Outdoor Housing

[empig]

My pigs live outside although they do come in when its really cold.I was considering a plastic hutch mainly for hygiene reasons does anyone have experience of these ? Or advice on which is best - if any ?

 

[Flutterby]

Wood is a better insulator than plastic I think which would keep your piggies warmer but you can buy thermal covers or even put the hutch inside a shed during the extremely cold weather.

 

[empig]

Thanks for that I might try to get a new hutch but with a plastic bottom ? Mmm a bit of research is needed me thinks

 

[KittyandNancy]

I think that plastic would hold moisture and condensation more, but I could be wrong. I would just think that the bottom would become wet and stay wetter if they wee in the bottom. I could be wrong. I think wood with an absorbent layer would be better outside.

Angela

 

[empig]

Of course where would the moisture go, I think maybe just a new traditional hutch. Cheers for advice

 

[madguinealady]

if you buy a wooden hutch you can buy stick on tiles dirt cheap and line the hutch with them and they will wipe clean

 

[Flutterby]

I agree with the lino tiles or cutting lino pieces. We have done both our hutches with this (first one was stick on tiles and the new one has normal lino cut to size and glued) and it makes it really easy to clean! I used to hate hutches for cleaning before this but now they are fantastic!

 

[PiggySmitten]

I've seen people use the Eglu for guinea pigs. That's entirely plastic and looks really easy to keep clean. I was tempted to get one as I liked the run set up with it and the fact it was fox proof was a big plus for me but two things put me off - I wouldn't think the indoor bit big enough for more than 2 piggies really once full grown (and we seem to have a habit of acquiring piggies!) and the price. A second hand one seems to go for about £180 on ebay.

 

[worried val of york]

I did consider an Eglu a couple of years ago. They're advertised as being warm in winter and cool in Summer. But you had to buy an additional run to make it a viable space of guinea pigs to live in. I decided against it because of the cost.

 

[PiggySmitten]

I did consider an Eglu a couple of years ago. They're advertised as being warm in winter and cool in Summer. But you had to buy an additional run to make it a viable space of guinea pigs to live in. I decided against it because of the cost.

The ones I've seen on ebay go for around £180 had the runs and mostly the really good cover (sun shade and rain proof) all in for that price but for me that was still too much money. I think I would've got one if I could have got it for less.

 

[worried val of york]

Yes they do seem a good idea. But I would really have liked to see one before parting with my hard earned cash. So I have just got traditional hutches to be on the safe side.

 

[ASTRID]

I've seen people use the Eglu for guinea pigs. That's entirely plastic and looks really easy to keep clean. I was tempted to get one as I liked the run set up with it and the fact it was fox proof was a big plus for me but two things put me off - I wouldn't think the indoor bit big enough for more than 2 piggies really once full grown (and we seem to have a habit of acquiring piggies!) and the price. A second hand one seems to go for about £180 on ebay.

I have seen those they look funky defiantly one to check out !

 

[empig]

Yeah I really wanted one of those but apart from the cost the inside space was a lot,lot smaller than they have now,my pigs are a bit free range kinda come and go as they please in their large safe area so to put them in that seemed well,not right for me. I had hens once and discounted their eglu for the same space reason. Cool but too small x

 

[PiggySmitten]

Yeah I really wanted one of those but apart from the cost the inside space was a lot,lot smaller than they have now,my pigs are a bit free range kinda come and go as they please in their large safe area so to put them in that seemed well,not right for me. I had hens once and discounted their eglu for the same space reason. Cool but too small x

Ooh cute pigture alert! Want a snuggle with that one please!

 

[the boys]

That's what I have done with my hutch...you can get grass lino from dunelm. I wanted that but wasn't allowed lol

if you buy a wooden hutch you can buy stick on tiles dirt cheap and line the hutch with them and they will wipe clean