Outdoor Housing And Bedding

[Blossom15]

I'm looking at getting new housing for my 4 piggies.... At the moment they live in a 2x6 c & c in our log cabin which has been great over winter but now need something that I can keep the doors open when I'm not there.

Need to move them outside because when we go on holiday there won't be anyone to open the doors when the sun hits it.....

So moving them into a hutch seems the only option. In two months we are getting two mini lop rabbits which will also live in a hutch.

So my questions are:
- If you were in my situation how would you house them all? I've looked at 5ft/6ft double hutches to keep pigs and rabbits separate?
- I'm already tight on bin space so what would you recommend for bedding that you think makes least waste?

Thanks

 

[Blossom15]

Been looking at the feel good uk walk in galvanised cage I could put a couple of hutches in there I was thinking with paving under?

 

[gizzy]

Rabbit Hutch Guinea PIG Hutch RUN Large 2 Tier Double Decker Chicken Coop House | eBay

lts a bit pricy but l think this is a cracking cage

 

[zombieprincess]

Personally I hate co-op style hutches the Guinea pigs will only have a tiny space that is fully sheltered and considering their general delicacy to damp floors I think they are just a poor choice. If you are going to lock them away to make them secure at night the space of a co-op style is just too small for that many. Personally I like your idea of the walk in galvanised cage and having two large hutches in it. Along with a paved floor. This will mean they are secure at night the Rabbits will have the space they actually require if they are given free access to go from their hutch into the cage. The piggies should not be mixed with the Rabbits for numerous reasons. So they can have a separate run to get out and stretch their legs (presume they may have a run if some kind already?) If you are planning on splitting a double hutch in half I feel you really should go with a 6ft. Confining your piggies to a smaller space when they are used to having a lovely big c&c may upset them a little and bunnies really require 6ft as a minimum. Even little ones.

As bedding goes what are you using at the moment? All you really need is newspapers and plenty if hay.

 

[Pickle&Peanut]

Firstly, I would not underestimate how much space two mini-lops will need. I set up the eglu/ feel good combo below for my mini-lops and it STILL didn't feel like enough space for them. They are also total escape artists, I spent a huge amount of time staying one step ahead of their escapades. Very sadly we lost our bunnies and a pair of pigs have arrived- and inherited the run. As said above, it's not advised to mix rabbits and guineas.

Anyway- as I said I have a feel-good run and thought you might like to see. For either rabbits or guineas you will need to line the sides with a smaller gauge mesh or grids- chicken wire is dangerous for small rabbits/ guineas. It is great to be able to walk in, and it is ideal for children to be able to interact safely with the animals. I have ordered the 'roof' for the feelgood for shower-proofing. My guineas have both the eglu and raised hutch where they can get off damp ground and we completely swaddle the eglu run in tarpaulin in winter so it stays dry. I plan to order the space-rocket elgu liner this winter to keep the pigs warm.