Protection for hutches in the rain?

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MellyWelly

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My question is inspired by our summer weather – rain and more rain.

My piggies are 'outdoor boys'. Their hutch is a sheltered spot in the garden. But when it rains, I feel anxious for them.
Does anyone have suggestions or recommendations where to buy 'hutch protectors'?

There's a product called 'Hutch Huggers' – but they're very pricey – especially when buying the combination of waterproof and insulator.
http://www.scratchandnewtonshop.co.uk/product_info.php?product_id=4001

Tarpulin has been suggested but I would imagine that flaps around if it's not tailored to fit the hutch?

I'm also thinking in advance for the autumn and winter months – they'll be put into my shed then, but I want them to be happy snug piggies! :)
 
I have a tarpaulin over outdoor hutchs in summer for protection against rain, held in place with a couple of bricks (oh yes, highly technical here :))!)

It helps if you have an overhang on top of the hutch, which would also give shade - perhaps you could put a larger piece of wood over the roof? This would help.

Mine are near the house and are quite sheltered anyway, but if it pours down then I do cover them. Trouble is if it's still hot and raining, you don't want to stifle them either!

Hutch huggers are great but v. pricey. There used to be a guy on ebay who made them to measure, good quality but cheaper than the Snugglesafe ones - perhaps worth a look?

Sophie
x
 
Thanks Flips, I had at look at P@H earlier, and the size I require isn't it the sale – just typical . . . to top it off, the hutch I bought three weeks ago has is now £15 cheaper. :{
Tarpaulin maybe the way forward as Sophie has suggested.
x
 
Same as sophie, Try and create an overhang with very stiff card or wood and put the waterproofing over that. You can stop the flapping around by using pegs as well to secure corners. This gives shade from sun too which is good. x
 
We made a cover for our old hutch out of the clear plastic they make tent windows from. I had a genuis idea of using magnet strips to hold it on to the front of the hutch which was great until it got windy rolleyes We then thought of using heavy duty press-stud type things in the corners which worked, (although the plastic seemed to shrink by about half an inch in the winter so the bottom ones wouldn't reach... ) rolleyes

We've not figured out what to do with the new hutch yet. They have a tarpaulin overnight, but I'd like something clear so they can still have light on rainy days. To the drawing board I think! :))
 
We used to cut sheets of plastic such as tarpaulin the size of the front of the hutches, then staple gun one end to the overhang at the top of the front of the cage, then staple a piece of wood along the 'hem' of the plastic so the weight would hold it down then you could just flick the sheet up over the roof out of the way when its dry. That was harder to describe than I thoguht it would be - hope it makes sense! lol
 
We bought an expensive hutch cover and it soaked through in a day so I would definately go for a thick sheet of tarpauline secured by bricks. Sometimes the origional way is best!
 
I'd just use tarpaulin and safety pins to secure it to the hutch. I personally think hutch covers are overpriced.
 
I used this chap to produce a two layer hutch cover, it has a see through layer for when it rains and a insulated later to keep them warm and to keep it dark when they're snuggled up with their PJ's on for the night. I have to say ours are now inside, and only go out when the weather's good, been too cold still to have them out over night now they're used to snuggly warm inside! The cover was quite expensive, but it fits really well, here's a link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RABBIT-HUTCH-...geNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ht_730wt_1133
Hope this helps
 
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