Upgrading Outdoor Living Space Well In Advance.

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Mamaguineapig

Mamaguineapig

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi my 2 boars have been living the life of luxury in 2 large cages which I joined together to make a super big cage over the winter months. My OH doesn't have the same love of the boys as I do and always insists I put them back to the pig shed once the spring time comes ! I was out looking at the shed that I keep a hutch in yesterday and with all the rain we've had the hutch and shed seems really damp and not fit for them to go back in to. I will need new felt and a dry spell to fix the actual shed but it's the hutch I'm concerned about. As they've been spoiled for space indoors I really need a larger one this year .They refuse to use ramps so ideally I'm looking for a long one story hutch . Anyone got any website links or ideas where I can get one? I'm hoping the piggies will " fly under the radar" and OH will forget they are still indoors when springtime comes ! Thanks all x
 
You could price larger hitches and roofing felt and maybe when hubby realises how much it will cost he might relent and let you keep them inside.Is going to cost a lot of money for a good sturdy hutch and getting the shed right.
 
My shed was also ruined during the recent wet winter. My piggies free ranged in it. I covered the floor with Lino and then used newspaper and hay to cover the floor. They had two small hutches filled with hay at either end but free ranged on the floor between the two. I had four guinea pigs then. But when we had the wet weather and I had a guinea pig who needed daily medication, I moved them in.

Originally we were going to buy them a new shed but good quality sheds are expensive so my 3 remaining guinea pigs are now living in a two tier cage indoors. I have modified the ramp and have provided them with a ramp tunnel and they are thankfully using it.

During the nicer days and nights of the summer, they will be going outside in to a hutch but their main living accommodation will be indoors.

If your shed is still good enough to use as piggy accommodation (sadly ours wasn't) could you not arrange it so that the guinea pigs could live in it free range rather than in a hutch?
 
Claire - I could definitely save the shed and would love a free range shed. I've always worried that I couldn't make it secure enough as my diy skills are limited at best ! My son used to use the shed as a den and it was really nice (as boys club houses go!) But one day we found out that a mice had moved in ! Before the guineas moved in we blocked off any small holes and put down lino (son had an old carpet down). I'm sure the mice were coming under the door.No mice have been back since but somehow since they are in a hutch in the shed I felt safer . How did you secure the shed ? Sorry for such a long reply :)
 
I sympathise with your dilemma @Mamaguineapig . My guinea pigs have been indoors during the winter and my OH is getting adamant about keeping them outside. We started keeping guinea pigs last year and he thinks they can be kept in a hutch outside all year round.
He thinks I am too maternal with our Guinea Pigs . Our hutch is too small for them . A shed is out of the question as is buying a larger hutch. I have managed to persuade him to agree to a run on the back of the hutch which can be used as an extra living area.

It's a shame when OH's don't agree on things like this.

Guess who cleans them out and feeds them in our household?

I once went away for 1 night on a conference and he hadn't even remembered to fill up their water bottle. I have another conference coming up in April and am considering putting them in boarding for the 2 nights I will be away .
 
I think the key to making a shed secure is just to make sure nothing can get in so cover up any small holes and gaps that are near to the ground.

My shed had a stable door so during the nice weather, we left the bottom door closed and left the top door open during the day but covered it up with mesh :)

We also fitted bolts to the door to make it close properly and to secure it :)

Apart from the food bowls, we stored food off the floor.

If you type in 'guinea pig or rabbit shed' on you tube, there are lots on there that may give you some ideas of what others have done :)

You could also provide them with a small hutch filled with hay that they could use to sleep and rest in etc. just leave the door open or take the door off so they can come and go
 
Thanks everyone ! I will keep everyone updated as to what I do ! Today the shed doors are open in a bid to dry it out a bit! :D I looked at the runs I bought only 2 years ago and they are in some state! They will need replaced too. They were the worst buy ever ! I will need to get the guineas a wee job so they can pay me rent for all this new accommodation they'll be getting ! :clap:
 
I'm upgrading my pigs hutch to a 2 tier as they use the ramp in their cage.
I need to charge my pigs rent
Mum says they are spoilt
I don't think they are lol...but I m having their hutch made...from scratch
 
the boys said:
I'm upgrading my pigs hutch to a 2 tier as they use the ramp in their cage.
I need to charge my pigs rent
Mum says they are spoilt
I don't think they are lol...but I m having their hutch made...from scratch
Click to expand...
.. but they're not spoilt:lol!:
 
I've also got sooo many fleecey items i dunno what to do with them lol
Nah not spoilt...neither is my cat
 
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