I've had a new run for about a week now and I thought I do a post on here for other people to see who are thinking/wanting to get a run suitable for inside and possibly outside.
So you know why I went for this specific run, I'll tell you why it suits me. I live at home with my mum and dad, we have two border collies called Kep and Glyn. From being a puppy Kep knew not to touch the guinea pigs and is completely disinterested in them (I've seen him watch television with more expression on his face). Glyn on the other hand thinks anything that moves is food.
The dog's get to go pretty much where ever in the house, except the bedrooms, so when a doors closed they scratch and whine at it, so everytime the guinea pigs were running in the front room there would be a big dog crying at the other side. It was always a major worry that someone would come along and just open the door.
So I decided I'd get a run my specifications were something that folds can be put away, can go outside and has sides large enough for a dog not to just be able to put it's head over and go *chomp* I can tell you now I've seen hundreds of runs rolleyes but I ultimately decided upon this one: http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/runs_fencing/pens_with_racks/95235
It doesn't come with it's own base which I'm happy with it means come summer I can put them outside on the grass (Under constant supervision). I understand some runs with bases are detachable but I found they cost more and weren't as large as this one. I posted a thread asking for suggestions to put on the floor and got some great responses but found alot of things suggested weren't large enough I'd of ended up with a gap. So what I have down is a shower curtain (the only piece of plastic I could find the right size for it) then fleece blankets over the top.
I'm really happy with the run I can attach a water bottle, fit in tents, cosies, tunnels bowls and a cat litter tray full of hay and they can still hurtle around inside, I think up to four guinea pigs would be happy running in it. I'm home alot of the time so I can pop them in it and leave them to it.
You can adjust the size of the run so you could have it as a cube or make it the shape to fit round a corner it doesn't have to be as I have it. The other great thing about it as well is if your guinea pig's are a bit hard to catch you can pull the sides in to make it smaller and then you don't have to chase them round.
I don't think its suitable for young guinea pig's the bars in it are quite large and I've seen a baby squeeze through smaller. I also wouldn't leave my boys in it and go out, I'd just worry all the time. I personally wouldn't use it as a home for them either for me it's just a run.
The run is set up in my bedroom and because I don't fancy going to sleep with poo next to my bed I clean it out every time they've been inside which is very easy. I brush up poo into a dust pan, shake off any excess hay etc off the fleece outside and pop it in the washing machine on high to clean. I spray the shower curtain with the same disinfectant I use on their cage and wipe it clean. Hey presto it's clean.
I've got some pictures so you can see the set up. I don't have any of them running as I'm rubbish and photographing things that move, but just so you get the general idea. Feel free to ask any questions or make suggestions etc.
So you know why I went for this specific run, I'll tell you why it suits me. I live at home with my mum and dad, we have two border collies called Kep and Glyn. From being a puppy Kep knew not to touch the guinea pigs and is completely disinterested in them (I've seen him watch television with more expression on his face). Glyn on the other hand thinks anything that moves is food.
The dog's get to go pretty much where ever in the house, except the bedrooms, so when a doors closed they scratch and whine at it, so everytime the guinea pigs were running in the front room there would be a big dog crying at the other side. It was always a major worry that someone would come along and just open the door.
So I decided I'd get a run my specifications were something that folds can be put away, can go outside and has sides large enough for a dog not to just be able to put it's head over and go *chomp* I can tell you now I've seen hundreds of runs rolleyes but I ultimately decided upon this one: http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/runs_fencing/pens_with_racks/95235
It doesn't come with it's own base which I'm happy with it means come summer I can put them outside on the grass (Under constant supervision). I understand some runs with bases are detachable but I found they cost more and weren't as large as this one. I posted a thread asking for suggestions to put on the floor and got some great responses but found alot of things suggested weren't large enough I'd of ended up with a gap. So what I have down is a shower curtain (the only piece of plastic I could find the right size for it) then fleece blankets over the top.
I'm really happy with the run I can attach a water bottle, fit in tents, cosies, tunnels bowls and a cat litter tray full of hay and they can still hurtle around inside, I think up to four guinea pigs would be happy running in it. I'm home alot of the time so I can pop them in it and leave them to it.
You can adjust the size of the run so you could have it as a cube or make it the shape to fit round a corner it doesn't have to be as I have it. The other great thing about it as well is if your guinea pig's are a bit hard to catch you can pull the sides in to make it smaller and then you don't have to chase them round.
I don't think its suitable for young guinea pig's the bars in it are quite large and I've seen a baby squeeze through smaller. I also wouldn't leave my boys in it and go out, I'd just worry all the time. I personally wouldn't use it as a home for them either for me it's just a run.
The run is set up in my bedroom and because I don't fancy going to sleep with poo next to my bed I clean it out every time they've been inside which is very easy. I brush up poo into a dust pan, shake off any excess hay etc off the fleece outside and pop it in the washing machine on high to clean. I spray the shower curtain with the same disinfectant I use on their cage and wipe it clean. Hey presto it's clean.
I've got some pictures so you can see the set up. I don't have any of them running as I'm rubbish and photographing things that move, but just so you get the general idea. Feel free to ask any questions or make suggestions etc.
