Wow! Runaround And My New Bike Store Shed Setup With Hutch!

[smileyface:)]

Morning all,

I wanted to post what I have been up to with the piggies new Mk3 shed - which I have fully insulated with thick polystyrene sheets and a top layer of silver faced bubble wrap - there are vents and I am right next to the house with this so WILL have power in there to heat the shed with tube heaters during the cold months! It was becoming a nightmare trying to insulate the old one and this is much better as I can see them from the kitchen window - and they get much more attention.

It locks closed at night and I intend to put in a couple of perspex windows so in the winter they get sunshine and a view on the really cold days, and will finish the cladding over the insulation on the door which you can see in the pic. Very toasty for cold days and cool in the hot weather too!

Anyway - I purchased a runaround kit and it arrived really speedily and last night I fitted the doors and ta-da! here it is! I really would give it 5 stars!

My two older boys live on the top level (a converted bluebell hutch - removed ramp) and the young Poppy and Chewy live below - they all get a lot of access to the grass during the day but wanted a permanent link so they can run about to their hearts content.

The change since putting in the runaround system is amazing - they are put-putting and pop corning all over the place and getting up to some speeds in the tunnel - I have water, food and hay and toys in both run and the hutch and they are really enjoying it - and you can hear their little feet scuttling along the tube loads so they are having fun using it.

I am so glad I took the plunge and bought this - it's brilliant and I am looking forward to getting the top two boys one in the near future.

 

[smileyface:)]

and here it is! will put more pics on when the sun moves round!

 

[Claire W]

That looks fab Lucky piggies x

 

[smileyface:)]

thanks you! I have wanted the runaround for ages - and it was well worth it! And the bike shed is great - lots of space above the hutch to store hay, food and tons of fleeces etc, and space at the side for more hay, brushes, garden chairs and cushions - should have done this sooner

 

[Ocelot]

Hi smileyface - love your runaround set up. I'm thinking of doing something very similar and j just wondered how you'd got on with yours. Is that a 4ft or 8ft pipe? I have a shed coming and I want to put it near the house and run the pipe through a flower bed (which I plan to turf over) and onto the grass. I guess you can disconnect the pipe from the hutch front at night? Thanks for putting the pics up - great to see

 

[smileyface:)]

Hi @Ocelot, I have the 8 ft long pipe which works well, either for when the run is at the front or side of the main shed, and you would need to allow for extra if you want to curve the pipe in any way - just make sure you buy more then you think you need as if the pipe is too short it will be a pain to remove and put back on if it has no extra flex - the pipe is made from thick durable plastic so won't squash easily.

As my pipe is overground it's easy to keep it clean and dry - will you be able to remove it easily in future if it needs cleaning or if it gathers water? The flowerbed idea sounds great, maybe a removable panel over the top would work well to save you digging up flowers if you need access.

Although the doors are costly they are very well designed and built and are a long term investment which I am so pleased I finally went for. I may get another longer pipe to allow them to reach the grass from the hutch when allowed! otherwise it's the patio with a box of hay when they are not grazing. Look forward to seeing pics if you go for it

 

[Veggies Galore]

Glad to see other people liking the runaround system . I must admit - I use much shorter pipes though - mainly because they are a nightmare to clean !

 

[smileyface:)]

the only good tip for cleaning I have is only shake them out when they are dry - the poops tend to roll out easily if you bang the pipe on the ground first to loosen them from the grooves

 

[Veggies Galore]

... mine do more than poo in them

 

[Anarchybmc]

Wow that looks fab! Very very lucky piggies you have

 

[Anarchybmc]

... mine do more than poo in them

The dreaded sewer pipe! I took mine away

 

[eileen]

looks fab,good option if your piggies live in an out building/shed etc.x

 

[4harmony2]

Your set up looks fantastic well done

 

[smileyface:)]

thanks! as with I am sure most piggy slaves every time you think you've cracked the accommodation you end up doing something else - hopefully this is it though - can't get any more sheds! have permanently removed the left hand door for the summer as too hot to leave closed at night - going to replace with a mesh paneled one which has a cover I can drop in winter - and need to get a proper rain cover made for the open front too - yet more DIY projects!

 

[smileyface:)]

here are another couple of pics showing how I using the runaround to extend the area that Poppy and Chewy have access to - the wooden run is quite small - about 1 m square, but combined with the runaround, and also the wooden shelter it means they have access to this all day long! It gives the grass a chance to grow back too, not having 4 piggies eating it everyday love hearing their feet pattering up and down it!

my older boys Spud and Freckles are in the large metal run on the grass, must sort out a tunnel system for them too, meanwhile it's run to hutch via me for them for now!