Protecting Hutches From Foxes Etc.

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Mother Hubbard

Mother Hubbard

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So whilst I am waiting for my other hutch to arrive, I would really appreciate handy hints and tips on keep hutches safe from foxes etc. come winter the hutches will be in a shed.

I live in the country, open fields etc, lots of birds of prey, do you weigh they down, peg them, put warning bells on them? Whole new territory so excuse the newbie questions.

Are your hutches in the shade? Am considering where to put mine, they won't be on the grass.
Thanks in advance.
 
I'm hoping someone in the know will answer this as it is a very important question and I would very much like to hear what other forum members think.

My OH is insisting that our guinea pigs go out in a hutch outside. I have managed to talk him round into letting me keep them indoors during the winter but summer is on it's way now.

You are right not to put the hutch on grass - much safer on a solid base. Personally, I think you re right to put it in the shade too - I strategically drape a groundsheet over mine and call it a shade sail.

I'm also adding a link to a thread warning about the dangers of poor quality mesh ...

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...ity-mesh-chicken-wire-on-hutches-runs.111934/

For a balanced view, lots of people keep guinea pigs and rabbits outside in hutches BUT - any signs of danger and my trio are coming back indoors.
 
Birds of prey won't be a problem for guineas in a hutch, the majority of UK birds of prey wouldn't even be capable of tackling adult guinea pigs or wouldn't be seen in your back garden in any case.

For fox protection you need weld mesh of ideally 16 gauge or less, even better if you can put a double layer on - one inside and one out held in place with bolts and washers. Using a piece of perspex over the mesh at night will make it very safe. Also, make sure it has solid deadbolts and not those little swivel things. If you set it against a wall or fence it will be sheltered and won't tip over.
 
Thanks for the reply both. Having unpacked my hutch tonight I am pleased with the quality, I will take pictures throughout the building and final installation. Mesh appears sturdy, deadbolts, have hutch hugger also. Have decided to place near back doors and on sunny days put patio umbrella up to provide extra shade as were south facing so loads of sun.

I didn't sleep a wink last night, was fretting over the other piggys outside, but they were fine, strolled out at 6.30am to check on them. I must be bonkers! :blink:
 
What hutch have you chosen? Feel free to point me in the direction of another thread if it's there somewhere already!

I've been wondering whether the run part of an Eglu could be adapted to attach to a hutch as that's supposed to be fox proof but I feel the "hutch" bit of an actual Eglu is quite small.
 
lil said:
Meant to say, I've played with an iglu and thought it very expensive for what or is.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree they are expensive. Having looked into it, there doesn't seem much benefit really of choosing the Eglu specifically designed for GPS or rabbits over the Eglu classic for chickens.

If you're prepared to go with the chicken one, then that opens up the second hand market more. But even second hand they are still going for around £200-£300.

I like the idea that you can pressure wash them and I was very impressed with the quality of the run on one I saw in use recently but I'd probably still want to get a run extension kit (around £80) so the overall cost and the smaller "hutch" size combined mean I've decided against the Eglu as an option.

We've got a lovely very well made outdoor hutch (that was expensive!) from www.gardenwoodcraft.co.uk for our girls when they are outside during the day but we are soon taking in a couple of boars and have decided they will live outside permanently round the other side of the house to keep them away from the girls so it's a hutch for them I'm looking for now. Where we are putting them is under cover - a bit like a stone bus shelter but bigger - so the hutch won't be too exposed to the elements but we are also in a rural area where there are foxes (and buzzards) so proofing against fox attack is important to us - hence having considered the Eglu.
 
Sorry just back online again today. So understand about the benefits of the Iglu, it is very different living in 'Tut' country in terms of our feathered friends, they are very vocal and surrounded by woods, you get a real idea of who the prey really is. Loved the above website, was drooling over options for hours...don't tempt me in turning the top tier of our garden into piggy heaven, when I so love to enjoy BBQ there!
 
I've spent the last 2 weeks now drooling over lots of hutches for the 2 new boys who will be coming. It's the wire on the front which is causing me the most concern.

I like the way the wire on this one is sandwiched in rather than stapled on but I'd just like the hutch to be a little bit bigger for them as they grow (and wonder if the gaps are too big to protect from cats/foxes). The slightly larger one they sell is a hutch with run under straight onto the floor.

http://www.rabbit-hutches.co.uk/double-rabbit-hutches.htm

A double hutch seems a better option in case they fall out when they are growing up and I like the rubber feet and floor downstairs.

I've seen some bunny business double hutches which are larger but I don't know if the mesh is ok and it's not always clear if there is a ramp between levels or not.

OH is not particularly practical and it's not really my thing either so modifications such as cutting holes for ramps or changing wire mesh I'd prefer to avoid!

I like the look of the one you've gone for very much but my budget is a little lower than it costs!
 
Hermes said:
Birds of prey won't be a problem for guineas in a hutch, the majority of UK birds of prey wouldn't even be capable of tackling adult guinea pigs or wouldn't be seen in your back garden in any case.

For fox protection you need weld mesh of ideally 16 gauge or less, even better if you can put a double layer on - one inside and one out held in place with bolts and washers. Using a piece of perspex over the mesh at night will make it very safe. Also, make sure it has solid deadbolts and not those little swivel things. If you set it against a wall or fence it will be sheltered and won't tip over.
Click to expand...
Although the birds probably could not grab a guinea pig, they still scare the pigs. if my girls are out on the grass and a measly pigeon swoops over low they all drop flat to the ground and play 'possum'. You wouldnt want them to be scared out in the open so a covering over the top of the run would protect them from 'seeing' the sky as such..
 
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