Member Gallery: Hutches

[Sally Newbie]

This is our home made run that my 86 year old dad made for us! The hutch will sit inside in the summer so it is tall to enable the lid to close over the hutch. He has built a door in the side so we can step in and out and can fold the top back! It is 6ft * 4ft. in the winter we can split it in half and the corners are all on hinges so we can fold it away. I'm so proud of him!

 

[Olivia Glover]

This is my girls cage

The hutch was bought privately from Facebook. But my partner made the run which is attached to the hutch. The wood and chicken wire was from B&Q which cost around £50. There are 2 female piggies in here. We found that using puppy pads and then fleece on top is a lot easier to clean out that using hay. The 2 wooden hideouts my partner also made which was easy for him to make. But youll need wood, a saw, a drill to make it with. If anyone has any questions or would like my partner to help you build a hutch/run and any hideouts then give me a message. Hope you all have a good evening xx

 

[BossHogg]

My hutch has been altered, long gone are the days it was a hive of activity, I'm down to a single piggy so I've changed it to a single and changed the lower section into storage.

 

[Olivia Glover]

Hi all, so here are photos of my piggies cage. The first one was when we first got them. The second photo is what we build around a month or 2 ago and the last photo is the most recent photo of where they are living.

1. Cage Type: Handmade
2. Where it was purchased or how it was made: it was made by using tools
3. What size it is: not too sure but I can find out if anyone wants to know
4. How many piggies are kept in it: 2, mother and daughter
5. How easy it is to keep clean/if you'd recommend it: it is so easy to clean out. We use puppy pads on the bottom, 2 towels on top of that and then 2 fleeces on top of the towels to make sure it doesn't soak through to the wood. Also it makes it comfier for them to walk on

 

[Piggylove82]

Hi all, so here are photos of my piggies cage. The first one was when we first got them. The second photo is what we build around a month or 2 ago and the last photo is the most recent photo of where they are living.

1. Cage Type: Handmade
2. Where it was purchased or how it was made: it was made by using tools
3. What size it is: not too sure but I can find out if anyone wants to know
4. How many piggies are kept in it: 2, mother and daughter
5. How easy it is to keep clean/if you'd recommend it: it is so easy to clean out. We use puppy pads on the bottom, 2 towels on top of that and then 2 fleeces on top of the towels to make sure it doesn't soak through to the wood. Also it makes it comfier for them to walk onView attachment 151872View attachment 151873View attachment 151874

Handmade? Really?

 

[Olivia Glover]

Handmade? Really?

Yes, my partner built it for them. He also built the 2 hideouts and the hay rack xx

 

[Piggylove82]

Yes, my partner built it for them. He also built the 2 hideouts and the hay rack xx

He built the hutch? Also, I think when it asks how it was made, the answer requires more than 'it was made using tools'.

 

[Olivia Glover]

He built the hutch? Also, I think when it asks how it was made, the answer requires more than 'it was made using tools'.

Not the first photo. But their recent cage yes. Sorry. It was made but using 3 pieces of large wood for the base. My partner then got thin, long pieces of wood to build the outside. He covered the gaps with chicken wire. We used the door from the hutch and attached it to the cage so the piggies can come in and out when its floor time.

 

[Piggies&buns]

My boys new(ish) hutch
its a 6ft hutch called the coach house from the pet housing company.
They used to have the pets at home bluebell but some new furry residents in the family meant the piggies got a new hutch.
this new hutch has a ramp hatch so I am able to close off the bottom layer of the hutch during the colder winter nights which means i can really focus on keeping the top section really warm.
it has pull out trays for easier cleaning out, but I don’t tend to use them.

 

[Olivia Glover]

My boys new(ish) hutch
its a 6ft hutch called the coach house from the pet housing company.
They used to have the pets at home bluebell but some new furry residents in the family meant the piggies got a new hutch.
this new hutch has a ramp hatch so I am able to close off the bottom layer of the hutch during the colder winter nights which means i can really focus on keeping the top section really warm.
it has pull out trays for easier cleaning out, but I don’t tend to use them.

Looks so cool. I had the adtic tube but its so hard to clean. Also my piggies kept chewing on it so I threw it out. They have handmade wooden hideouts now. This is now what their cage looks like xx

 

[Olivia Glover]

Looks so cool. I had the adtic tube but its so hard to clean. Also my piggies kept chewing on it so I threw it out. They have handmade wooden hideouts now. This is now what their cage looks like xx

Plastic*

 

[Crystella]

Here is my new hutch from pets corner. The company that made it is Great&Small and its a 5ft double hutch. It’s a hard one to find any reviews on (there isn’t any). There is a ramp but since I’m closing off the floors, I’ll not be using it. It’s all flat packed which made it easier to paint up. Still a few more things to do (the cover and bits on the inside) but will be ready for the warmer weather in the coming months.
I’ve included a photo of it as it comes and my painted version.

 

[Animallover2245]

My hutch, they get the run every day until it gets dark to prevent foxes

Size: 443x103x104

I keep 2 piggies

It’s decent to clean. can easily fit inside to clean run out, inside area have a pull out tray.

Ramp- one of the ramps did fall off, that was my fault though. I didn’t tighten it enough. My pigs eventually learned to use the ramps with food. They enjoy it all very much
for winter I put hay inside and a heat pad and use 2 hutch covers,
They also have hay in the run (empty Cat litterboxes are helpful to avoid messes with hay)

I got it for £248.95 when it was on sale and now it’s gone up a lot more:
deubaxxl.co.U.K./rabbit-hutch-443x102x104cm-4027/

(Says rabbit but it also says multi functional- suitable for many types of animals)

 

[Piggies&buns]

My hutch, they get the run every day until it gets dark to prevent foxes

Size: 443x103x104

I keep 2 piggies

It’s decent to clean. can easily fit inside to clean run out, inside area have a pull out tray.

Ramp- one of the ramps did fall off, that was my fault though. I didn’t tighten it enough. My pigs eventually learned to use the ramps with food. They enjoy it all very much
for winter I put hay inside and a heat pad and use 2 hutch covers,
They also have hay in the run (empty Cat litterboxes are helpful to avoid messes with hay)

I got it for £248.95 when it was on sale and now it’s gone up a lot more:
deubaxxl.co.U.K./rabbit-hutch-443x102x104cm-4027/

(Says rabbit but it also says multi functional- suitable for many types of animals)

Its a lovely run space.
What is the measurement of the the enclosed hutch area? Presumably you lock them in there during the night and during the winter days when they can’t be out?

 

[Animallover2245]

Its a lovely run space.
What is the measurement of the the enclosed hutch area? Presumably you lock them in there during the night and during the winter days when they can’t be out?

Thanks, (i don't know the enclosed hutch measurment,) during the winter days i don't lock them in fully as i don't think they would be happy in the inside part for a whole day. I know the inside wouldn't be big enough for a whole day. I'm going to grab a couple more heat pads when i'm next in the pet store so they have some more warmth during the day in the run. (I don't ussually use hay in their carrier in the hutch, i have a fleece blanket normally in their) As i've only got one fleece blanket, i only use hay in their carrier till it's washed and dried. ) They can easily go up themselves as well. If they want to spend more time inside but i like the leave the options over for them especially as there both males, The only time they get locked inside is during the dark hours to prevent foxes. (The only reason i don't keep them inside my house in the winter is because 1. the landlord & 2. one of my housemates, is serverly autistic. (extremley loud for this reason) which isn't great for pigs with senstive hearing.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks, (i don't know the enclosed hutch measurment,) during the winter days i don't lock them in fully as i don't think they would be happy in the inside part for a whole day. I know the inside wouldn't be big enough for a whole day. I'm going to grab a couple more heat pads when i'm next in the pet store so they have some more warmth during the day in the run. (I don't ussually use hay in their carrier in the hutch, i have a fleece blanket normally in their) As i've only got one fleece blanket, i only use hay in their carrier till it's washed and dried. ) They can easily go up themselves as well. If they want to spend more time inside but i like the leave the options over for them especially as there both males, The only time they get locked inside is during the dark hours to prevent foxes. (The only reason i don't keep them inside my house in the winter is because 1. the landlord & 2. one of my housemates, is serverly autistic. (extremley loud for this reason) which isn't great for pigs with senstive hearing.

The inside area sadly doesn’t look big enough at all, not even for a night time, particularly if your piggies are boars. Any area boars get locked into for any length of time needs to be 180x60cm. Would if be possible for you to use this just as a day time run space and then have a separate hutch for them to be in at night/during the winter?

 

[Animallover2245]

The inside area sadly doesn’t look big enough at all, not even for a night time, particularly if your piggies are boars. Any area boars get locked into for any length of time needs to be 180x60cm. Would if be possible for you to use this just as a day time run space and then have a separate hutch for them to be in at night/during the winter?

if it's not big enough for the inside why is it sold as a rabbit hutch, then as a rabbit is a lot bigger than guinea pigs. I thought for this reason it would bigger than an average inside part size especially as the outside part is a lot bigger than an average run. My garden wouldn't be big enough for another hutch especially as it's shared. The shed we have is full and too small as we already keep a lot of things in their. All Pets at home's indoor cages are way too small so even if they could fit in the shed with one of those that wouldn't work.

 

[Piggies&buns]

if it's not big enough for the inside why is it sold as a rabbit hutch, then as a rabbit is a lot bigger than guinea pigs. I thought for this reason it would bigger than an average inside part size especially as the outside part is a lot bigger than an average run. My garden wouldn't be big enough for another hutch especially as it's shared. The shed we have is full and too small as we already keep a lot of things in their. All Pets at home's indoor cages are way too small so even if they could fit in the shed with one of those that wouldn't work.

Yes, the outside space does make a lovely run for summer time during the day, with the enclosed areas providing somewhere for them to retreat to and rest but as a permanent living space it doesn’t really meet what is needed as a living space, particularly given the majority of the space is outside space so is unusable for most of the year for piggies.
As I say boars need a big enclosed hutch measuring 180x60cm (12 square feet) (on a single level, given any areas they have tk access via a ramp doesn’t count towards the cage size) as a permanent living space. A separate run would be needed for summer time exercise (of whatever size there was space for, but it would need to meet boar size requirements so 12 square feet or bigger) but given they can only be in it when it’s warm and dry, it cant form their living space at all.

As a rabbit owner as well, i can say it’s most definitely unsuitable for rabbits at all. I wouldnt even use it as a standalone run given it doesn’t meet the minimum space requirements for rabbits.
Sadly this is the issue with a lot of hutches. If it says suitable for rabbits, it probably isn’t as they require a minimum of 60 square feet of permanent living space and any hutch should be a minimum of 12 square feet and only be a base leading to a much larger area and the door never shut.

 

[Animallover2245]

Yes, the outside space does make a lovely run for summer time during the day, with the enclosed areas providing somewhere for them to retreat to and rest but as a permanent living space it doesn’t really meet what is needed as a living space, particularly given the majority of the space is outside space so is unusable for most of the year for piggies.
As I say boars need a big enclosed hutch measuring 180x60cm (12 square feet) (on a single level, given any areas they have tk access via a ramp doesn’t count towards the cage size) as a permanent living space. A separate run would be needed for summer time exercise (of whatever size there was space for, but it would need to meet boar size requirements so 12 square feet or bigger) but given they can only be in it when it’s warm and dry, it cant form their living space at all.

As a rabbit owner as well, i can say it’s most definitely unsuitable for rabbits at all. I wouldnt even use it as a standalone run given it doesn’t meet the minimum space requirements for rabbits.
Sadly this is the issue with a lot of hutches. If it says suitable for rabbits, it probably isn’t as they require a minimum of 60 square feet of permanent living space and any hutch should be a minimum of 12 square feet and only be a base leading to a much larger area and the door never shut.

Well I’ve heard a lot of enclosed pet store hutches are way to small anyways. That why I didn’t get my hutch from a pet store. Anyways dark as in night is temporary as they just use it for resting & eating overnight and as I said they have no issue with it. They seem happy with it. For rabbits I get it’s too small but for pigs I don’t especially as rest of the time they get the outdoor bit

 

[Animallover2245]

Yes, the outside space does make a lovely run for summer time during the day, with the enclosed areas providing somewhere for them to retreat to and rest but as a permanent living space it doesn’t really meet what is needed as a living space, particularly given the majority of the space is outside space so is unusable for most of the year for piggies.
As I say boars need a big enclosed hutch measuring 180x60cm (12 square feet) (on a single level, given any areas they have tk access via a ramp doesn’t count towards the cage size) as a permanent living space. A separate run would be needed for summer time exercise (of whatever size there was space for, but it would need to meet boar size requirements so 12 square feet or bigger) but given they can only be in it when it’s warm and dry, it cant form their living space at all.

As a rabbit owner as well, i can say it’s most definitely unsuitable for rabbits at all. I wouldnt even use it as a standalone run given it doesn’t meet the minimum space requirements for rabbits.
Sadly this is the issue with a lot of hutches. If it says suitable for rabbits, it probably isn’t as they require a minimum of 60 square feet of permanent living space and any hutch should be a minimum of 12 square feet and only be a base leading to a much larger area and the door never shut.

Ok, yeah i understand with rabbits, however with pigs. how is the outdoor space unusuable? when as i said they only go inside during the dark hours. So from 7am-4pm it is usuable in the winter (which is 9 hours)

Would it make more sense for them to have the outdoor 24/7 to match the requirment then? as i could easily add more heat and i rarely see foxes in our garden tbh. As i said ^ i've always been told pet stores hutches were too small as i had a fully enclosed one previously with my previous pair of guinea pigs and i got told that was too small. So i got rid of that one for that reason.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ok, yeah i understand with rabbits, Also how is the outdoor space unusuable? when as i said they only go inside during the dark hours. So from 7am-4pm it is usuable in the winter (9 hours)

Would it make more sense for them to have the outdoor 24/7 to match the requirment then? as i could easily add more heat and i rarely see foxes in our garden tbh. As i said ^ i've always been told pet stores hutches were too small as i had a fully enclosed one previously with my previous pair of guinea pigs and i got told that was too small. So i got rid of that one for that reason.

It’s most unusable because of the UK weather.
An outdoor space cannot be counted as it is not living space as they cant be in it permanently - for safety and warmth purposes.

Piggies should not really be on grass at this time of the year as it is too damp and cold. The guidance is you would need to be able to stand outside on the grass with bare feet wearing a t-shirt. If you cannot do this because it’s too damp and cold, then piggies need to stay warm in their hutch and not go on the grass. Realistically this means anything between October and April (ish), and they shouldn’t be out on grass.

The space they get locked into is their home and as such needs to be big enough - 180x60cm for boars. Any less and lack of space can break a boar pairs’ relationship, particularly a teen boar pair.
Your run does provide a great amount of summer exercise space but it’s only a daytime shelter and the enclosed space is not suitable for them to be locked into if it isn’t meeting minimums for boars. If there is inclement weather/snow etc, and they won’t be able to come out at all so they would have to be locked in the enclosed area potentially for several days.

No, it wouldnt leave them out 24/7 as it’s not safe (it’s not just foxes which pose a threat to piggies) and it’s far too cold for them to be out overnight. They need to be kept in an enclosed hutch to keep them warm enough they need to be kept as close to 15 degrees as possible (18-22 degrees is their comfort zone).

A pet shop hutch is fine provided it meets size requirements (and is well made). If your previous piggies were in a hutch which was too small then that is the reason you may be under that impression that hutches aren’t suitable, but there are many enclosed 6ft hutches available commercially (5ft hutches for sows) and are the recommended accommodation for outdoor piggies.

 

[Animallover2245]

It’s most unusable because of the UK weather.
An outdoor space cannot be counted as it is not living space as they cant be in it permanently - for safety and warmth purposes.

Piggies should not really be on grass at this time of the year as it is too damp and cold. The guidance is you would need to be able to stand outside on the grass with bare feet wearing a t-shirt. If you cannot do this because it’s too damp and cold, then piggies need to stay warm in their hutch and not go on the grass. Realistically this means anything between October and April (ish), and they shouldn’t be out on grass.

The space they get locked into is their home and as such needs to be big enough - 180x60cm for boars. Any less and lack of space can break a boar pairs’ relationship, particularly a teen boar pair.
Your run does provide a great amount of summer exercise space but it’s only a daytime shelter and the enclosed space is not suitable for them to be locked into if it isn’t meeting minimums for boars. If there is inclement weather/snow etc, and they won’t be able to come out at all so they would have to be locked in the enclosed area potentially for several days.

No, it wouldnt leave them out 24/7 as it’s not safe (it’s not just foxes which pose a threat to piggies) and it’s far too cold for them to be out overnight. They need to be kept in an enclosed hutch to keep them warm enough they need to be kept as close to 15 degrees as possible (18-22 degrees is their comfort zone).

A pet shop hutch is fine provided it meets size requirements (and is well made). If your previous piggies were in a hutch which was too small then that is the reason you may be under that impression that hutches aren’t suitable, but there are many enclosed 6ft hutches available commercially (5ft hutches for sows) and are the recommended accommodation for outdoor piggies.

Well it rarely snows, i hasn't snowed since 2012. Also your from cambridge, so the north. So of course it snows more in your area. I don't count indoor as the home. Thats like not counting your garden as part of your house which wouldn't make sense. I've always viewed inside bits as their bedroom. Also if pigs didn't like it they would be very vocal. which they aren't. Back when i studied animal management we got told guinea pigs live around the same tempature as humans and should have access to a run most of the time otherwise they can't express there natrual behaivour (the 4th animal need under animal welfare act) even in the winter. Which makes sense as guinea pigs originate from south america. They would have no inside area in the wild. So to me it doesn't make sense what your saying.

Another reason i don't trust pet store hutches is because. my previous guinea pigs we kept in a pet store hutch from pets at home but some animal opened the hutch door once and we knew it wasn't the pigs as the bite marks were high up. The only reason we didn't loose them was because they were in a shed. But then a few months after thats also when they passed away unexpectedly. I want to avoid making the same mistake so i don't trust pets at home hutches anymore as either there too small or the locks are very weak.


I don't really know how to change anything? as one i might be moving out in a couple years and once i have my own place where i don't rent then i would bring them indoors. This is another reason i don't want to buy another hutch as there hard to travel with. Also as for t-shirt thing i've been looking after my guinea pigs just wearing a t-shirt and trousers today, so i don't get what you mean there

 

[Piggies&buns]

Well it rarely snows, i hasn't snowed since 2012. Also your from cambridge, so the north. So of course it snows more in your area. I don't count indoor as the home. Thats like not counting your garden as part of your house which wouldn't make sense. I've always viewed inside bits as their bedroom. Also if pigs didn't like it they would be very vocal. which they aren't. Back when i studied animal management we got told guinea pigs live around the same tempature as humans and should have access to a run most of the time otherwise they can't express there natrual behaivour (the 4th animal need under animal welfare act) even in the winter. Which makes sense as guinea pigs originate from south america. They would have no inside area in the wild. So to me it doesn't make sense what your saying.

Another reason i don't trust pet store hutches is because. my previous guinea pigs we kept in a pet store hutch from pets at home but some animal opened the hutch door once and we knew it wasn't the pigs as the bite marks were high up. The only reason we didn't loose them was because they were in a shed. But then a few months after thats also when they passed away unexpectedly. I want to avoid making the same mistake so i don't trust pets at home hutches anymore as either there too small or the locks are very weak.


I don't really know how to change anything? as one i might be moving out in a couple years and once i have my own place where i don't rent then i would bring them indoors. This is another reason i don't want to buy another hutch as there hard to travel with. Also as for t-shirt thing i've been seeing my guinea pig just wearing a t-shirt and trousers today, so i don't get what you mean there

Cambridge is East Anglia, one of the most mild areas in the country and not north England at all, so it isn’t a snowy place either but it’s still not warm enough to be outside as it’s only 7 degrees here today, well below the 18-22 which they are most comfortable in.

Unfortunately that’s not how cage requirements work, any area they are locked into needs to be big enough and meet sizing requirements regardless of how big the exercise space is. Run space is additional space and can only be counted if they can have 24/7 access to it but because it’s outside, it’s not possible in this scenario. The UK climate is a difficult one for outdoor piggies and this is why they require additional protections and insulation and why giving them outdoor run time is tricky in winter. If you are sure your piggies are not damp and cold, then by all means let them have outdoor run time, but do keep in mind that they do need to be kept out of draughts and damp conditions so as to not risk illness. They are most comfortable in temperatures the same as us which is why they are most comfortable between 18 and 22 degrees and of course a UK winter is much colder and damp.

What you do is your choice, and we can only provide the cage size and environmental information.

 

[Animallover2245]

Cambridge is East Anglia, one of the most mild areas in the country and not north England at all, so it isn’t a snowy place either but it’s still not warm enough to be outside as it’s only 7 degrees here today, well below the 18-22 which they are most comfortable in.

Unfortunately that’s not how cage requirements work, any area they are locked into needs to be big enough and meet sizing requirements regardless of how big the exercise space is. Run space is additional space and can only be counted if they can have 24/7 access to it but because it’s outside, it’s not possible in this scenario. The UK climate is a difficult one for outdoor piggies and this is why they require additional protections and insulation and why giving them outdoor run time is tricky in winter. If you are sure your piggies are not damp and cold, then by all means let them have outdoor run time, but do keep in mind that they do need to be kept out of draughts and damp conditions so as to not risk illness. They are most comfortable in temperatures the same as us which is why they are most comfortable between 18 and 22 degrees and of course a UK winter is much colder and damp.

What you do is your choice, and we can only provide the cage size and environmental information.

Sorry i was never great with geography, Sorry if i offended you by saying it was a snowy place.

I was thinking if they did have the outside part 24/7 and if i found a way to add a heater somehow so the whole area stays 18-22 would that work better?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sorry i was never great with geography, Sorry if i offended you by saying it was a snowy place.

I was thinking if they did have the outside part 24/7 and if i found a way to add a heater somehow so the whole area stays 18-22 would that work better?

There is still the issue of it not being safe for them to be out at night - rats, cats, predatory birds etc still pose a threat to piggies, and it being damp overnight.
I'm not really sure it would be practical or safe to heat an outside run. Heating it electrically would be only feasible way to do it but then youve got safety aspects of cables, overheating or ventilation issues with plastic covers over the run , fire risks etc to consider. Plus, I imagine it would cost a fortune to do so.

 

[Animallover2245]

There is still the issue of it not being safe for them to be out at night - rats, cats, predatory birds etc still pose a threat to piggies, and it being damp overnight.
I'm not really sure it would be practical or safe to heat an outside run. Heating it electrically would be only feasible way to do it but then youve got safety aspects of cables, overheating or ventilation issues with plastic covers over the run , fire risks etc to consider. Plus, I imagine it would cost a fortune to do so.

Rats I’ve never seen and birds wouldn’t be able to get in. As for cats. My neighbors cats visits on the day time and there not scared of him any more when he approaches the hutch. I was asking as I want to improve without getting another hutch as then I won’t have any use for current one and I don’t want to get rid of it as it is expensive and as I said I don’t trust pet store hutches as because of also there lock system. As said I can’t keep them inside due to my landlord and my housemate who is extremely loud due to severely autistic. If my housemate wasn’t loud. Then I would of asked my landlord the keep them inside. However it wouldn’t be fair on them as they wouldn’t have any peace from my housemate. Also they have sensitive hearing so very loud and sudden noises would scare them and I don’t want them to be scared 24/7 (When they were at my mums house for
Christmas they got scared every time we turns the tv/radio, that’s how I know they don’t like sudden noises as well

 

[Swissgreys]

Rats I’ve never seen and birds wouldn’t be able to get in. As for cats. My neighbors cats visits on the day time and there not scared of him any more when he approaches the hutch. I was asking as I want to improve without getting another hutch as then I won’t have any use for current one and I don’t want to get rid of it as it is expensive and as I said I don’t trust pet store hutches as because of also there lock system. As said I can’t keep them inside due to my landlord and my housemate who is extremely loud due to severely autistic. If my housemate wasn’t loud. Then I would of asked my landlord the keep them inside. However it wouldn’t be fair on them as they wouldn’t have any peace from my housemate. Also they have sensitive hearing so very loud and sudden noises would scare them and I don’t want them to be scared 24/7 (When they were at my mums house for
Christmas they got scared every time we turns the tv/radio, that’s how I know they don’t like sudden noises as well

You are right that pet shop hutches are often flimsy and poorly made, but there are plenty of other places that sell very solid and safe hutches that would be appropriate for your boys. In addition I would always add extra bolts and closures onto any hutch that will be outdoors - this is simple and cheap to do with metal fixings from any DIY store.
I understand you not wanting to buy another hutch, but the reality is that the one you currently have is not appropriate as it doesn't offer them the recommended amount of space 24/7.
@Piggies&buns has already explained why, multiple times.
We understand you can't move your piggies inside, but that doesn't change the fact that their current accommodation does not meet the minimum welfare guidelines.
So you only real option is to buy a proper hutch for them, and possibly try to sell the old one to recoup some of the cost.
Obviously we can't make you do this, but no matter how many times you come up with excuses it doesn't make their current set up ok.

But as an example this is an appropriate hutch for your boys:
6ft Single Guinea Pig Hutch Chartwell | Fast Shipping | H&R

If you look back through this thread you will see other examples of solid and well made hutches available in the UK.

 

[poggle]

Hi, I can't add much to the discussion here but just wanted to say - many moons ago (20+ years) we had outdoor piggies and didn't think we had rats until one of our pigs had to have a leg amputated following a rat bite (a hail Mary for a nasty infection/wound). My Dad built their house himself and it was done up like Fort Knox, we'd thought, but from what I remember the rat had burrowed and chewed their way up through the bottom of the hutch. Where there are people there are usually rats, and then we so generously fill these lovely, warm hutches full of food and bedding for our pets...

We'd had a pet shop litter and the only way to give them the space they needed was outside at that time, so I understand where you're coming from with regards to not having the option of moving them inside. The little one was absolutely fine and managed to keep up with her siblings outside for many more years without incident, but we did have to up our game with their home. I just wanted to share as it was a horrid experience all round, although we were very lucky in the outcome, just in case it helps.

 

[Swissgreys]

Hi, I can't add much to the discussion here but just wanted to say - many moons ago (20+ years) we had outdoor piggies and didn't think we had rats until one of our pigs had to have a leg amputated following a rat bite (a hail Mary for a nasty infection/wound). My Dad built their house himself and it was done up like Fort Knox, we'd thought, but from what I remember the rat had burrowed and chewed their way up through the bottom of the hutch. Where there are people there are usually rats, and then we so generously fill these lovely, warm hutches full of food and bedding for our pets...

We'd had a pet shop litter and the only way to give them the space they needed was outside at that time, so I understand where you're coming from with regards to not having the option of moving them inside. The little one was absolutely fine and managed to keep up with her siblings outside for many more years without incident, but we did have to up our game with their home. I just wanted to share as it was a horrid experience all round, although we were very lucky in the outcome, just in case it helps.

Thank you for sharing your story, and you are of course right.
Whether we see them or not, rats are everywhere.

 

[Siikibam]

There is another company that sells cages. It’s a little more expensive but they can customise them for you - extra locks etc. I can’t remember the name though! Perhaps someone else does. Or look back on this thread, I vaguely remember someone buying one.

Found it!
Rabbit Hutches - Guinea Pig Hutches - Ryedale Pet Homes