Hutch with run?

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Hi sparkly, i've been keeping my eye on this hutch on ebay for a while now and have the same dilemma.

I've been on the look out for a hutch for my piggies for the summer months as my pigs spend alot of time in a run last summer mowing our grass. :) I thought that a multi storey hutch with access to the grass below. The hutch appealed to me as i thought that the pigs would have alot of room to be able to run as well as a private living space up top. Plan being that during the day the piggies would have access to the top and bottom but at night, they would be restricted to the top to ensure there saftey and warmth and providing them with snugglesafes. But then again, alot of people would advise that a pig in any type of run should constantly supervised so i wasn't too sure either, so am looking forward to responses to this thread. x
 
Personally I'm not a major fan of these types of hutch. I prefer a separate hutch and run myself.

My piggies don't do ramps and that's always the way it has been. Some of them are elderly and it doesn't appeal anymore. Unless you have a very large cage I feel ramps actually take away more space than they provide. I have 6ft by 2ft hutches for my pairs and 8ft by 2ft hutches for 4/5, just single layer so they do have a nice size area to use for when they can't be on the lawn. One was built by a relative and another was custom built by a joiner - might be worth looking online to see if any local joiners would build you something? It's usually quite a cheap option compared to pet shops and you can have everything to your specifications.

I also like to supervise my piggies when they are on the lawn. I have a cat and although he's not overly interested in them that might change. Plus I've seen foxes in the local area and because my hutches are so secure it's less of a worry at night. I guess with the hutch and attached run you'd have to weight it down well overnight and make sure they were actually shut in the hutch. I'm sure they'd love being on the grass all Summer but it's not practical for Winter. I'd also worry about the hutch being slightly draughty not protected at all, we didn't have the nicest Summer ever last year and it was damp. My lawn is still terrorised by all 13 on warm days but for me it wouldn't work all the time.
 
I think it's best to spend money on a much larger hutch, as piggies don't do ramps well and also can't(won't!) really go onto concrete/grass in winter as it is cold and wet. So they will be confined to the hutch which isn't that big...

I've just bought a 8 x 3 hutch for my three, with the idea that they will be in it all over winter and will have plenty of room to run around and stretch their legs but on the comfort of fleece under their feet and no nasty draughts. Then obviously come summer they have a nice big run to go in too.
 
Thank's everyone, my plan was to bring them in during winter so that bit wouldn't be an issue but we do have some cats in the area and it's something I hadn't considered!

I guess if they aren't very good at ramps a 2 storey isn't much use either then?

I do know of a local place that makes hutches to spec so will have a look at that possibility.
 
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I guess if they aren't very good at ramps a 2 storey isn't much use either then?

Hi, not sure about the run question but can I just add that my boys live in a 2 tier hutch (not with a run at the bottom, just two storeys of living space) and have absolutely no problem using the ramp.
 
I love that last hutch, the sort of thing i'm looking for! Thanks for letting me know about it :)
 
hayls<3 said:
Hi sparkly, i've been keeping my eye on this hutch on ebay for a while now and have the same dilemma.

I've been on the look out for a hutch for my piggies for the summer months as my pigs spend alot of time in a run last summer mowing our grass. :) I thought that a multi storey hutch with access to the grass below. The hutch appealed to me as i thought that the pigs would have alot of room to be able to run as well as a private living space up top. Plan being that during the day the piggies would have access to the top and bottom but at night, they would be restricted to the top to ensure there saftey and warmth and providing them with snugglesafes. But then again, alot of people would advise that a pig in any type of run should constantly supervised so i wasn't too sure either, so am looking forward to responses to this thread. x
Click to expand...

Hayls this seller is who i got my hucth from, he makes other sizes and will deliver local :).
The hutch is solid and very well made worth the money :)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150726084683?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
 
the first hutch you posted with the run beneath is the exact one i have for my girls
yes i agree that the ramp does take away a lot from the hutch itself, it is only really a bed compartment, but i have got paving slabs in the bottom and have covered them with straw so it is nice a comfy, i also have lots of houses for them to snuggle up in
one of my girls did have a slight problem with the ramp to start with, but with a little practice she got the hang of it and they all use it fine :)

i should add that i did move them into the bunny shed (split the shed in half) during winter so it wasn't too cold
 
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