Building a hutch?

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Not sure if these pics help but this hutch was made for me. I couldnt make one though :embarassed: Its 5ft x 2 x 2 each level and a double has a door that slots in bottom level (you can see it on the right of the hutch), when I dont want to use the attached run. It also has a little bannister ;D

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Jane said:
Sounds good. Have built the frame of mine, the floors are done and the ramp is in too. Now we have a problem - what if it rains before next saturday? (can't do it until next saturday) have found some plasticy stuff I'm gunna try and cover it with but not sure how good it will be. Not sure how big mine is, will have to measure it. I know it is 2 foot wide....maybe aobut 6 foot long? and 2 levels LOL. not sure, will have to measure.

The thing is, it looks kinda tacky at the moment, so there's no photos until it's finished and stained/painted ;)

Someone mentioned hutch stainer from PAH - how much is it and how much do you get? Anyone any ideas?
Click to expand...

p@h hutch stain is £4.99

if you buy stain elsewhere it needs to be animal safe, I think the one you need is a water based ones.
 
I just went outside and mine doesn't have a roof, lol. My dad just used nice strong mesh for the roof, he said it's better to see and talkto the piggies better and proper air circulation. I asked about a proper roof but he said he's going to pin the water proof cover to the top of the hutch so it doesn't come off and he said he's moving the hutch under the shaded area under the roof part. Good job it's going in the shed when it's insulated which my dad said is the reason he just made a mesh roof :)
 
kezza - that's what I was thinking, not sure about it yet, will ask dad, afterall he's the builder :P

Beatrice - that looks great, thanks, has given me some inspiration ;)

maisydaisystar - ooh, that price sounds good - how much is in 1 tin/tub?

kezza - lol, it sounds good. Mine's having a roof because it's going to be outside. Will have a cover over the front if it's raining though.

Was just thinking, maybe I could use some cubes from the piggy cage instead of buying mesh, hmm...
 
Jane said:
kezza - that's what I was thinking, not sure about it yet, will ask dad, afterall he's the builder :P

Beatrice - that looks great, thanks, has given me some inspiration ;)

maisydaisystar - ooh, that price sounds good - how much is in 1 tin/tub?

kezza - lol, it sounds good. Mine's having a roof because it's going to be outside. Will have a cover over the front if it's raining though.

Was just thinking, maybe I could use some cubes from the piggy cage instead of buying mesh, hmm...
Click to expand...

can't remember what size the tin is, but it's not a huge tin. I have a hutch on top of a run similar to the one beatrice posted and i just managed to stain it all with the one tin, (but only just).
 
maisydaisystar said:
Jane said:
kezza - that's what I was thinking, not sure about it yet, will ask dad, afterall he's the builder :P

Beatrice - that looks great, thanks, has given me some inspiration ;)

maisydaisystar - ooh, that price sounds good - how much is in 1 tin/tub?

kezza - lol, it sounds good. Mine's having a roof because it's going to be outside. Will have a cover over the front if it's raining though.

Was just thinking, maybe I could use some cubes from the piggy cage instead of buying mesh, hmm...
Click to expand...

can't remember what size the tin is, but it's not a huge tin. I have a hutch on top of a run similar to the one beatrice posted and i just managed to stain it all with the one tin, (but only just).
Click to expand...

Hmm thanks, maybe I would need 2 tins...not sure what I'm gunna do yet :P
 
Just wondering, what bedding do people use? I was thinking either newspaper and hay, newspaper and shredded paper, newspaper, shredded paper and hay or newspaper and megazorb...the thing with megazorb though is that it's really light and seems to fly around. I use fleece inside but I can't use that outside can I?
 
I line with newspaper and use russel rabbit straw, it's lovely and soft for piggies but on colder nights add some more hay n for them to just snuggle in or play with :) Though i think with my 4ft x 3ft double hutch will use alot more straw than the cage they have now.
 
I use newspaper and hay jane, during the winter (when they are in my utility room) i use newspaper and hay all over the hutch, but now for the summer i use newspaper and hay in the bed area, and just newspaper everywhere else, and hay for eating in a hay rack.
x paula

thought about trying megazorb at some point
 
Thanks, sounds ideal...I might put newspaper in the open bits and newspaper and hay in the bedding area, maybe a bit of hay scattered around too and a hayrack. What do you think about adding shredded paper?
 
i take it russel rabbit straw must be extra soft because normally straw is too prickily for guinea pigs (poke their eyes) not reccomended for piggies normally
 
shredded paper is good, i use this sometimes too, and they love rumaging around in it.
 
Yeah russel straw is finely chopped straw so it's fine and extra soft for piggies, much better than barley straw whicih is longer and gets in there eyes :) I think rusel rabbit only comes in the normal bags, i think there 2kg or something in wilkonson's but they expand, i get the piggies done and all 3 rabbit hutches out of one bag and still have some left over :)
 
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this is my hutch that i made for my 3 guinea pigs.It's made with ply wood and is light enough to lift into the shed.
 
The lift up doors make it easy but please make sure that they lock,because poor Fizzi fell out because the door didn't lock properly.She was ok thankfully.The ramp is fitted with carpet,small banister and the ramp is also 1" off the floor so it is easier to clean. The floor is covered with "floor tiles".This hutch is mark 4,good idea to have lots of height in the levels so it has good ventilation,any questions please just ask!
 
Thanks for all of that, it looks really good. With the ramp we made on sunday I screwed carpet onto it so hopefully it will be okay seeing as you did it :P It has a little side thing so they dont jump off too. What did you paint/stain it with?
 
Gail how big is your hutch you made for 3 it looks great :)

Wish we could finish mine but it's rained since monday non stop so nothing can be done :(
 
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I'll try and measure it tomorrow think its about 39" long,each level is 12" need this height for ventilation,about 16" wide.The shelf upstairs is great as a hay rack or for the guinea pigs to sit on.
 
Wow is each level only 12" they look more taller, lol. Mine are 12" aswell or they will be when it's built and the length is just abit more than that 45" and width is 3ft, 2 levels so mine should be plenty for 3 piggies to :)
 
kezza, ditto, except it's only been raining since Wednesday here :P Have got the hutch covers up but it's still getting wet :( The plan for the wood for the sides is no longer happening so going to look for wood at B&Q on sat ;)
 
We haven't manged to get anymore done and the outside wasn't even protectd just the inside, we don't have a cover either so it's soaked. Dad said it was made from weather boarding so shouldn't fall apart from a little rain, lol. I hope the rain stops s i can get the piggies outside in a bigger hutch, there in a temp 3ft cage now so i know they'd love it in there new bigger one :) Plus more space meas morethings for them to pla with, inc a new piggie companion ;)
 
Yeah my frame is pretty much soaked, will hopefully dry up at the weekend though and will be nice and sunny for us. ::) Dreams eh :P
 
i was going to build my own hutch but didn't want to buy a whole roll of wire mesh or a whole roll of felt for the roof, does anyone know where i can just get a piece of mesh and felt? :(
 
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