How long do your hutches last?

[Alicia]

I only ask because I have a lone boar living in a hutch similar to this: http://www.zooplus.co.uk/bilder/2/41636_2.jpg except without the cover and I bought it new in 2007 and it's gone a little mouldy on the edges and the roof leaks (I've had to cover it with tarpaulin for the time being) I thought 3 years wasn't very long for it to last? I think I'll have to replace it this year at some point. How long do you normally have your hutches before you replace them or before they start breaking?

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

I still have a hutch here from a boar I had when I was 14 or 15 (I'm 32 now!), but some hutches are not built to withstand our outdoor weather conditions sadly. Even some expensive ones are made of cheap ply and often are only ok for use in a shed or outbuilding.

A hutch should last as long as the guinea pig, if it's built well!

Sophie
x

 

[BellasMummy]

My rabbits hutches lasted only about 2 years as they get weathered quite easily and the wire comes loose. They also get chewed.
Unless you get a really good quality hutch they probably won't last all that long without regular maintenance.

 

[happysaz133]

That's a softwood hutch which do not last as long as a tongue and groove solid hutch. They are also not really designed for outside use, they do better in a shed to protect from the elements!

I suggest investing in a more solid hutch and a cover

 

[Romily]

We had an outdoor hutch for our rabbit and it leaked in the first year, even with a cover, it was damp inside. It meant that we brought him indoors and when we got loads of pigs we built a shed and put a hutch inside it.

 

[Becky92]

Mine depends on the piggy *** goes in it . I bought a med-priced double hutch ( 2 seperate cages ) with plastic lined wooden floors in the summer bcos dad & son had big fall out now its gotta go cos the little sods eaten a hole in the floor to try and get to his dad! Hes also chewed all the wood he can reach ! Males eh!