Chartwell Hutch

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Krystina

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Hi, we're on the hunt for a suitable (sturdy and warm) hutch before we get our first guinea pigs. I'm tying myself up in knots trying to get the best we can without spending too much.
I've read on here that the Chartwell is a good hutch. I've found the below site online, but I imagine this is too good to be true! Has anyone bought from here and found them to be legitimate?

Compare Price Quality Rabbit Hutches 56% off

If anyone can recommend a hutch, or someone who builds them in the NW uk (Lancashire), it would be very much appreciated 😊.

Thank you.
 
Krystina said:
Hi, we're on the hunt for a suitable (sturdy and warm) hutch before we get our first guinea pigs. I'm tying myself up in knots trying to get the best we can without spending too much.
I've read on here that the Chartwell is a good hutch. I've found the below site online, but I imagine this is too good to be true! Has anyone bought from here and found them to be legitimate?

Compare Price Quality Rabbit Hutches 56% off

If anyone can recommend a hutch, or someone who builds them in the NW uk (Lancashire), it would be very much appreciated 😊.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

I have never had guinea pigs in a hutch so cannot advise you on a specific one, however my immediate thought when seeing this is does it have to be a hutch?

If you have the ability to keep them in a different way then there are much cheaper ways of giving them more than a hutch for far less cost. That being said, I know that there are just a few mass produced hutches out there that are perfectly suitable.

As long as they have the minimum space requirements for the number and sex of pigs met then a hutch can be a great option.
 
Are you planning on keeping them outside or inside? If outside do you have somewhere to keep them in the winter like a shed or garage? I used to keep my boys in the garage.

If you can, keeping them inside leads to more interaction with them. My boys are inside now and it’s so much nicer to have them “here” all the time. Is there any reason why you can’t keep them inside?

That website does seem very cheap. A bit to good to be true maybe 🤔

If you can keep them inside then lots of people use C&C cages.

It’s great you are doing your research first. Are you planning on getting two boys, boar and sow or sows?
 
Pantalaimon said:
I have never had guinea pigs in a hutch so cannot advise you on a specific one, however my immediate thought when seeing this is does it have to be a hutch?

If you have the ability to keep them in a different way then there are much cheaper ways of giving them more than a hutch for far less cost. That being said, I know that there are just a few mass produced hutches out there that are perfectly suitable.

As long as they have the minimum space requirements for the number and sex of pigs met then a hutch can be a great option.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks so much for your reply.

I think it does need to be a hutch as unfortunately we have nowhere inside that would be suitable. Our garage doesn't have windows and the only space where they would have enough space would be in our conservatory which gets incredibly hot in the summer. It would be OK in winter as its heated, but on sunny days even in winter it can get too warm. We have a "lean too" which is fully covered but not heated, which we could bring the hutch into on really cold nights, but this isn't suitable for a permanent home as its very narrow and would be a pain when it comes to cleaning.

The hutch would go outside by our patio doors, it's sheltered on 3 sides. I understand we would need to insulate a hutch for winter etc. Would like to start with something solid without spending a small fortune 😂, but I'm wondering if that is even possible!
 
weepweeps said:
Are you planning on keeping them outside or inside? If outside do you have somewhere to keep them in the winter like a shed or garage? I used to keep my boys in the garage.

If you can, keeping them inside leads to more interaction with them. My boys are inside now and it’s so much nicer to have them “here” all the time. Is there any reason why you can’t keep them inside?

That website does seem very cheap. A bit to good to be true maybe 🤔

If you can keep them inside then lots of people use C&C cages.

It’s great you are doing your research first. Are you planning on getting two boys, boar and sow or sows?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply! I thought it was too good to be true so thought I'd check if anyone had heard of it.

Yes outside, hence wanting something solid. We have a garage but it has no windows, but we have a lean to which is off the kitchen. It's unheated but has electric so can plug a heater in if necessary. I'd only bring them in if I couldn't keep the temperature up outside as it wouldn't be ideal for cleaning etc as it's very narrow.

Whilst I would like them inside, we have nowhere except the conservatory, which wouldn't be suitable due to how hot it gets on sunny days.

I've not thought about it yet tbh, I was going to speak to rescues once I had the accommodation sorted. What would you recommend? We have a 4yo lityle girl, if that makes any difference!
 
Ok so outside but once it gets colder in the lean to. 👍🏻

Speaking from someone who used to have four separate hutches outside and then I put them all in a shed. It’s no fun cleaning them out or cuddling them in the rain, wind or snow.

It’s not so straight forward as bringing them inside for a cuddle as they shouldn’t have a large temperature jump. So you’d have to keep the room you were interacting with them as cool as the hutch outside. That may not be a problem for you with a lean to though.

Chartwell is a good make. I’d go for the largest you can get that’s all on one level. Piggies can do ramps but not always. They are ground roaming so only one level counts towards their living space. Get an insulated cover for it and a waterproof cover too. It’s very hard to keep them warm in the winder and cool in the summer.

Are you buying them from a pet shop? There are lots of rescues full to capacity. So if you have a rescue near you then that would be a great place to get them from as they will be sexed properly and health checked.

Good luck on your piggy journey ❤️
 
Krystina said:
Hi, thanks so much for your reply.

I think it does need to be a hutch as unfortunately we have nowhere inside that would be suitable. Our garage doesn't have windows and the only space where they would have enough space would be in our conservatory which gets incredibly hot in the summer. It would be OK in winter as its heated, but on sunny days even in winter it can get too warm. We have a "lean too" which is fully covered but not heated, which we could bring the hutch into on really cold nights, but this isn't suitable for a permanent home as its very narrow and would be a pain when it comes to cleaning.

The hutch would go outside by our patio doors, it's sheltered on 3 sides. I understand we would need to insulate a hutch for winter etc. Would like to start with something solid without spending a small fortune 😂, but I'm wondering if that is even possible!
Click to expand...
It sounds like you’ve put a good amount of thought into it, that’s a great place to start start as a new owner.
 
Definitely a good idea to speak to rescues before buying anything.

I have four boys who live in hutches in my shed. Even out there it is a lot of work to keep them warm enough. My shed is fully insulated but doesn’t have electric so not heated.
Although the shed is insulated, the hutches also are along with having several blankets as well as hutch covers on. They also get stuffed fully with hay and have multiple snugglesafe heatpads.

Also remember to consider the effect of summer on hutches. I actually find summer much harder to manage with outdoor animals than winter. I have had to move mine into the house every summer, except last year, due to it getting too hot in the shed/hutches. Just something to bear in mind.

In terms of boars or sows, dont rule out boars! They are just wonderful and tend to mellow and become friendlier with age but get an undeserved reputation for being difficult and consequently get left in rescues with people preferring sows.
The thing with boars is space - they need a 6ft hutch.
 
Absolutely agree with the praise for boars- plus if you get a neutered pair from a rescue it gives you more options in the future. I know it's a bit grim to talk about your guinea pigs dying when you haven't even got them yet, but many people aren't aware of the 'piggy cycle' before they make the decision to own guinea pigs. Basically, if you're left trying to find a bereaved neutered boar a new friend (or even a new home) you can do so much more easily and quickly than a non-neutered one.
 
A Chartwell hutch is good quality, go for as big as you can 5ft minimum if you want boars then maybe 6ft. Don’t waste your money on Pets at Home, their hutches are really poor quality and are not suitable or safe for outside, very flimsy. You will need a weatherproof hutch cover at some point. Rescues are your best bet as you will get a pair of boars which are well bonded not like breeder/pet shops which is a lottery as to if they actually like each other, rescues much safer because they are health checked too, plus you have a back up and support
 
Krystina said:
Hi, we're on the hunt for a suitable (sturdy and warm) hutch before we get our first guinea pigs. I'm tying myself up in knots trying to get the best we can without spending too much.
I've read on here that the Chartwell is a good hutch. I've found the below site online, but I imagine this is too good to be true! Has anyone bought from here and found them to be legitimate?

Compare Price Quality Rabbit Hutches 56% off
If anyone can recommend a hutch, or someone who builds them in the NW uk (Lancashire), it would be very much appreciated 😊.

Thank you.
Click to expand...


Those are beautiful hutches!
 
Chartwells are good hutches, I have one.

BUT. That website is in the US ($prices) not the UK. ( I would be suspicious of a site selling things so cheap anyway, especially as the 'about us' section of the site has suspiciously poor grammar and no real information about the company ).

You can get Chartwell Hurches from Home&Roost, but they aren't cheap.
 
Qualcast&Flymo said:
Chartwells are good hutches, I have one.

BUT. That website is in the US ($prices) not the UK. ( I would be suspicious of a site selling things so cheap anyway, especially as the 'about us' section of the site has suspiciously poor grammar and no real information about the company ).

You can get Chartwell Hurches from Home&Roost, but they aren't cheap.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a scam
 
Definitely think that site is too good to be true, I will be leaving it 👍

We don't have space for a shed, we do have a wendy house for my daughter but it's on a high platform and would be almost impossible to keep clean as I'd be climbing up a ladder to get to it every day. As funny as that may be to watch, I don't think it would work!

Would something like this be a good investment do you think? Rabbit Hutch Guinea Pig Ferrets etc 5ft x 2ft x 2ft. Could deliver | eBay

I would then get a thermal cover etc and possibly look at insulation and boarding on the inside?

An alternative would be that my husband has said he can build something, has anyone got any experience with building their own?

There is a rescue in a neighbouring town specifically for guinea pigs, its not listed on the rescue list on this site. It's called Lancashire guinea pig rescue. I have sent them a message. We also have a local animal sanctuary that I rehomed a rabbit from a number of years ago, called Bleakholt. Would you say that they were a good place to start? I've noted the boars suggestion and ideally neutered, thank you.

You're all incredibly helpful, thank you for your replies!
 
Also, I've also noted the point about heat in summer and will have a think about this too.
 
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