Dark hutch

[Claire W]

My piggies live in a hutch outdoors and due to the weather, their hutch is really wrapped up. To add extra insulation, hubby made 3 squares with silver bubble wrap that are hooked on to each section at nights before the blankets and covers are pulled down. However, I have been leaving 2 square panels on during the day, one on the left hand door of the living area and one on the bed. I have therefore been leaving the middle square off to provide light in to the hutch. I have been more bothered about keeping the wind off of them and the cold out but it does leave one side of the hutch darker than normal excluding the bed. Will they be OK with out as much light as normal?

 

[Wiebke]

Protection is more important at the moment. I am sure that there will be warmer spells again throughout the winter where they can catch up on sunlight!

You are giving your girls regular run time anyway, so they are not stuck in the hutch 24/7 anyway!

 

[Lisa_Ann]

Mine too are in the dark a little as I think protection is more important. I'm still waiting for my readymade weatherproof cover to arrive (which has transparent front) so I am keeping the blankets and sleeping bag and ground sheet partly over most of the hutch, with a little daylight. Its difficult to know if all their needs are sufficiently met when you cant get in the hutch yourself and feel how warm it is! Mine seem alert and still go in the run area, they have a 5ft hutch and are 4 months old.

I'm also worried about bringing them indoors for run time as wouldn't be nice to go outside then and would probably cause harm rather than good, what do you think?

 

[sharonS]

You could always get one of those battery cupboard lights for the roof that you see advertised

 

[Claire W]

Mine too are in the dark a little as I think protection is more important. I'm still waiting for my readymade weatherproof cover to arrive (which has transparent front) so I am keeping the blankets and sleeping bag and ground sheet partly over most of the hutch, with a little daylight. Its difficult to know if all their needs are sufficiently met when you cant get in the hutch yourself and feel how warm it is! Mine seem alert and still go in the run area, they have a 5ft hutch and are 4 months old.

I'm also worried about bringing them indoors for run time as wouldn't be nice to go outside then and would probably cause harm rather than good, what do you think?

I get down on the floor and stick my head in the hutch and the sleeping area especially feels warm. I wouldn't advise bringing them in to the house for run time unless you are prepared to turn your heating off and be cold like I do mallethead My girlies have run time in our back bedroom but the radiator is turned off in there so it is never really warm. We only heat it up when we have people staying over.

Do you have a photo of your set up? It sounds nice. You can show people where your piggies live here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53209

 

[Lisa_Ann]

Hi Claire, yes I agree about the heating. I might try turning it off one morning so we can play with them indoors for a bit. I miss having them around so much and they are already getting harder to hold in the hutch as they run and hide.

I will take some photos of their hutch set up, probably when the snows eases off. I'm really keen to find new ways of making things more inventive, comfortable, warm etc for them. I'm no expert though, just learning! I'm really glad I went for a 5ft hutch as it gives them more room for more hidey places and more fun. They jumped around in excitement when they first went in there!

Next thing on the list is a second heatpad as am putting it in the daytime too.

Please let us know if you manage to sort a good lighting system!
Lisa