Help With Outdoor Hutch Please

[Jessleigh]

Hello,

This is my first post so hopefully it's in the right place! A bit of back ground to help set the scene!

We have 3 young boars roughly about 6 months old, up until recently they have all lived in one cage and run indoors and been fine then 2 weeks ago I looked in and 1 had been bitten and was bleeding, we removed him into a second cage and left the other 2 together, but we then found 1 of the pair had little bite marks all over him so we've cleaned, rearranged and moved him out and put the other 2 back together, which is working fine.
I now cages aren't great but they do have free run time in the playroom, though separate time slots now.

We made a large outdoor run at the weekend with 2 separate areas, though could be 3 if needed!
My problem is hutches for when they finally go out, what would be best? a double where they're on top of each other so they would just hear each other or two hutches so they can be placed so they can see each other as well? At the moment the cages are next to each other and they seem happy with that.

Also how big would you suggest is best I'm thinking 4ft but is that big enough for 2? 2 doubles with ramps? But grass or floor at the bottom, though I've read ramps aren't good for guinea pigs! I know boars need more room and we have large garden so space isn't an issue though safety is, cats, foxes, badgers and birds of prey we have it all.

But I've now looked at so many that I've confused myself and not many people seem too worried about what hutch I get, in fact I'm sure they think I'm quite mad! I want them to be safe and happy and but also I'm looking forward to my house being hay free!

Any advice or help would gratefully received.
Thank you
Caroline

 

[smileyface:)]

I am sure more experienced owners will help, all I will say is don't rush on the hutch purchase. My boys have been in a shed and hutch, in the house with cages, out back in the bigger shed and are moving again - all because house became too packed, then shed became too packed....!

I started with two boys who were already bonded - later I adopted a young boy who fought with others in the pet shop (so similar in that can't go with other males) and then had him neutered and adopted my girl Poppy.

I have been advised to not have the girl above the boys as her scent will travel and probably do the two other boys heads in, so she and Chewy are on the bottom hutch with the boys in the hutch above.

It all depends whether you plan to pair up the single boy with another or whether you want to neuter him and get him a wife? I found pairing Chewy with Poppy really easy so might be an option for the boy who is fighting.

Either way you will need a large hutch, especially for two boys as I find the more room they have, they less they annoy each other, so a six foot hutch per pair of piggies would be a good start.

I am presently converting my bluebell double hutch into two singles (i.e. blocking up the hole for the ramp) as the will all be moving from hutches in a shed to hutch in a converted bike store! Add to that good sized runs for the garden and they will get a great start.

 

[Swissgreys]

I have an outdoor, double level hutch for mine (although it is currently indoors, so I hear you with the hay thing!).
I was told the minimum size for 2 guinea pigs was 150cm, which is 5 feet.
This means that even if you have a piggie who doesn't use the ramp, they still technically have enough space on 1 level. Plus it allows for multiple hideys, food bowls and water bottles, so if there are any arguments, everyone has their own space.
Plus by choosing a slightly longer hutch, the slope of the ramp is reduced.
It took my 3 varying amounts of time to get used to the ramp (from days to over a week) but now they all shoot up and down without any problems. The ramp is wooden with batons placed across, and I haven't modified it in any way (although the pigs have eaten the edges!).
But one month on I would say that 5 feet is probably the minimum size I would go for.
It sounds like you have a great set up with lots of outdoor space, so I am sure a large hutch with plenty of lawn opportunities means you will have some very happy pigs.
Because one of your boys is on his own I would try to position the hutches so they can at least see each other for a bit of a chat every now and then.

 

[Swissgreys]

Opps.
I also meant to say that I went for flooring on the bottom level, because in Winter or bad weather having a hutch that sits directly on the grass or concrete isn't very comfortable for a guinea pig.

Plus despite being a solid, outdoor hutch, we further predator proofed ours by adding large sliding bolts to each of the doors, and getting an insulated thermal cover to put over the hutch in really bad weather.

Whether it actually ever ends up outside is another question!