Outdoor Run, Advice Needed Asap Please?

[Louisebenson]

Have just recently got 3 little sisters, aged 10 weeks!
They have an indoor cage with a diy run and a hutch outside .
I desperately need an outdoor run, I don't want a hutch attached to it, as a) I already have one and b) I want it light enough I can move it around easily.
I have spent hours look on the net as I'm a bit obsessed with making sure I get the absolutely right thing.
As the weather is bad and they are not used to grass for the moment I will put them on my decking and on my drive ( it's very long drive so it will be away from the road and cars, to help keep their nails down hopefully)
i assume a wooden one as it going on a hard surface in the winter, some of them look so flimsy it's really hard to tell the quality til they arrive and then it's too late.

So anyone recommend a really good sturdy outdoor run?

I have a little house that will go in there separately to keep them dry and for them to hide in.and a lot of them are either very long and narrow or completely square, so for example which is better a 6 x 2 or a 3 x 4! If the floor space is the same is it better to have longer and narrower or wider and shorter?..

Thank you in advance for your advice

 

[hattie.r]

we made ours from an old broken down set of bunk beds, as some of the ready made runs are ridiculously expensive, and we could make it as big as we liked. Personally I'd recommend a longer/narrower run, but that' s because we have a long/narrow garden! It doesn't have a lid for easy access but we clip a large piece of pvc plastic tablecloth over the top for a lid and a rain cover (and they're always supervised)
these ones are collapsible-size depends on how many pigs you have but as ever, the bigger the better:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...SKyJgvyxpHIoUML2eh1aSgXHnpD7Q7DZ0gaAngg8P8HAQ

http://www.rabbit-hutches.co.uk/collapsible-rabbit-run.htm

http://www.welfarehutches.co.uk/65ft_x_6ft_run_2ft_high/p1466125_10039435.aspx

 

[Louisebenson]

we made ours from an old broken down set of bunk beds, as some of the ready made runs are ridiculously expensive, and we could make it as big as we liked. Personally I'd recommend a longer/narrower run, but that' s because we have a long/narrow garden! It doesn't have a lid for easy access but we clip a large piece of pvc plastic tablecloth over the top for a lid and a rain cover (and they're always supervised)
these ones are collapsible-size depends on how many pigs you have but as ever, the bigger the better:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...SKyJgvyxpHIoUML2eh1aSgXHnpD7Q7DZ0gaAngg8P8HAQ

http://www.rabbit-hutches.co.uk/collapsible-rabbit-run.htm

http://www.welfarehutches.co.uk/65ft_x_6ft_run_2ft_high/p1466125_10039435.aspx

 

[Louisebenson]

Excuse me if I haven't replied in right place, still getting to grips with the forum, I think the one from zooplus looks the best one, purely on the fact it's has 20 positive reviews! My dad said he would build me one as he is a carpenter/joiner but he is so busy I can't wait that long!
I think I may buy the zoo plus one, then when my dad has time he can make me one and I can sell the zoo plus one

 

[Wiebke]

Please be careful with putting guinea pigs outside at this time of the year. They do not deal well with big changes in temperature (especially as they are still very little) and they also may find the outdoors frightening. Damp and drafts can cause illness.

If you do, make sure that they have a hay filled covered cardboard box to get protection and you may also want to cover the top of the run with a blanket to give them a feeling of protection and entice them to explore more.

We ask our new members from all over the world to please add their country, state or (for the UK) their county/city to their details, so we can always give the correct advice straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Are you in Britain or Australia? If you are downunder, you may also want to look at heat protection as summer is knocking on the door.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/hot-weather-management-and-heat-strokes.105317/

 

[7squeakers.]

They all look like very good quality runs. I would be careful with the Zooplus one as the bars are quite widely spaced and your tiny baby piggies may be able to squeeze through. But the wire is fox- , cat- and bird- proof so much safer when the piggies are bigger. The other two runs look to be the same size and the much finer wire means the babies can't escape, but this sort of wire can be bent by large animals trying to get at the piggies. This sort of wire is only held in place by metal staples. But, as Wiebke says, it is the wrong time of year now to put piggies out on the grass. Keep them inside until next spring. Come the time, Scratch & Newton.co.uk sell clip-on shades for runs.

 

[Louisebenson]

I have ordered the zoo plus one and if it needs it I will put extra wire over it, they are in a hutch outside during the day, I'm down in Torquay and luckily we are having really mild weather. So I try and put them outside as much as I can until it gets too cold! I wasn't going to put them on the grass just on my decking with some old carpet underneath so they can have an hour or so everyday whilst I'm outside pottering around! I appreciate as they are still babies I must be careful, I have a snuggle pad thingy that warms up in the microwave that I put out there too and it's very sheltered! thank you for your advice, I'm still learning lots and learning from experienced piggy keepers is far more valuable than reading a book on guinea pigs