Winter proofed the hutch!

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SophRuss5

SophRuss5

Junior Guinea Pig
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If anyone remembers I had tonnes of problems with stressing over hutches. I had the Guineas pigs in a cage inside when I first got them, however, as I still live at home my Mum ordered them outside, the usual "they are meant to be outside" argument. So I scrowed gumtree and ebay and bought a two tier hutch for £20. I was so happy with the bargain, plenty of space etc! However, it had obviously not been used in years, was full of spiders and stank! I pressure washed it, scrubbed and scrubbed. I ended up buying stick on wood effect paper and sticky floor tiles from poundland and covered the inside from head to toe! I added a new roof and varnished it with many layers!

I should have just bought a new hutch, its still pretty thin wood so today a trip to B&Q for insulation! The price of tape is ridiculous plus I used alot!
My journey from getting these pigs has been crazy, I dont want to think about how much cash I have spent! I quickly changed to fleece, bought snuggle sacks and cosy cups, words I had never heard of before. Research insulation and can animals get sick off varnish fumes! They have been my sole focus since they arrived and I hope that what I have done is good enough! (Should really be looking for a job!) So here are my photos from the hutch, any suggestions, comments or criticism is gladly welcome! I bow in the face of experience and wisdom! Thanks for reading!
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The grand view!
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Feeding station, with cosy house in the background!
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mezzanine layer with even more food and Hodges bed! (Dutch wondering what mums up to!)
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The tunnels are home sewn, fleece with teatowels for decoration - I also used some thin foam I found to keep them open. Rainy Sunday project!
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Overview
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The cover for the bottom, extra insulation for that plus and overview!
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Nice close up of Dutch for good measure!
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And one of Hodge (he was in the tunnel during the hutch photo shoot!
 
Fingers crossed

IMG_7645_zpse80cadaf.jpg

The grand view!
IMG_7646_zps1e57c112.jpg

Feeding station, with cosy house in the background!
IMG_7649_zpsfce98dba.jpg

mezzanine layer with even more food and Hodges bed! (Dutch wondering what mums up to!)
IMG_7650_zps10da56de.jpg

The tunnels are home sewn, fleece with teatowels for decoration - I also used some thin foam I found to keep them open. Rainy Sunday project!
IMG_7653_zps1f0f0c23.jpg

Overview
IMG_7658_zps9ebe0fd2.jpg

The cover for the bottom, extra insulation for that plus and overview!
dutch_zps0ac3432a.jpg

Nice close up of Dutch for good measure!
hodge_zps8f97485e.jpg

And one of Hodge (he was in the tunnel during the hutch photo shoot![/QUOTE]
 
You have worked very hard. I like it :)

Just a suggestion though, does your tarpaulin cover the entire hutch up? When my girls were in a hutch, it was insulated with the insulation you have used there with a wind / rain cover over the top.

I also covered the front of the hutch with a thick fleece blanket at night to keep out the chill.

This was my winter hutch (Fleece blanket only at night)
DSCF1265.jpg


If you haven't got a hutch cover, tarpaulin will work just as well. See through is good so the piggies can still see out on cold, wet rainy days :)

Your guinea pigs are lovely :) xx
 
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Thanks! ATM I am pegging towels to the front like you do with your fleece at night or when it gets windy/rainint. I have been shopping around for transparent plastic, so far I have looked at shower curtains, table coverings etc but can only find frosted! To be honest I am hoping to find a permanent job and move out asap (want to make a C&C), then the troubles will be finding somewhere to rent which will allow pets!
 
looking good :)

just a word of advice though - the stick on wood effect vinyl doesn't tend to wear well, i used the same stuff to cover the inside of a rabbit hutch i was given and it's all blooming disinterested within 6 months
might be a good idea to keep an eye on it in case it starts flaking :)
 
I think you have done a great job also. You just need blankets, I use two sleeping bags plus insulation underneath PLUS a hutch cover, I load it full to the roof with hay and I also get a cardboard box and tape it up and cut a little hole in the side, blanket that out and put hay in it so they can snuggle in there.
I have been there myself, a few years ago I had to keep mine outside all winter. I bring them in now from around October to May, but thats because I can, I know what it's like when you have no choice but to keep them outside. The heat pads are good also that you can buy and put in over night.
Hope this helps x( If you have a shed it would be better to keep them in there when it gets really cold)
 
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