Designing a new hutch

[Liane]

I'm designing a new hutch right now (oh, my beautiful art looks...interesting) and I have a few ideas I'm going over, and I also have some queries.

It's an outdoor hutch.

General Design idea
I want to build a two story using new wood and doors from old hutches I've got (the wire is better quality, will have to replace the surround though). How easy have others found it to build their hutches? Is it expensive?

Also, I have the recommended sizes for five guinea pigs, but I was wondering how much having a ramp and a hay loft would affect the space? I was thinking of having a ramp from the top floor onto a hay loft, and then a second ramp down to the lowest level. There'd be a little hidey-space underneath this loft.

In the bed area, I was also thinking of building a removable wooden house that would be high enough to go under, and low enough to sit on (my girls use their current pigloo like a bunk bed!) and then were would be additional floor space I imagine they'd use as a toilet/chill out zone. There would obviously be a partition wall, and there would be 'bedrooms' on both floors.

But this sounds like its going to take up a lot of running space. There'd be an almost clear run upstairs, with just a wall and hole for the ramp, then a bit downstairs.

Ramp Safety
I have one pig who is a little...shall we say, energetic. I'm concerned she could be a danger to herself on the ramp! I'd like to make the ramp to be as ...what's the opposite of steep? lol. It would extend almost the whole run area, and would have very high walls (and high walls surrounding the upstairs opening). What slope would you recommend, and do you think wooden 'step' type things, carpet, or a combination would be best for grip?

Some ideas I'm considering
I'm going to be using a plastic floor, I think. Much easier to clean. But I was thinking about have spaces between each floor and in the roof to put insulation? As in the loft insulation you can get - what do you think?

I'm also wondering whether to include a little hatch beneath the bed areas to insert extra snuggle pads, just to keep the floor a little warmer but not roasting if they don't want that.


What do you think? I hope to add drawings soon.

 

[gizmo01]

just a thought...... why not make the ramp more of a tunnel?

 

[Little Piggles]

I was worried about the ramp too. Willow was never very fond of using it.

I put two little 'tables' to make a ledge and lift the ramp so it wasn't as steep.

It's given them a bit more space too as they can now use pretty much the whole floor and very little floor-space is lost under the ramp.

 

[Liane]

just a thought...... why not make the ramp more of a tunnel?

I was thinking of doing something like that. The walls in my drawing are very high, but I was thinking about enclosing it, at least on the top floor? Is that too much, do you think? I don't want the pigs thinking its another bunk bed lol.

 

[rachelsharp]

I'm also wondering whether to include a little hatch beneath the bed areas to insert extra snuggle pads, just to keep the floor a little warmer but not roasting if they don't want that.

i have a hutch from pets at home, and fortunately a handy dad, so he actually ended up installing a small electric heater on the underside of the top floor inside the hutch, like this one:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/galaxy-120w-tubular-heater/45933

we already had an outdoor electricity supply and plugs etc next to the hutch but it's really great especially for winter so i know when i wrap them up on a night they are nice and toasty, not too hot, i have a thermometer inside, but it's been glreat and i keeps them warm all night. people always joke they're the only guineas they know with central heating! it's probably cheaper than a snuggle pad too!