Member Gallery: Hutches

[Animallover2245]

@Swissgreys & @Piggies&buns

I suppose I could ask my other housemates to get rid of their junk in the shed. Old radiators, broken microwaves etc... and I could easily lock my bicycles up to something in the garden. Would a shed be a suitable area for pigs? As I’m thinking maybe it is possible to convert the shed for them with necessary things and then I could connect the other hutch only for outdoor use for summer as @Piggies&buns did say it was fine for summer use. (Even if it’s not if I was to buy a seperate shed) would a shed be fine ?

Before with requirements I thought it means in general required space meant both in and outdoors but in total.

 

[Piggies&buns]

@Swissgreys & @Piggies&buns

I suppose I could ask my other housemates to get rid of their junk in the shed. Old radiators, broken microwaves etc... and I could easily lock my bicycles up to something in the garden. Would a shed be a suitable area for pigs? As I’m thinking maybe it is possible to convert the shed for them with necessary things and then I could connect the other hutch only for outdoor use for summer as @Piggies&buns did say it was fine for summer use. (Even if it’s not if I was to buy a seperate shed) would a shed be fine ?

Before with requirements I thought it means in general required space meant both in and outdoors but in total.

The run is definitely absolutely fine for a day time summer run. it just isn’t suitable as a permanent living space as it doesn’t meet size requirements when they are locked in.

A shed is fine provided it provides enough space, is safe and warm.
My boys have a shed. Its a 6 foot by 8 foot shed, with a 6 foot hutch inside. They are locked in the hutch at night time only and roam the shed floor during the day provided it’s not too cold or too hot (Too cold and they stay in the hutch (but it’s rare this happens as the shed is well insulated) ; too hot and they cannot stay in the shed anyway). As it’s a 6 foot hutch it’s plenty big enough for when they need to be locked in and still gives them a lot of room to exercise.
The whole shed is insulated. To keep them warm in the hutch on a winters night, they have a thermal hutch cover, two blankets and then a normal hutch cover, as well as a duvet which can be thrown over the whole thing. They have loads of hay and four snugglesafes in the hutch.
The biggest issue I face with the shed is the heat in summer - it can easily get dangerously hot in there, 40 degrees or so, so keeping an eye on it and getting them out early enough in the morning is essential.
My boys also have an additional 6ft outdoor run for daytime summer use on the lawn.

There is also a member gallery for sheds in the housing section which may give you ideas

 

[Engel]

(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.

I agree with @Piggies&buns, it's a lovely run for the warmer weather but not great for this time of year.

The shed is a lovely idea. Mine are in a 6ft hutch which is in a 7x5ft insulated shed. Another point I agree with piggies&buns on is the potentially lethal heat trap it becomes in the summer. Mine got up to 45°C last year I think. Pigs had to come in.

You mentioned that your one housemate has autism. Is it just because he's loud that they don't come in or is there a risk of a meltdown? Having Asperger's myself and members in my household having autism, I know what an impact change can have.

During the hottest parts of the day, could you put them temporarily in your room until it's cool enough to go back out?

Regarding noise, it doesn't seem to bother my pigs, infact they'll often wheek when they hear them approach and come up and greet them. My brother's will even come into my room just have full blown conversations with them, often completely ignoring me . The pigs always run to the bars and really listen to them.

 

[Animallover2245]

I agree with @Piggies&buns, it's a lovely run for the warmer weather but not great for this time of year.

The shed is a lovely idea. Mine are in a 6ft hutch which is in a 7x5ft insulated shed. Another point I agree with piggies&buns on is the potentially lethal heat trap it becomes in the summer. Mine got up to 45°C last year I think. Pigs had to come in.

You mentioned that your one housemate has autism. Is it just because he's loud that they don't come in or is there a risk of a meltdown? Having Asperger's myself and members in my household having autism, I know what an impact change can have.

During the hottest parts of the day, could you put them temporarily in your room until it's cool enough to go back out?

Regarding noise, it doesn't seem to bother my pigs, infact they'll often wheek when they hear them approach and come up and greet them. My brother's will even come into my room just have full blown conversations with them, often completely ignoring me . The pigs always run to the bars and really listen to them.

Thanks
Well it's both loud and meltdown, it's also because of my landlord will only accept pets that can live outside/ Plus when they were indoors at my mum's for christmas. They would get scared everytime the tv/radio etc.. was on. i wouldn't want to scare them constantly.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thanks
Well it's both loud and meltdown, it's also because of my landlord will only accept pets that can live outside/ Plus when they were indoors at my mum's for christmas. They would get scared everytime the tv/radio etc.. was on. i wouldn't want to scare them constantly.

If the landlord wants then outside, then obviously that is what you have to do. They do get used to noises though. Mine live in the shed and at first were terrified of the lawnmower but now it doesn’t bother them.

 

[Engel]

Thanks
Well it's both loud and meltdown, it's also because of my landlord will only accept pets that can live outside/ Plus when they were indoors at my mum's for christmas. They would get scared everytime the tv/radio etc.. was on. i wouldn't want to scare them constantly.

You will still need to find a cool place for them to go when the shed is too warm in summer. Is there part of the garden in constant shade where you can place a cage/run for the hottest part of the day? (With frozen bottles to lay against and other cooling measures).

If the landlord wants then outside, then obviously that is what you have to do. They do get used to noises though. Mine live in the shed and at first were terrified of the lawnmower but now it doesn’t bother them.

Mine have never been bothered about the mower in fact they'll wheek every time they hear it and they get louder the closer it gets. Probably the smell of the grass though lol.

 

[Animallover2245]

You will still need to find a cool place for them to go when the shed is too warm in summer. Is there part of the garden in constant shade where you can place a cage/run for the hottest part of the day? (With frozen bottles to lay against and other cooling measures).


Mine have never been bothered about the mower in fact they'll wheek every time they hear it and they get louder the closer it gets. Probably the smell of the grass though lol.

It rarely ever gets hot in England and it’s not in direct sunlight either . Also
Guinea Pigs are used to high temperatures as they originate from South America which is a lot warmer than England

 

[Siikibam]

The shed would trap the heat so you have to consider that. Even if it’s 25c outside, it may be warmer inside the shed. The ideal temperature range has been mentioned so you need to aim for that. You don’t want them suffering from heat stroke.

 

[Engel]

It rarely ever gets hot in England and it’s not in direct sunlight either . Also
Guinea Pigs are used to high temperatures as they originate from South America which is a lot warmer than England

I'm going to have to correct you here. It can get warm here in England, last year I had to bring my pigs in because it was 40°C+ in the shed and 30°C+ in the shade.

Once temperatures go above 25°C guinea pigs can get heat stroke and die. Too many reports last year of piggies dying here in England because they were too hot, so it absolutely can happen.

Our pigs haven't been 'in the wild' for 3000+ years(?) and are different to their wild cousins. Guinea pigs live in tall grasses and take shelter in burrows (typically made by other animals) during the heat of the day where it's cooler, only venturing out when it's cooler at dawn and dusk.

The highest ever temperature recorded in Peru (where guinea pigs originate) was 40°C. The lowest was -30°C. Typically temperatures normally sit between 15°C and 27°C hence why guinea pigs have adapted to these temperatures and not any hotter.

For comparison temperature in England:
Hottest on record- 38.7°C
Coldest on record- -28°C.

You don't have to be in direct sunlight to get hot. Last year when I was on the patio (concrete), and in the shade, the thermometer was reading 30°C+.

 

[BossHogg]

It rarely ever gets hot in England and it’s not in direct sunlight either . Also
Guinea Pigs are used to high temperatures as they originate from South America which is a lot warmer than England

Oh it doesn't does it?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I have to agree with the others - it is getting hotter in the UK each year. We hit 38 degrees the summer before last. Last summer wasn’t as sustained heat but was still 35 degrees for a period - far far too hot for piggies whose limit is 25 degrees.
That summer got to 45+ in the shed and wouldn’t even go below 25 degrees overnight - there were a couple of weeks when they couldn’t be in the shed at all and had to have alternative accommodation.
Even on a winters day, my shed remains 5-10 degrees warmer than outside. That’s great in winter, means I can keep them warm but apply that to summer and then some and it can get dangerous in the shed. even in spring time - all it needs is a nice 15 degree day and the hutch and shed can already be at their 25 degree limit.

My two boys have been with me for four years.
3 out of 4 winters they’ve been warm enough to stay in the shed all winter. One winter my extensive warming measures failed and I couldn’t keep the shed above 10 degrees so they had to come into the house.
4 out of 4 summers there have at least been extended periods where it has been far too hot outside and they have had to come into the house every single summer so far. Even on the lawn has been too hot in midsummer. They’ve only been able to have run time early mornings and late evenings, keeping them indoors between 9am and 7pm.

Sadly we do come across reports of piggies succumbing to the heat each summer, even when kept as cool as possible.

 

[BossHogg]

It rarely ever gets hot in England and it’s not in direct sunlight either . Also
Guinea Pigs are used to high temperatures as they originate from South America which is a lot warmer than England

What a load of rubbish! We have humans living in very hot and very cold places on the globe. If I went to either I'd suffer. Just like piggies in this temperate country, when it gets too hot or too cold, they will suffer.

 

[Swissgreys]

It rarely ever gets hot in England and it’s not in direct sunlight either . Also
Guinea Pigs are used to high temperatures as they originate from South America which is a lot warmer than England

You also need to bear in mind that the piggies we buy in the pet shop and keep as pets are very far removed from their original ancestors.

 

[aredgrave90]

Hi All,

My two sows live in a five foot by two foot hutch. For most of the year I keep it on a walled and roofed patio, but since this winter is unbelievably cold(!), I asked the homeowner if I could bring it in to the conservatory.

I use a heater to keep the temperature at 12 to 15 degrees, but I have also kept various precautions in place, as if it was still in the garden. The outside of the hutch is insulated with foam pads and bubble wrap. It has a hutch cover on, a number of blankets, and Snugglesafe heat pads in each of the hideys. I put the hideys on a raft of hay, and I stack more hay on top for insulation. I place their best feeding hay on top of the hideys, because they seem to enjoy reaching up for the tastiest pieces! As you can see, I line the inside with cardboard, as it seems to retain more heat.

Some modifications that I made to the hutch...

Neither of my girls will use a ramp, so I took it out and replaced the floor to give them space for roaming. They spend the daytime downstairs, and/or in their play pen, and I put them in the top in the evening.

My girls will also not share a bedroom. To fix this issue, I removed the divider to create a single living space, and then I added in a hidey for each of them.

Everything else you can see on the picture. Looking forward to any feedback and to seeing other hutches!

Thanks loads,
Amy

 

[piggl]

As the thread is quite old and does not have much additions anymore, in honor of my boys moving back into their hutch just yesterday I thought I would share my setup.

It is not the best decorated and definitely not as fancy as some of the hutches on here but it is functional for me and my boys.

My boys (2) live in the bluebell 5ft hutch from pets at home. This hutch has worked well for us but if you are looking for inspiration, this hutch does not hold up well to weather so if your piggies are living fully outside I would probably not recommend this hutch.
Their hutch is in our garage, it used to be only moved in for the winter but due to a new shed it is much easier/accessible for it to be in the garage full time. It has a backdoor which is left open during the summer (aside from overnight), and a smallish window to provide some vitamin D on those colder days when the door stays closed.
Having ventilation is needed for warmer days, and the colder days, so if you are looking to put your pigs in a garage/shed make sure there is a way to create airflow.

There is insolation on the sides, top and back. I am not sure what kind of insulation, but the thick stuff instead of just plain insulation foil.
In the height on winter my boys are sometimes closed up all day, I have a very thick sleeping bag from my Grandmother, and it works great as an insulating cover over the front on those cold days. Snuggle safe heating pads and plenty of hay is your best friend.

As for bedding my boys are on bath mats, I know this is controversial but one of my boys has a small nasal passage, meaning he was constantly having breathing issues with shavings due to irritation. I keep on top of the changing of this, and in winter they get changed every couple of days. If you are thinking of using fleece/bath mats outside please be aware of the risks in doing so.

Some modifications I have made are a ledge of wood along the front to stop the constant falling of wood shavings (when I used them), a wooden "banister" along the large gap for the stairway and some carpet on the ramp.
Generally speaking you want to attach it with something removable to be able to wash it but I did not think of this when putting it on so mine is not removable but I would recommend it. The ramp is very steep so you can either put something on it to make it easier to grip or place a stable hide or something underneath to alleviate the steepness.

My boys have a homemade run attached during the day, made by my Grandad. The boys have two runs, one for inside and one for outside.
This one is roughly 2x5 in C&C sizing, and gives them more space to run and play during the day. It has a covered area and a lid with a hinge for easy cleaning/removal of pigs.
It was originally meant to be for outside which is why the attachment to the cage is DIY, so doesn't look the best but we took steps to make sure everything was/is safe for the boys to be out and around in.

As you can see there is a gap between the run and the hutch, so for an extra level of protection there is a homemade door covering with green plastic garden mesh, as the back door is left open all day.

My boys love their hutch, it was baby Reggie's first day in it yesterday and was very nervous but he is settling in much better today.

 

[Roselina]

Very lucky lovely piggies

 

[piggl]

Hutch/s update.

I now have 2 hutches, a bluebell hutch and a foxglove hutch, they are both from pets at home.
As you can see the top of the bluebell hutch is now vacant as there is only one older boar living downstairs, Winston. In the foxglove hutch I have two boys named Reggie and Remy, it comes in a bit bigger than the bluebell by around 10cm D&L.

In the foxglove hutch I have a cut up towel stuck on the ramp to make going up and down easier for both pigs. I generally use bath mats as bedding, as they are in a garage, but I have recently decided to switch to Softchip for the winter for the foxglove. Winston, in the bluebell, will stick with bath mats as he has a irritable nose and struggles when on other bedding.

Some essentials for outdoor living are Snugglesafes, plenty of hay and covers. Whether you buy one that comes with the hutch (which is needed if your hutch is outdoors) or with blankets it can really make a difference.
In the height of Winter you will see my boys with a snuggle safe each, half a ton of hay and a blanket in front of their hutch alongside a thick sleeping bag my grandmother passed down to me. Each hutch has insulation around the back and sides to help in the colder days.


During the day my boys get access to additional runs to stretch their legs, these can not be attached 24/7 as I can not keep them safe from the cold while they are out in it. For example, if it is a really cold day I will leave my boys in their hutches, but instead I will come out more often with treats or just sit and speak for longer to try and help enrich their day.

Winston is in the original run, which is about the size of a 2-3x5ish, in C&C sizes, which is a great opportunity for him to move about a bit more. This is also where he gets his through bar interaction with the other pigs. As I can not offer him 24/7 side by side interaction this is the best I can do for him, and it will help enrich his life as guinea pigs should not be alone.

The pairing have a 5x3-4ish run, also attached to their hutch. I bought tall C&C grids off of amazon as Reggie is a bit of jumper and I wanted to make it as secure as possible.
As you can see there is two main hide areas in the form of an old "hutch" that I bought, that ended up being too small for anything, so I cut the door off of it and will now use it as a place to hide and play, and there is a wooden hide in the opposite side as well. I have been struggling to fully furnish all areas, as I had the resources to fill one hutch and one run, now I feel a bit lost

This 'renovation' cost around £400 in total, which is quite expensive, but I have never seen so much excitement in the morning than I do now when the pigs are out in their respective runs, able to see, smell and hear each other but they are more than happy to get on with their day.
I will add that there is a back door to the garage (not the main door) that I leave open daily, and as you can see the new C&C is open top, so I have the same green mesh door (mentioned in my previous post) covering that open door to stop predators from coming in. I am planning to upgrade it with an additional layer of much smaller chicken wire to make it extra secure, even if we do not have many predators in the area apart from the odd cat.

 

[jac13]

Our piggies live outdoors in a hutch.

Where it was purchased or how it was made
It was bought from 'the Rabbit Hutch warehouse' earlier this year and I'm pleased with the quality of the structure

What size it is
It is a double 4ft x 2ft hutch, so offers approx 7' x 2' of floor space (taking into consideration the ramp). There is lots of headroom though and I have considered making a mini mezannine floor of some sort over the 'bedroom' but have not yet figured out how!

How many piggies are kept in it
Four piggies live in here. A neutered boar and his three ladies.

How easy it is to keep clean/if you'd recommend it
It's reasonably easy to keep clean. It has lots of headroom so it's easy to reach inside. I find this hutch much easier to clean than our old one (which was not as deep). I put down lino tiles on both floors too to make cleaning easier.

Side on (next to our old hutch whilst Boris was in 'quarantine')

Downstairs

Can I ask is urs outside all year really trying decide what to do

 

[piggl]

Can I ask is urs outside all year really trying decide what to do

Unfortunately this post you are asking about was made 13 years ago and the user hasn’t been online since 2014.

Hutches can go outside all year but you have to make sure you take the appropriate measures to keep them safe.
Get a well built hutch (preferable not Pets at home), get a good cover, plenty of hay and snuggle safe pads. It’s also best if you have a sheltered area so the hutch is less exposed to the elements.

I’ve kept piggies outside all year, but after about 1-2 years I decided to move them into an empty garage during the winter months, as trying to clean and interact with them when it’s raining/snowing is quite difficult, but it can work.

If you would like to get some more advice/help on what to decide you can always make your own thread as there will be more members who have/do keep their piggies outside all year.

Have a look at this thread - Outdoor hutch recommendations

Cold Weather Care for Indoor and Outdoor Guinea Pigs
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[Daisy_and_Mocha]

I had been trying to find a new hutch for Mocha and Jewel for a while, but practically all that I could find were way too small. After searching for ages, this was one out of just a few hutches that were of a good size. I can't believe how little choice there is for a good hutch where I live
cage type: single level hutch
Where it was purchased: Shiloh Rabbits (New Zealand)
What size it is: 90cm x 134cm (≈13 square feet)
How many piggies are kept in it: two sows
How easy it is to clean/if you'd recommend it: easy to clean, with top opening doors, so no need to get on ground level to clean it out. I'd definitely recommend it - the indoor floor is built off the ground to avoid any extra dampness or cold, there is a narrow shelter over the doorway to stop rain or sun, and another narrow shelter the the end of the hutch. It's very sturdy but still light enough for me to drag onto fresh grass as needed. Mocha and Jewel also highly approve

 

[piggl]

I had been trying to find a new hutch for Mocha and Jewel for a while, but practically all that I could find were way too small. After searching for ages, this was one out of just a few hutches that were of a good size. I can't believe how little choice there is for a good hutch where I live
cage type: single level hutch
Where it was purchased: Shiloh Rabbits (New Zealand)
What size it is: 90cm x 134cm (≈13 square feet)
How many piggies are kept in it: two sows
How easy it is to clean/if you'd recommend it: easy to clean, with top opening doors, so no need to get on ground level to clean it out. I'd definitely recommend it - the indoor floor is built off the ground to avoid any extra dampness or cold, there is a narrow shelter over the doorway to stop rain or sun, and another narrow shelter the the end of the hutch. It's very sturdy but still light enough for me to drag onto fresh grass as needed. Mocha and Jewel also highly approve
View attachment 240472

Are your piggies on the grass year round? What do you do during winter or rain?

 

[Daisy_and_Mocha]

They are outside almost all year. if there's a small amount of rain I cover the hutch, if its torrential I bring them inside to be more comfortable since my place can be prone to flooding (and mud of course). During the winter they live mainly in an inside cage, but I do have them outside on any warmer days (it doesnt snow or anything here)