Suitable hutch and run for outdoor piggies

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Pigpignewbie

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Am looking to get a pair of guinea pigs in the coming few weeks and am bamboozled by the hutches in offer. I've seen a large hutch with run space underneath. Can you advise if this would be suitable. It does have a cover with it! thanks in advance for any support!
 

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My first hutch had a run underneath and I, personally, would not recommend one like that for the following reasons:
  1. As it directly onto the grass/ground the bottom bits of wood go rotten quickly.
  2. You have to keep moving it around the grass so the piggies have fresh grass to eat.
  3. The ramp is often too steep and there are no sides on the ramps so the piggies don't use them for fear of falling off.
  4. I ended up spending a fortune putting a false floor in mine.
I ended up replacing my hutch with a Chartwell Hutch from Scratch and Newton - Hutches, Hutch Covers, Snuggles, Shades, Coolers with the hutch hugger and the hutch snuggles with bye bye fly screen and buying a separate predator proof run.
 
Hello and welcome :) The problem with the particular hutch is that we're now coming in to winter so the grass / concrete ground will be too cold and wet for them to use so they'll be confined to the hutch part. Do you have the dimensions for that?
 
Thanks for replying. Who knew there was such a minefield. I'm wondering if a 2 storey hutch like the bluebell from pets at home is worth it or should I go with a single storey hutch that is longer like 5ft. I'll get a separate run! x
 
Quite a few members have the Bluebell hutch and give it great reviews. It depends on if your new piggies will use the ramp though.

A 5 or 6ft single story with separate run is also a good idea. It's really up to you :)
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. I have outdoors piggies in a chartwell 6 ft 2 storey hutch. One thing you need to be aware of is if you are getting piggies that have been kept indoors it's now too cold to put them outside. The sudden change in temperature can trigger health problems for them. If you get a hutch with a solid base though you would be able to keep it indoors until spring when it would be safer to move them outdoors
 
I have the bluebell. It is 5ft and perfect for my two boys. I keep mine in my shed and it is surrounded by a playpen so all I have to do is open the hutch doors and they can play safely in the shed on wet days. I also have a separate garden run for summer and a large indoor run which I only use in the house.
I, and my boys, really like the bluebell and I would recommend it. Two niggles though which can be easily fixed. Some piggies may find the ramp too steep, but it can be lifted by putting a brick of something underneath. On the top level, where the ramp goes down, the hole left in the floor on the top level is enormous and dangerous. I had put a piece of wood to make a rail so they can’t fall down the hole. I would recommend, whatever hutch you get, to line it with plastic to stop the wood from being ruined when it gets wet.

The problem with the hutches like the one in your picture, is that the run space is nice but usually the upstairs living area is too small so that is something you would need to watch if you were to go with one of those.
 
One other thing to consider is are you getting a pair of boars or sows? Boars need lots more space especially if your getting babies or they are coming up to teenager time.
 
jopop said:
I was looking at this one which is very similar https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cocoon-XL-Double-Decker-Rabbit/dp/B00O301ZGQ?th=1 .
I was thinking if I attached plastic sheet around the bottom at the back, sides and half of the front I could insulate the floor with vet bed and hay to make a reasonably dry area. What do you think? This would be for 2 sows.
Click to expand...

Personally I would get one with a floor raised off the ground as there is too much cold held in the ground or patio which will even keep a layer of vet bed fairly chilled. I have the chartwell 6ft two storey (for four piggies though) and you can buy a run that attaches which could be used in the summer when it's nice enough for them to go directly on the ground
 
I have the bluebell hutches. I have 3 of them now as i like them so much. They are now kept in a garage but have been in a shed previously. If you are going to keep them outside I would recomend a waterproof cover as i brought a second hand one and the back is slightly ruined due to the rain. i have had no further problems keeping it indoors. They are great hutches. None of my pigs have ever struggled with the ramp but I have stuck carpet onto it to make it more grippy.

Pets at home actually do a hutch very similar to the bluebells but they are 6ft, this provides a really great space.
 
The problem with this kind of hutch is that the run area may be fine, but often the indoor area is too small. You have to be very careful. It may say it’s six foot but the actual bit they will spend winter locked in is probably only a few feet.

At this time of year, they will not be able to use any outside space, so you need an actual hutch to be 5 or 6 ft excluding any run.

It is far easier to have a completely separate run so that you can move it around if they are to be on the grass because the grass doesn’t last long with a pair of piggies on it! All in one hutch and run combos are difficult to move.
 
Just remember the actual living area must be at least 120x50cm and that is small, the run area does not count as living space.
 
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