with draft proofing.

I do use bath mats on the top floor which is the most sheltered and never gets wet, and have shavings on the bottom floor.
Of course rabbits are litter trained so this makes it easier to keep everything dry, but you could always give bath mats a go in part of the hutch and see how often they need changing.
Something else that might help is having part of the floor with a bath mat and the other part with a huge underbed storage box with disposable bedding and hay in it to contain the mess a bit.
We use this for our rabbits and it is super easy to life to plastic box out and dump the contents in the compost bin.

Thank you so much, during the winter the hutch never gets wets at the bottom and I would change bedding every day , someone said just put puppy pads under the mats rather than lino incase the pee gets under it, they would also have plenty of cosy hideouts and hay, just the shavings are a nightmare as my boys keep kicking it out the mesh lol. I wasnt sure if they would be warm enough when it gets to winter again

 

[LMPigs]

If you are leaving them outside in the winter I don't think bath mats will be enough.

We use fleece or washable puppy pads in the walking about area of our set up at this time of year but we find that once it starts getting chilly the boys spend minimal time outside their (hay stuffed) sleeping area if we don't put something more cosy for them.

You could have different bedding for summer and winter though. Maybe you are less concerned about hay blowing around your patio when the weather is no good for sitting outside?

 

[LMPigs]

Sorry, posted and then had another thought.

For us it was pretty obvious ours wanted warmer bedding because every time we went to see them they would be in warmest area and then would just come out and quickly eat their food looking all puffed up (which I think they do when cold or uncomfortable). So you could change for bath mats for now and then play it by ear when the weather starts getting colder.

 

[Sarah33]

Sorry, posted and then had another thought.

For us it was pretty obvious ours wanted warmer bedding because every time we went to see them they would be in warmest area and then would just come out and quickly eat their food looking all puffed up (which I think they do when cold or uncomfortable). So you could change for bath mats for now and then play it by ear when the weather starts getting colder.

The last 2 winters I have put bubble wrap under the hutch for extra warmth, if i decide to use the mats would it be worth putting a thermal hutch cover on for the winter , at the moment they just have the rain cover on as in the photos I have put on. Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

The last 2 winters I have put bubble wrap under the hutch for extra warmth, if i decide to use the mats would it be worth putting a thermal hutch cover on for the winter , at the moment they just have the rain cover on as in the photos I have put on. Thanks

Bath mats alone won’t be warm enough in winter even with extra covers on the hutch. They need thick layers of hay and a heat source, as well as measures to prevent the heat generated by the heat source from escaping.

My two live in my shed and I use fleece in summer only. In the winter, fleece/bath mats just isn’t enough and they require several hutch covers, and thick layer of hay everywhere and a heat source (snugglesafe heat pads) to generate the heat. Bubble wrap will help hold the heat in but it obviously doesn’t do anything to generate heat.