Hutch, perspex and hot weather.

[What A Boar!]

Yesterday I was given a Mr. Snugs plastic rabbit hutch with a Guinea pig carrier and a run. Some people are so generous!

Last night I sat and cut some perspex to fit the metal grid at the front and today I'm going to move Bill and Ted into it after a good scrubbing as it's bigger than the bunny pod.
It is missing the bed compartment devide but I think I can get round that with hideys inside cardboard boxes.

Question 1) do I need a rain cover if perspex is fitted?
Question 2) if i take off the perspex and the weather is okay, should I be covering the hutch at night every night?
Question 3) it's getting rather hot next week, will it be too hot with the perspex left on?

My hutches and runs are totally in the shade and up against the house on grass.

Thought I'd add a picture of little nugget in his favourite spot. Snuggled up under my neck and purring away
He's gained another nickname, Possum-Pig, as from his white side he looks a little like a possum.

 

[Piggies&buns]

1 - probably because presumably you won’t put the Perspex over the entire front so rain may still be able to get into the hutch through an air gap
2 - this time of year in the uk, then probably no. It is likely warm enough overnight now but do keep an eye on your local weather report.
3 - yes, I would think so. I don’t have personal experience of plastic hutches or how much they trap heat, but my guess is that it will be getting far too hot inside. I know wooden ones do at this time of year. Remember, it isn’t just being in the sun that causes them to become hot - hot air will become trapped inside and can become a dangerous environment. A thermometer in any hutch or run is a must for outside piggies.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ve just looked this up online and it does seem to have a fairly good overhang from the roof so positioned in the right way and it may do quite a good job of stopping water from running in, but I would still keep a very close eye on it and cover when raining

The only thing is the size - not sure if they come in varying sizes, but from what I’ve just seen, it falls very short of rspca minimum welfare standards at just 108cm x 55cm (minimum welfare is 120cm x 60cm) but for two boys that won’t be big enough - for two boys you ideally need 180cm x 60cm plus run space on top of that

 

[What A Boar!]

1 ... There is a gap at the very top under the eaves, where the water bottle will go and where two pieces of perspex meet.
The overhang on this is pretty big shop hoping it's enough to keep rain out.
Dunno if uppity can tell by the pictures. (The little silver fence isn't staying there)

2 ... I have a rain alarm on my phone that tells me when rain is within 10 miles, also have a thunderstorm alarm so I know to run out and make sure the piggies are settled and covered.

3 ... the piggies will not be shut inside the hutch in the hot weather. Planning on getting a wireless thermostat so I'm not constantly worrying.
If it gets stupidly hot then I'll bring them indoors.

 

[Jamjarpigs]

Both hutches in your photo look very small- are they at least the minimum size stated above?

 

[Siikibam]

When is the bigger hutch arriving? I probably would have set up a play pen indoors and kept them there until you can give them more space outdoors. It’s really not enough space for two boars.