piggy hutch made out of a piece of furniture

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sazmatazz

sazmatazz

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Hi all, we are trying to come up with an innovative way to house our piggies. I came across this post about a rabbit hutch - the owner got slated for it being unsuitable: tiles inside, use of paint inside, not enough ventilation.
However, these things considered, I wondered if it'd be possible to use a piece of furniture e.g. a wooden low side board with double doors to house our pigs if we put mesh in the doors and added vents.

This is the original post: http://www.myhouserabbit.com/blog/2009/07/09/modern-bunny-hutch/

This is the sort of thing I was thinking of: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WrQNBEB90SM/TLNYjEDjk5I/AAAAAAAABME/YDiTSg9duB0/s400/new+side1.JPG

I like the look of this one but its a bit big for us: http://biggercages.com/gallery/d/9322-1/me2_ht16.jpg
 
Hi, I think that's an excellent idea, I am currently in the process of converting a piece of furniture ( a cupboard from a charity shop) into a cat litter house to keep the litter tray out of sight, I am just cutting a hole in side and I can open the door to get in and clean. I will be painting it White to match my kitchen. I think mesh would be fine but yes you will need to be careful with the paint and line the bottom to stop the wood getting smelly.

Would be great to see what you come up with, mine are just in cages when they come in for the winter, maybe someone on here has something similar?

Take care
Jen
 
I've searched and searched but just can't find a picture of the hutch that someone had made out of a cupboard. :(
I think the ones you linked to look great. I was just thinking yesterday when I was cleaning out the piggies, I'd love a beautifully made house for my piggies. Mine is great for them and practical but not exactly aesthetically fitting considering it takes up most of my lounge! :))
 
My 2 girls are in a converted solid pine bookcase that was only housing my sons ps2 - its nearly 6ft by 3ft - I just cut out the shelves - lined it with old estate agents boards (as they are made of correx ) bored a couple of holes in for water bottles and popped in the vet bed hay and hidies etc - - cost me absolutely nothing to make.:))
 
I think the 2nd one in your links would be perfect when it's adapted a bit.
It would also look good in your living room. ;)
 
I made a 'sideboard' cage from a 1960's piece of furniture that was left in my garage by the previous owners - so I've been in this house 11years and just left it collecting dust all that time! It was a single story sideboard but we made a upper level with correx and c&c grids. I think if I was more creative I could have made it prettier.



I use it for Foster piggies, its 5ft (150cm) long and 17inches deep (43cm) it is quite narrow which is a bit of a negative compared to my C&C cages that are 75cm wide. but on the positive it has two fun areas the bottom hay forage area and a top chill out area with vet bed and soft furnishings :)
And it fits nicely in the piggy room so I have a path to my computer.

DSCF9777.jpg


DSCF9772.jpg


Paula
 
Must admit that I've been eyeing up the furniture with a view to turning it into housing. I've 2 deep bookcases that might get used if I ever get a kindle and I have a chest of drawers but don't really think that's big enough.

I think that sideboard would convert brilliantly.
 
harold_the_pig said:
I love the last one
Click to expand...

Its so lovely isn't it! It looks great even with the mesh in the doors.
I think a low side board would be perfect in terms of space. I'd want to get something older so its more likely to be solid - in case of chewing! Have heard rumours that winners of ikea furniture is not very good for piggies & rabbits to chew on.
I think vents in the back would also be a good idea in terms of ventilation.
 
Actually it has 4 grids to cover up the front which slide in, I forgot to put them in place before I took the photo.
 
Salt n Peppers mum said:
Actually it has 4 grids to cover up the front which slide in, I forgot to put them in place before I took the photo.
Click to expand...

Ah yeah that makes sense! :)

Anyone know anything about using paint on the outside of hutches etc? I wouldn't paint the inside but would line it with vinyl or something. I know the pigs I had as a child lived in a hutch that was stained on the outside with bog standard wood stain.
 
sazmatazz said:
Its so lovely isn't it! It looks great even with the mesh in the doors.
I think a low side board would be perfect in terms of space. I'd want to get something older so its more likely to be solid - in case of chewing! Have heard rumours that winners of ikea furniture is not very good for piggies & rabbits to chew on.
I think vents in the back would also be a good idea in terms of ventilation.
Click to expand...

*inners not winners! Silly auto complete!
 
technically my pigs are housed on a double bed, I put the pen ontop the bed to keep it off the floor and add some height to the pen panels without making it so big I couldnt climb in if needed to.
 
This one is also very cool but size wise more suited to hamsters:

Pet%20Hamster%20Cage_3.jpg
 
Sound's like a great idea, i've thought about maybe using furniture before, but i'm too worried i'd make a mistake or wouldn't make it safe enough for my pigs or something, once i used an old book case for them to just sit in, back when they were on sawdust i grabbed some fleece and towel and made a little cosy in an old laying down bookcase without any shelves, they stayed there for hours and loved it !
I like the idea of making it yourself, a bit like a more permanent C&C i guess :)
 
Sound's like a great idea, i've thought about maybe using furniture before, but i'm too worried i'd make a mistake or wouldn't make it safe enough for my pigs or something, once i used an old book case for them to just sit in, back when they were on sawdust i grabbed some fleece and towel and made a little cosy in an old laying down bookcase without any shelves, they stayed there for hours and loved it !
I like the idea of making it yourself, a bit like a more permanent C&C i guess :)
 
Love all these :) I'm actually in the process of using my sons old ikea anesobe wardrobe for a cage! It's White in colour and the doors have a correx centre, my plan is the have just the plain White wood as the base lined with lino and plain White wood for the back and then use the doors with the correx centre as th front and sides! It will be around 160cm x 60 x 30-40 cm on height, it will then sit on top of my sons bedroom drawers which are also White and 180 cm in length with only 3 drawer height so not too big!

It will all be open topped so not sure whether to add a ramp and second part or keep it all one level with a few hidey house, fleece beds etc :) x
 
Just wondered if anyone had spotted anymore inspiration? :)
 
TAN said:
My 2 girls are in a converted solid pine bookcase that was only housing my sons ps2 - its nearly 6ft by 3ft - I just cut out the shelves - lined it with old estate agents boards (as they are made of correx ) bored a couple of holes in for water bottles and popped in the vet bed hay and hidies etc - - cost me absolutely nothing to make.:))
Click to expand...

Can you post a picture please? It sounds fab xx
 
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