Thoughts on this hutch please?

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Buggles

Hi,
This is my first time posting on here although I've been a member for a few months.

We have 16 guinea pigs (yes, 16!). Currently they live in "normal" guinea pig hutches outside in the garden but I'm desperate to get them bigger houses.

I've seen this that I love the look of
http://www.bitsforpets.com/product_info.php?cPath=160_161&products_id=3167

I would need 1 for the 5 boys and then 2 for the 11 girls to share (6 in one, 5 in the other)

Also, what do you do with your piggies in the winter? This will be our first winter with so many piggies as we rescued 8 in May. During previous winters we have brought them inside into plastic cages but we don't have the room inside for 8 more piggies.
 
Welcome to the forum!

I've got a hutch / run combo very similar to that, and I have to say for the price I don't think it's worth it. You have to bear in mind that the run part doesn't count as permanent space, as they won't use it if it's too hot, too cold, too windy, too damp... this means that the hutch (inside) space needs to be big enough to accommodate all of the pigs, which it isn't.

I think you'd be better off either with a hutch block like a breeder's block, usually 4 levels with 3 small compartments on each level but with removable dividers. I have one and it gives 4 levels, just over 5' wide and 18" or 2' deep. These cost a couple of hundred but are much more adaptable. You would need separate outdoor runs but at least at night they'd be safe and secure in their hutches and if you had it in a shed or outhouse (not a garage, if it's got cars using it because of the fumes) they could winter in it too.

Here's mine:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25611&highlight=tour

and now with sow pen extension:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30190&highlight=extension

Sophie
x
 
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Wow what an amazing hutch!

I've tried different hutches in the the past years, and currently have a two story one with a ramp, nowhere as big as that though.

It is worth considering two things in my experience:
1) I know it sounds minor, but how do the doors open? Mine open downwards with a big lip under, and it makes cleaning out twice the job it need be. IT also has one small door to quite a large area, and it can be quite tricky to reach the whole hutch to clean.
2) Also, depending on how old/adventurous your piggies are, will they manage the ramp? The actual enclosed part of this hutch isn't that big, and if they don't use the ramp that will restrict them, most of mine are reluctant to use their ramps freely, even with the promise of a food treat at the top or bottom!

Hope this is helpful, not trying to be negative just worth considering :)
 
plz be carefull and mesure up before you buy i *** got 2 guinea pigs and the lady they came from had bought a hutch like that it said it was suitable to walk in but when he got it it was tiny just manged to fit 3 guinea pigs in the bed area and that was a sqweeze
 
sophiew said:
Welcome to the forum!

I've got a hutch / run combo very similar to that, and I have to say for the price I don't think it's worth it. You have to bear in mind that the run part doesn't count as permanent space, as they won't use it if it's too hot, too cold, too windy, too damp... this means that the hutch (inside) space needs to be big enough to accommodate all of the pigs, which it isn't.

I think you'd be better off either with a hutch block like a breeder's block, usually 4 levels with 3 small compartments on each level but with removable dividers. I have one and it gives 4 levels, just over 5' wide and 18" or 2' deep. These cost a couple of hundred but are much more adaptable. You would need separate outdoor runs but at least at night they'd be safe and secure in their hutches and if you had it in a shed or outhouse (not a garage, if it's got cars using it because of the fumes) they could winter in it too.

Here's mine:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25611&highlight=tour

and now with sow pen extension:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30190&highlight=extension

Sophie
x
Click to expand...

Any thoughts where I can buy the 6' dividable, one on top of the other, type hutches. I am just having a piggy shed built.
I love Biffy and Jaffa house shaped hutch and run. xx
 
My guinea pigs live in the trixie version of that hutch with another hutch tagged onto the end. I can't speak for anyone elses but mine do use the run it it's raining as it has a roof over it. I also have the hutch cover but have no put this on yet as it's not easy. My guineas love the ramp and have also learned to open the door between the hutch and run so they have 24 hours access. The only issue is that the hutch part is smaller then many of the normal style hutches which is why I have another modular unit stuck on the end of the run at ground level. I currently have six piggies living between the two hutches. The trixie version is very well built and you can get a model with wheels for easier movement. If you buy one without wheels it's hard to move without damaging it.
 
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