Boar Hides- ANYTHING Other Than Tunnels?

Mikknu

Mikknu

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 10, 2020
Messages
259
Reaction score
364
Points
350
Location
Nebraska, US
Hey everyone!

For those who might not know, I'm getting two boars March 21st. They'll be in a covered 2x6 with a sideways L-shaped loft(2x1 by 1x4). They'll have a fleece forest under the 2x1 part of the loft, a hay bag, a hay box, and tons of tunnels. The thing is, I can't help but feel that just having like 4 or 5 tunnels(flat bottom and fully round) isn't really all that great? I feel like I want to get something like a cuddle cup, but the selection on Amazon isn't super great, and cuddle cups or any other sort of comfy bed would take up running space. However, I can't go for like a nice pair of hidey huts, because there are virtually zero fleece huts that have a second entrance. I'm not sure whether to just get the cuddle cups on Amazon and take up the running room, to order custom ones, to try hammocks to put under the loft, or what else? Having all tunnels just doesn't feel like they'd have a nice, cozy place to go to bed.

Would they really be happy with just a bunch of cushy tunnels for hides? Or what else can I try to make that won't invite fighting?
 
Check out these online sellers.

Members recommended UK and US sites for fleece cage liners and accessories

I have a few customised cosy beds that I ordered from some sellers online. I also have just plain cardboard boxes that they use as hideys. My father-in-law also made a couple of custom wooden houses for my piggies. There are loads of varieties to use as hides or beds for your piggies. Ordering cosy/fleece items can cost a lot though.
 
You can get hides with two entrances, have a look on ebay. I've had wood ones and fleece ones. Fuzzbutts do fleece ones, I don't know if they export to where you are. Fuzzbutts hides are expensive compared to many but they wash and wash, where as the cheap ones don't wash well. you could also just use cardboard boxes and cut two doors in them. I find they last longer if lined with newspaper and a pee pad.
 
Yes they'd need something cosy to sleep in. Mine always flatten cuddle cups rather than use them as intended. I have plastic hideys with 2 entrances and I put a pee pad under them to make them softer to lie in and I have the Rosewood Snuggles Carrot Snuggle N Sleep Tunnel,
oops .. which has 2 entrances and is very cosy. They love it.
 
I don't use anything fleece inside the cage, guinea pigs do love it, but it is kind of humanising animals to me ( no offence, just how I like things) I use carrot cottages, seagrass tunnels and cardboard boxes for places for guinea pigs to sleep, the whole cage has a layer of soft ish meadow hay for warmth and a bit of comfort. After all they live in the wild just fine 👍. You can worry too much and having guinea pigs becomes a job
 
I have 3 pigloo's and a wooden playstick house. I use bathmats underneath 2 of the pigloos in winter for warmth which can be shaken off & just wood shavings & hay in the wooden one. This week they had a cardboard box stuffed with hay & they loved that. Very often there are 4 piggies all snuggled in 1 pigloo so they have their favourites. When its colder (in the shed), I put a t-towel or fleece over the top of the pigloos just to retain heat but I personally wouldnt use it beneath them....it would be filthy in a day.
Whatever you use, it needs to be practical. They are going to wee & poo over everything so I'd pick things that dont involve the washing machine where possible 😊

All personal choice though & you'll find out what works best for you. I'm always changing things round (normally after a tip or idea on here!).
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I don't use anything fleece inside the cage, guinea pigs do love it, but it is kind of humanising animals to me ( no offence, just how I like things) I use carrot cottages, seagrass tunnels and cardboard boxes for places for guinea pigs to sleep, the whole cage has a layer of soft ish meadow hay for warmth and a bit of comfort. After all they live in the wild just fine 👍. You can worry too much and having guinea pigs becomes a job
Click to expand...
Also, as I am finding out now, fleece and shavings are NOT a good combination :doh:. I hastily bought two beautiful handmade fleece tunnels online, having seen some lovely snuggly pics on other peoples' posts. Now they are coated in shavings (the tunnels) and the pigs have paid them NO attention! :no:
 
I have a mix of tunnels, snuggle pouches which are slept and on top of ( sometimes at the same time!).
i also have a paper bag filled with hay and a carrot cottage as well as wooden bendy bridges
 
Guinea pigs move things around, ignore the most expensive thing you buy, cover some things in wee and poo. When you get them, they'll have you trained on what to put in the cage 😉
 
Black piggies said:
Guinea pigs move things around, ignore the most expensive thing you buy, cover some things in wee and poo. When you get them, they'll have you trained on what to put in the cage 😉
Click to expand...
Exactly. I almost bought some corner hideys which hang from C&C yesterday but I realised I was drawn to the design, not the price...so I'm going to make one myself when I get chance then if they ignore it, its only my pride thats at stake! There will be allsorts that you see & may like to have a go yourself too.

I cant even justify a carrot cottage currently as Roma would move in, guard the door & eat her way out in less than a day. A normal carrot will do 😂
 
anyar.dris said:
Check out these online sellers.

Members recommended UK and US sites for fleece cage liners and accessories

I have a few customised cosy beds that I ordered from some sellers online. I also have just plain cardboard boxes that they use as hideys. My father-in-law also made a couple of custom wooden houses for my piggies. There are loads of varieties to use as hides or beds for your piggies. Ordering cosy/fleece items can cost a lot though.
Click to expand...
These are my piggies' mixture of hideys. There are wooden houses in the hutch, a cardboard box, a corner forest, and a couple of cosy/fleece beds.

IMG_20200221_202149.webp

Also have cardboard boxes and fleece tunnels at the other play area (excuse the dirty wallpaper and carpet, our living room is due to be renovated but we don't know when we can do it haha).

IMG_20200220_191040.webp
 
Last edited:
Ohhhh boy, lots of replies! I've been really busy since yesterday. I'll try to cover the general points I can see...

First of all, thank you everyone for your suggestions and experiences! I really appreciate it. I like hearing about all the things you use and seeing cute pictures!

Second, I'm already going to have to do laundry probably every 3 days, so I'm not too concerned about buying fleece things, or making them. Possibly every 2 days. Laundry detergent is pretty cheap for the stuff I'm using, and there's 2 babies less than 6 months in my immediate family, there's plenty of dye-free, fragrance-free detergent to go around.

I'm planning on having a hay box. Probably made of coroplast, for ease of cleaning, but I can definitely throw a bendable log bridge in, or just zip tie some extra coroplast or fleece over it?

I can definitely add paper bags and cardboard boxes as hides. I'm a little limited by things shorter than 7" however, and I'm trying to keep as much floor space open as possible by putting any hides under the half-height loft. That way they have a 1x6 straight running area.

These are the current things on the docket
Planned: 2 Snuggle Sacks, 2 Padded Flat Bottom Foam Tunnels, 2 Circular Foam Tunnels(In Progress currently), 5 1x1 Liners(for the loft)
On the Way: 2 Cuddle Cups, 1 2x1 Liner, 1 Specialty Bath Mat, 3 Fleece Balls
Made: 2(+1 practice) hammocks/corner fleece forests w/ 6" fringe, 1 Large Hay Bag(9"x22"), 6 Potty Pads(4 14"x9", 2 9"x9"), 1 2x1 Custom 6" Fleece Forest

All extra fleece will be made into whatever fits for what fleece I've got left. Tents are really just the same as the tunnels with flat bottoms but triangular instead, but If I have the extra fleece I'll make a few maybe.

Carrot cottages can be shipped to me, but I think a seagrass/willow hut might be better? We'll see what I get as I go along. It's been a rough week unfortunately...
 
You already have a lot for your piggies and what you plan to get, sounds good too. When do you get them? Mine like straw/willow huts and carrot cottages.
Hope your week improves :)
 
Black piggies said:
You already have a lot for your piggies and what you plan to get, sounds good too. When do you get them? Mine like straw/willow huts and carrot cottages.
Hope your week improves :)
Click to expand...

I get them March 21st ^-^

I'm hoping it gets better too. I've got a lot of things to do, and not a lot of time. Except it's constantly that, and I haven't gotten a break from working 12-16 hour days except when I'm shirking some other responsibility for 2.5 months now. I'm just kind of starting to get burnt out. I also had to sell my beloved aquarium on Thursday, and I got some bad news the very same day. Guinea Pigs gives me something to focus on and strive towards though, which is nice. It feels like I've got something to look forward to when I finally get a break at least!
 
Betsy said:
Are they rescue piggies @Mikknu?
Click to expand...

They're in foster care right now, yeah ^-^ Although from a very small, local rescue south of the one that appeared on my search radius, they were to going be listed on the one that I found since Guinea Pigs are "exotic". I was inquiring about a pair that was already gone, but the rescue pointed me towards this pair of young pigs that was going to be ready for adoption right on the start of my vacation. I was told that as long as I could prove I had a place ready for them to live, I could have them, since the times lined up nearly perfectly.
 
Mikknu said:
I get them March 21st ^-^

I'm hoping it gets better too. I've got a lot of things to do, and not a lot of time. Except it's constantly that, and I haven't gotten a break from working 12-16 hour days except when I'm shirking some other responsibility for 2.5 months now. I'm just kind of starting to get burnt out. I also had to sell my beloved aquarium on Thursday, and I got some bad news the very same day. Guinea Pigs gives me something to focus on and strive towards though, which is nice. It feels like I've got something to look forward to when I finally get a break at least!
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit burnt out, it happens to all of us sometimes especially when you're spinning so many plates and working so hard but it wont always be like that. You are super organised with your piggie set up. When my first 2 boys came home I just had a big cage, hay, pellets, water bottle & wood shavings. You are much more organised than I was!

I brought 5 new girls (and Gregory) home last summer right in the middle of a home extension, working full time (away from home a few nights too) and then 6 weeks school holidays. It was a crazy time and I ended up moving out with my kids to escape the dust. Sometimes you are spread ridiculously thin.

They are very lucky pigs and they have so much to look forward to, as do you. You'll be sitting watching them interract soon enough & that will be incredibly fulfilling & relaxing.

Hope things calm a little for you soon x
 
Darcey15 said:
Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit burnt out, it happens to all of us sometimes especially when you're spinning so many plates and working so hard but it wont always be like that. You are super organised with your piggie set up. When my first 2 boys came home I just had a big cage, hay, pellets, water bottle & wood shavings. You are much more organised than I was!

I brought 5 new girls (and Gregory) home last summer right in the middle of a home extension, working full time (away from home a few nights too) and then 6 weeks school holidays. It was a crazy time and I ended up moving out with my kids to escape the dust. Sometimes you are spread ridiculously thin.

They are very lucky pigs and they have so much to look forward to, as do you. You'll be sitting watching them interract soon enough & that will be incredibly fulfilling & relaxing.

Hope things calm a little for you soon x
Click to expand...

Yeah, it can be a bit overwhelming at times(Especially when things start to go wrong), but thank you for the support! I'm really looking forward to getting them. I do a lot of work on my laptop in the week usually, so I think it'll be nice to be able to just sit near them and work and watch them run around.

Thank you for the organised compliment as well! I've heard it a lot so far on this forum, which is nice, but also it makes me wonder about the percentage of people who just grab a guinea pig from a store and then panic... Anyways, I'm mostly this organised because I've been planning for so long xD Back when I was first researching things initially, I was a right mess of assumptions and bad plans. This forum has been a total lifesaver!

P.S.- You mentioned you were making some hanging hideys, right? When you're done, you should share them on the DIY thread I started, I really like looking at other people's creations. 🥰 Or post them elsewhere, I don't want to be pushy.
 
Mikknu said:
Yeah, it can be a bit overwhelming at times(Especially when things start to go wrong), but thank you for the support! I'm really looking forward to getting them. I do a lot of work on my laptop in the week usually, so I think it'll be nice to be able to just sit near them and work and watch them run around.

Thank you for the organised compliment as well! I've heard it a lot so far on this forum, which is nice, but also it makes me wonder about the percentage of people who just grab a guinea pig from a store and then panic... Anyways, I'm mostly this organised because I've been planning for so long xD Back when I was first researching things initially, I was a right mess of assumptions and bad plans. This forum has been a total lifesaver!

P.S.- You mentioned you were making some hanging hideys, right? When you're done, you should share them on the DIY thread I started, I really like looking at other people's creations. 🥰 Or post them elsewhere, I don't want to be pushy.
Click to expand...
Course I will! I don't know how I missed that thread as I'm following you but I've just had a look- the items you've made are ace 👍

I've ordered the clasps & eyelets so I'm off to get some fleece next week....I'll just make it up though like I always do!
 
Darcey15 said:
Course I will! I don't know how I missed that thread as I'm following you but I've just had a look- the items you've made are ace 👍

I've ordered the clasps & eyelets so I'm off to get some fleece next week....I'll just make it up though like I always do!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliment! I'm trying. Stitching up the end of my next cuddle sack rn actually, before work.

What is following someone btw? And how do I do it?
 
Mikknu said:
Thanks for the compliment! I'm trying. Stitching up the end of my next cuddle sack rn actually, before work.

What is following someone btw? And how do I do it?
Click to expand...
Just click on the users name & you should see a follow button. Same with threads you are interested in- you can 'watch' those. I'm still figuring it all out myself 🤩
 
My two girls tend to use cardboard box tunnels for running in and out of and for hiding in, but for sleeping, they ignore the nice padded cuddly houses I got them, and the fleecy tunnels I made for them. They prefer to use the fleece blankets I put in their run, half on the floor, then folded half on top, with a tunnel of some kind under one edge. They go in through the tunnel, then burrow between the blanket layers and go to sleep in there, with the blanket on top of them! :-) I'm always looking out for fleece blankets in charity shops, and have a lovely collection of them for the girls! :-)
 
hannahs26 said:
My two girls tend to use cardboard box tunnels for running in and out of and for hiding in, but for sleeping, they ignore the nice padded cuddly houses I got them, and the fleecy tunnels I made for them. They prefer to use the fleece blankets I put in their run, half on the floor, then folded half on top, with a tunnel of some kind under one edge. They go in through the tunnel, then burrow between the blanket layers and go to sleep in there, with the blanket on top of them! :-) I'm always looking out for fleece blankets in charity shops, and have a lovely collection of them for the girls! :-)
Click to expand...
The charity shop idea is a great one- I'm fleece hunting next week so that will be my first port of call now before the mill shop 👍 thankyou x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top