What are the thermals you recommend? I was planning on getting the hutch cover from the website but cant see any thermals?
The cover on the website is purely waterproof with no insulating qualities. You need to also insulate the hutch and you can do it with a proper thermal cover - try the scratch and newton website as they do both waterproof (called hutch hugger in their website) and thermal cover (called hutch snuggle). You need both - thermal on first and then water proof on top. Scratch and newton stock covers to fit Chartwell hutches.
Or you can make your own by using silver foil insulation (looks like bubble wrap but is silver) and taping it together to cover the hutch and then putting the hutch hugger/waterproof cover over the top.
I have done both - both making one with silver foil and buying a proper thermal cover (in my case it was a custom size as none of them fit my rather large rabbit hutch). Both work perfectly
You will also need snugglesafe heatpads for outdoor piggies. They are essential and provide a warm spot for piggies to sit. Heat them up in the microwave. They say 10 hours of warmth but I find they last about 6-8 in mid winter so you need to heat them up a few times a day.
In terms of your plan to board them - it’s a good idea but it is important you note that indoor piggies shouldnt be put outside for the first time
until the risk of frost has gone and night time temperatures are above 10 degrees (15 degrees ideally). The most common way to do it is to have them out during the day and indoors at night so they acclimate slowly, moving them out from
around April. Once they’ve had a summer outside then they will be fine but it is just that first one.
Of course that isn’t going to be possible given you can’t have them inside so you are going to really need to make sure the hutch is warm enough and well insulated if you plan on putting them back out in February.
It is entirely possible to keep them outside year round, it just takes some work and planning both in winter and in summer.
Mine live in my shed so although they are out of wind and rain, I still need to keep them warm enough.
My biggest issue with outdoor animals has always been summer and managing the heat. Hutches can become dangerous so planning positioning the hutch is very important along with other heat management factors.
They are currently kept in the Ferplast 160 and sometimes chew on those bars, is it the same material?
They are much less likely to be able to effectively chew the mesh on a hutch vs a commercial cage. The bars on a commercial cage are usually coated and wide so they can get their teeth into them.
the mesh on the hutches are wire and are small (to keep rats out) while they may attempt it it’s not always easy for them to get their teeth. I’ve never had one chew the mesh, they do chew the wood though and I have one who is a terror for doing it!