Which hutch ?

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Bren

I have a hutch made by Lazy Bones which also has a waterproof cover.

As my two 'piggies' will be outdoors this winter I'm not convinced this hutch is substantial enough!

They are in a sheltered spot, but even with the cover on, the hutch this morning seemed damp :{
The roof which is a flat sloping one hasn't got a cover over it, but I've just made one.
I've seen some hutches in P@H but the reviews aren't that good, and call them flimsy and not fitting together too well....

The reason I like the P@H ones as they sell the scratch & newton covers which I had for my rabbit hutch which was brilliant....my rabbit hutch is not made anymore either :(
I'm now completely confused...:...
any suggestion of good solid weatherproof hutches that any of you have ?
 
I think the best way to get a waterproof hutch is to build one yourself. My dad made mine many years ago when I was a child for my rabbit and it lasted years! It was solid and really waterproof and my rabbit would be out grazing in the open area even when there was frost on the ground! I recenlty bought a second hand hutch for my piggys just for daily use in the summer months and that would be wet if it rained as the water would come in through the front,I wouldnt keep my piggys in there overnight or when its raining. I did fix the wetness by putting a plastic clear sheet on the front and putting it over the front when it was raining. I wish my dad made me one now.
But thats just my experience I'm sure someone will have a good hutch? My design is this one http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/rabbit_hutches/other/53358 but the door is on the otherside and I certainly didnt pay that price for it!
Ive heard that the newton&scratch covers are supposed to be really good so maybe chose one of there designs?
 
Thanks for that link...apart from being longer and on one level, it looks exactly like the one I already have, even with the lift up roof......
and the cover is the same.....

Does your cover go over the lift up roof, as that's where the damp is getting into my hutch ?
 
Bren said:
Thanks for that link...apart from being longer and on one level, it looks exactly like the one I already have, even with the lift up roof......
and the cover is the same.....

Does your cover go over the lift up roof, as that's where the damp is getting into my hutch ?
Click to expand...

Yeah the cover goes right over, and I also have a piece of carpet under the cover, which I pull over the front as well before I zip them up for the night.
 
That's probably why mine lets in the rain and yours doesn't :(

Mine has a cover all around the hutch, but not over the roof, though I have just made a cover to keep it dry for now.

As you have a cover right over the top, are you still able to open up the roof for access ?
Sorry about all these questions, but I want to get it right this time:)
 
Mine has the same lift up roof too and the person who had it before me must have noticed the damp coming through the roof too as they have put another sheet of plastic like material over the roof so it hangs down for the water etc to drain off. Maybe you just need one of those covers like Rhli has, I'm sure you could get one from ebay or p@h if you measure your hutch. I just found this dont know if its the right type but maybe go for the same design to fit all over and on top.
http://www.mutsnmoggies.co.uk/shop/acatalog/rabbit_hutch_covers.html
 
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Bren said:
That's probably why mine lets in the rain and yours doesn't :(

Mine has a cover all around the hutch, but not over the roof, though I have just made a cover to keep it dry for now.

As you have a cover right over the top, are you still able to open up the roof for access ?
Sorry about all these questions, but I want to get it right this time:)
Click to expand...

Thats the only thing, to open the roof you have to take the cover off but I'm still pleased with it :))

I don't mind the questions, I've been agonising over it for weeks about which one to buy and you are right P@H don't have very good reviews.
 
hey,i keep my two in a 2 tier hutch outdoors, (pics to come) and at the moment they seem to be warm and healthy in it, as the biter wind and weather draw near i will move them into my enclosed shed area, its no heated luxury palace, but its far better than just a cover i think :)
 
yeah mine are moving into an unheated shed, but like you say its better than just a cover :)
 
Ryli said:
yeah mine are moving into an unheated shed, but like you say its better than just a cover :)
Click to expand...

The reason I started this thread was I needed advice about keeping my piggies as warm as possible in the winter.
For various reasons I cannot have them indoors.
I'm a new piggy owner as I took in two rescues that desperately needed a home.
I've bought the best hutch I could afford, a two storey, with a weatherproof cover, as I have not got an unheated or heated shed to put them into, otherwise that's what I'd have done.
I also bought a run with a waterproof cover .
Now that I've made the hutch roof waterproof, I'm sure they will be warm enough, as they have a cosy bed with lots & lots of hay and are in a sheltered place in the garden.

I'm doing my best :(
 
I'm sure they have a lovely hutch and try not to beat yourself up about it. Everyone has different opnions etc. Aslong as you put lots of hay in the hutch for then to snuggle up like you are I'm sure they will be fine!
:)
 
Bren said:
The reason I started this thread was I needed advice about keeping my piggies as warm as possible in the winter.
For various reasons I cannot have them indoors.
I'm a new piggy owner as I took in two rescues that desperately needed a home.
I've bought the best hutch I could afford, a two storey, with a weatherproof cover, as I have not got an unheated or heated shed to put them into, otherwise that's what I'd have done.
I also bought a run with a waterproof cover .
Now that I've made the hutch roof waterproof, I'm sure they will be warm enough, as they have a cosy bed with lots & lots of hay and are in a sheltered place in the garden.

I'm doing my best :(
Click to expand...

You are doing a grand job ............ for a start you have rescued two piggies that needed a home xx>>>

I visited the vet not long after I got my piggies (February, and very cold), and I asked her what she thought about the piggies being in the garden in a hutch and she told me that she too had guinea pigs, and they were left outside all year round and that she covered them over at night during the winter. Please don't worry too much, they have lovely coats and there are two of them, so they can cuddle up :)

I read recently somewhere (may have been on here) that guinea pigs cope better with the cold weather than they do the the hot.

You are doing a great job xoxo
 
Thanks for that...I just feel inadequate :{ when I read what you're all doing....having them in your living room etc.

Even though they are in the garden, I get them out each day for a cuddle, they've come on such a lot since I rescued them 2 months ago.

I didn't intend getting 'piggies' but before I rescued these two, I read as much as possible about them, spoke to other owners etc.

They were living with a family of 10 cats, and when I first saw them they were in an uncovered run with 1 carrot, and no water.
They were going to be set free if I didn't take them, so I went out and bought everything I thought they needed.

I'm still learning, but they are happy, well fed and loved and I keep buying extras for them.
Today I've ordered some vetbed, hope it works out OK ?/ and also a snuggle sac that's big enough for them both for extra warmth.....I think I should have bought two, as they wee & poo everywhere, so I guess that'll include their new bed :{
Thanks again x
 
You are doing a grande job and those piggies are very lucky to have you :) I am in the same boat as you. I would love my girlies to live indoors but it isn't possible. Last year, they lived in our out building but it has started to leak and has became dark and gloomy so during the summer, we decided to move them outdoors permanently. I too am doing everything I can to keep them warmer and prepare their hutch for the winter months and I fully understand your concerns. I'm sure that your piggies and my piggies will be fine :) xx
 
Bren said:
Thanks for that...I just feel inadequate :{ when I read what you're all doing....having them in your living room etc.

Even though they are in the garden, I get them out each day for a cuddle, they've come on such a lot since I rescued them 2 months ago.

I didn't intend getting 'piggies' but before I rescued these two, I read as much as possible about them, spoke to other owners etc.

They were living with a family of 10 cats, and when I first saw them they were in an uncovered run with 1 carrot, and no water.
They were going to be set free if I didn't take them, so I went out and bought everything I thought they needed.

I'm still learning, but they are happy, well fed and loved and I keep buying extras for them.
Today I've ordered some vetbed, hope it works out OK ?/ and also a snuggle sac that's big enough for them both for extra warmth.....I think I should have bought two, as they wee & poo everywhere, so I guess that'll include their new bed :{
Thanks again x
Click to expand...

I'm so pleased after 2 months that your piggies are doing well ....... believe me it just gets better and better. My three are the first piggies we have had and we are still learning lots and that why this forum is fantastic, cos it brings us all together to help each other xx>>>
 
Mine live outside all year round and i don't have a shed thaat they can go in so last winter I bought a hutch cover ,a snugglesafe heat pad , lots of hay and a snuggly fleece bed. I swear it was warmer in their hutch than my house as my boyfriend is mean when it comes to putting the heating on!

So it sounds like you are doing everything you can so that they will be warm over the winter :)
 
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