I Am Buying The Tulip Cottage And Cover........any Advice?

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sophieandhoney

sophieandhoney

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Hello,

After costing and re-costing my shed plan it became clear that it wouldn't do much to improve the gang's quality of life, it would be expensive and really I would be better off buying a hutch and attaching their run.

I am now basically hutch blind! but have finally after looking at 100s settled on the Tulip cottage.

1. it is big enough for the three of them
2. it has a run.
3. it would be fairly easy to attach their run.

I am going to cover the floor and back wall in lino or tiles and probably cover one of the wire sides to lessen the drafts.

However, before I drive off to Pets at home tomorrow I would REALLY like opinions/experience/tips on this choice!

here it is,

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/tulip-cottage-hutch-and-run


thank you XX
 
I have 2 boars in it. we made a wood base for it. i love it, cant fault it really except perhaps the ramp is a bit steep so i velcroed towel to it for grip. good luck x
 
Just be aware that the P@H hutches are really not durable and will struggle to stand up to being outdoors all year round. It is a great hutch size wise though. Have you also looked at Welfare Hutches or the Hutch man?
 
The hutch man is inundated with orders, will check out Welfare hutches - cheers XX

(the gang would come in over the winter)
 
This is company ?

http://www.welfarehutches.co.uk/

But they are not taking orders at the moment. I can't even look at the site!

I am hoping the hutch will survive ok with the cover, well do better at least! I will also paint it (way before the girls go in) with that fence paint stuff.
 
Oh no! I have not looked at Welfare hutches for about a year, I didnt realise they had ceased trading :( Sorry!
 
no problem :) shame, they looked good!

Well since no one has come in screaming with pitchforks telling me not to buy I am off to petsathome!
 
ok, so in my hutch blindness I was reading the reviews for a different hutch! So many people say it is flimsy I have even started to look for plans to build your own!

Really am stuck, never dreamed it would be so hard to find a hutch!
 
Hi Hun you may of seen that we @Flutterby @Chief Guinea Pig and I have the pets at home bluebell hideaway hutch its basically the hutch you have said about but with a bottom layer I personally wouldn't buy an open bottomed hutch (aka a loft and run hutch) our hutches give two living areas instead of just the one as is the case with the tulip hutch :)
I've added a pic of my P&H bluebell hideaway hutch I also have the weather cover it's a must I think.image.webp
 
I know Alisont on here has one and is happy with it.
 
I was a bit put off at the beginning of the search as they sell 3 foot hutches - too small for anything really, plus the pictures are rubbish.

although now it is three weeks past and I am SICK of looking!
 
yeah you can buy up to 6 foot. I just never understand why somewhere would sell things that are too small when they make the stuff themselves!

In the end I have bought a two storey 4 four hutch. They are not going to be in it for very long bless them. I just let the dogs outside and thought seriously will I REALLY leave them out over night etc. I know there are foxes.... I think they more than likely use it when they are out in the run. It will be a safe place for Honey.

hutch comes Monday. We shall see
thanks for all the suggestions
XX
 
sophieandhoney said:
yeah you can buy up to 6 foot. I just never understand why somewhere would sell things that are too small when they make the stuff themselves!

In the end I have bought a two storey 4 four hutch. They are not going to be in it for very long bless them. I just let the dogs outside and thought seriously will I REALLY leave them out over night etc. I know there are foxes.... I think they more than likely use it when they are out in the run. It will be a safe place for Honey.

hutch comes Monday. We shall see
thanks for all the suggestions
XX
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If poss Post us a pic of their new pad when your piggies move in....please :)
 
I really like the size of the Bluebell Hideaway for a couple of piggies, @AbiS has one too for Toby and Barney. I have one, its divided in two with the ramp blocked off as I was scared about pigs falling down the ramp (I have "special" pigs!).

My Bluebell hutch was given to me with a bunny last year - he fell through the floor and his owners could not afford to buy a new hutch! - so this is a warning that I don't consider it suitable for rabbits. The floor rotted and I guess she did not notice :( Bunny is rehomed now and I kept the hutch, put a new floor in it and painted it. I love it for piggies but would not trust it for rabbits. Mine is kept in the garage (we don't use our garage for cars, its more like a utility room). They definitely need a cover if they are outside.
 
I think the blue bells are fab if looked after properly, so lino down, cover over, sheltered area and a lip installed around the hall to stop piggies sliding off. I use mine indoors too which means it will last even longer :) Fab hutch, fab size and so easy to use :)

10458086_10154441405295363_5616292422813471673_n.webp
 
I hope it goes well keep in mind the rspca guide lines x
 
I sort of wish I had bought the Bluebell hutch now!

Oh well, I expect as I said it will just become an expensive shelter for them whilst they are in the run.
 
Goth Mummy said:
I really like the size of the Bluebell Hideaway for a couple of piggies, @AbiS has one too for Toby and Barney. I have one, its divided in two with the ramp blocked off as I was scared about pigs falling down the ramp (I have "special" pigs!).

My Bluebell hutch was given to me with a bunny last year - he fell through the floor and his owners could not afford to buy a new hutch! - so this is a warning that I don't consider it suitable for rabbits. The floor rotted and I guess she did not notice :( Bunny is rehomed now and I kept the hutch, put a new floor in it and painted it. I love it for piggies but would not trust it for rabbits. Mine is kept in the garage (we don't use our garage for cars, its more like a utility room). They definitely need a cover if they are outside.
Click to expand...
Fully agree I would not use this hutch for rabbits they chew a lot more then guineas and the wood is thin in places, this is a great sized hutch I really suggest that this hutch is lined with Lino, you find a way to block off the huge gap upstairs (I have added a screen to mine which works perfectly) and you buy the proper weather cover made for this hutch those three things done then this is a great hutch :)

Offen on offer also so watch out for the bargin!
 
yes, mine is lined and painted inside. I was so shocked to hear what had happened to the bunny that I fostered. He had also chewed the back of it. I hasten to add that he was not in my care when he fell through the floor! That was the reason he was passed on to me for rehoming.
 
Goth Mummy said:
yes, mine is lined and painted inside. I was so shocked to hear what had happened to the bunny that I fostered. He had also chewed the back of it. I hasten to add that he was not in my care when he fell through the floor! That was the reason he was passed on to me for rehoming.
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I read the reviews on this hutch before buying it, nearly all the negative comments were about rabbits being kept in this hutch. eg: one person had come home to find they no longer had a rabbit as he had managed in the short space of time while they were out, to chew a huge hole through the back or side of the hutch and had escaped never to be seen again :(.
 
I think the wood is just not strong enough for rabbits - who can be very heavy! Especially if they are big chunky boys. I think its fine for piggies though. I'm happy with my pigs in it. They don't tend to chew like bunnies (though there is always the odd one...)

I would love another one - a brand new or good condition one this time - as I had to almost completely rebuilt the one that I was given. The only intact bit of the hutch was the roof!
 
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