Building a new home

[DavidEscapes]

I can say with certainty that if you don't move their outside run around, they will demolish all of the grass within a day; it will soon be just dirt (or mud). I have an 8'x4' run that has 6 guinea-pigs in it and by the end of the day the grass is bowling-green short. I personally think your outside run is too small; I would make it at least 6'x4'. If you will end up moving your run around so that they mow your lawn for you, then I find that having a bigger run works much better; having to keep moving the run around the lawn is a pain (I find), and so the bigger your run, the less often you'll need to move it. My rabbit run is 100 square feet for two rabbits (but they do need heaps more space) and I only have to move their run once a week, which is much better. I'm going to build the guinea-pigs a bigger run so that I don't have to move it around as often.

Here is a link to guinea-pig cages which provides recommendations on cage size:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

Given the space I have to fit the hutch and run in. This is the maximum size things are going to get. As I said above, I do believe that a total of around 31sq ft is going to be enough for 3 piggies max. Likely just 2. Certainly my huge reading around this forum bares that out. You say you have an 8x4 (32 sq ft) run for 6 piggies, I will have a 3x5 (15sq ft) run for 2 (maybe 3). So that's half the size of yours for probably a third of the piggies. At worst its half the size for half the piggies. I am also going to build them a little penthouse out their which will add a few sq ft, and some more interest and play opportunities.

I am going to go with new turf initially, but suspect strongly that I will be laying paving very shortly after. lol

The run will be permanently situated in one location, so moving it around is out unfortunately. From what I have read though, paving slabs will do just fine.

Any thoughts on mdf? I am thinking of using the 3/4 inch thick stuff for the hutch.

 

[daisyd]

Hi

I think all your plans sound great and you're clearly looking to do the best for your future piggies!

On the grass issue, I think your best bet for the grass in your enclosure is restricting access to certain parts of the run to give it a chance to grow back.

I prevent my guineas for demolishing the lawn buy rotating the runs position. I have a 1m x 1.5m movable run for 2 of my boys and I only put them out on evenings/weekends whenever its mild and dry. I tend to have to move the run every 4 hours or so to keep the grass healthy, if I leave it longer the grass takes longer to recover. I have space to move the run 6 times and by doing this (even in summer when the boys are out almost constantly) the grass can easily be kept healthy and lush. By the time I have moved it to position 6, position 1 is good and in need of a trim again.

Alternatively as suggested by others you could just have the outside space providing and area for extra exercise on slabs or hard earth or something similar (although they might be v.cold underfoot in winter?) and pick them grass daily. To my husbands dismay I like to keep part of our lawn like a meadow and refuse to cut it so I can pick lovely handfuls for the pigs!

On another issue - are you going to be able to access all of the outside space easily? You will need to get in there for cleaning etc.. as the piggies will be doing lots of poos out there. My 'piggy' rotation means the guineas only lightly soil the lawn and it generally doesn't build up but naturally breaks down and by the time they get back to square one they have lovely clean fertilised grass to enjoy!

Good luck with the building etc...

p.s. I built my own hutch from tongue and grove and it worked very well, was nice and sturdy and wasn't massively expensive - maybe a thought for yours?