Damp Hutch

[*Gem*]

Hey all, my current set up with the guineas is a 4.5 ft ish hutch with a 4 by 2 C&C run attached to the front ( they have permanant access to the run ).

I'm having real problems in trying to keep the hutch dry, I've tried a few different types of bedding but no matter what I do the bottom of the hutch in the sleeping area always gets really damp. I've tried putting down a whole newspaper with plenty of carefresh and then hay on top of that but after a couple of days its soaked through ( they only seem to pee in there which isn't helping matters ). I'm thinking about getting rid of the hutch because I dont think its hygenic and I'm worried they'll get ill but I dont know how well they'll take to not having a hutch anymore. I've got vet bed in the run which is great and I've ordered more so I'd have enough for the hutch as well, so I dont know whether to try just putting it in there maybe, its just going to be really awkward, or giving the hutch to a rescue centre and having a 4 by 3 C&C cage instead with plenty of hiding places ( They already have a large grassy hutch each ).

Any opinions?

 

[maryh]

I am afraid the only way to keep the sleeping quarters dry is to clean out at least once a day,otherwise they will always be lying on damp bedding which is a health hazard.

I have 14 piggies living in pens in my kitchen,and I clean the whole pen once a day,and change the bedding in the sleeping boxes as soon as it is wet.This keeps the pong down as well!.

I know it is more difficult if you are out all day,but if you quickly change the bedding before you go out,and then again in the evening there should be no problem.

If the hutch is in the garden,but the cage would be indoors,I would swap to the cage.

 

[karenrgpr]

I use a large corner litter tray in one of my pens. It'll need washing out daily but it does keep it all contained. There are differnt sizes of litter too

 

[Tom_cat]

I'm hoping that it is indoors if they have constant access to a c&c run so what i would do is, put Vet bed in all of the hutch and that would absorb the wet in the bed bit. And then hay on top but as they are indoors you dont have to have hay in the bed bit, but in a hay rack.

Hope that helped.

 

[MemberY]

I had the same problem with my hutch and what I did was give it a thorough clean first and disinfected it, Dried it with a hair dryer to speed drying time up, then laid the cheap stick on vinyl tiles on the floor and a few inches up the sides. I got the tiles in wilkinsons for 99p per pack and I used 2 packs on a 2 storey hutch. You wont have the problem of pee soaking the wood any more. I still use newspaper on the bottom, aubiose on top of that and then hay. Come time to clean it out, roll the whole lot up and bin it, clean the vinyl tiles and hey presto...a nice clean dry hutch O0

 

[swsuey]

Similar to Lavenderjade, I lined the bottomof my hutch with vinyl flooring. I got a huge remnant from a local carpet place for £5, I use the rest to cover the run to give shelter and shade O0

 

[*Gem*]

Sorry I probably should have clarified the hutch was indoors!

I think I'll give the lino idea a try, as it happens we need to replace the lino in the kitchen so I could cut some of that up and try that. I was changing the bedding in the sleeping area every day but because the bottom was damp and I didnt have the time to leave it to dry ( we left it for a couple of hours and it was still damp, I'm out of the house from 8.15 - 6.00 every day due to work so I can't leave it for longer really ) we ended up just having to put the new bedding on top ( a lot of newspaper first of course ). I'm kinda regretting getting the hutch now though, if I had have known about the c&c beforehand I wouldn't have got one.

 

[karenrgpr]

Fablon or Sticky back plastic (Pound Shop) is good too, its made for kitchen surfaces.

 

[Pumpkinpiggie]

To dry the Hutch out use a hairdryer I use one on my hutches after I have given them a good scrub the heat from the hairdryer will work a treat