Eleanor and Eliza's new hutch shelter and play tent

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Claire W

Claire W

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Because my piggies live outdoors, I am always worrying about them especially in this weather. My hubby asked his friend to make them a kind of hutch shelter for their hutch. It doesn't look much but it keeps the bad weather off the hutch and keeps the wind away. There are brick walls either side of the hutch which you can't see on the photo's so at least they are well sheltered. They feel nice and toasty when stroked so I must be doing something right.

Hugger cover cover rolled up
DSCF1035.jpg


Hugger cover rolled down
DSCF1036.jpg


Their hutch at night: As well as the fleece, they have a carpet tile underneath the fleece, mountains of hay, a dome and warm snugglesafe 24 hours a day. They also have a hutch snuggle underneath the hutch hugger and a thick layer of cardboard between the two and are well sheltered.
DSCF1069.jpg
 
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Thank you :) I always feel bad because they live outdoors but apart from physically bringing them indoors (which I can't do), I don't think there is much else I can do regarding their hutch. Anymore idea's would be gratefully appreciated.

P.S The shadow on the wall behind the hutch isn't mould, it is just the light :)
 
I think your girls are just fine... I don't think there's anything you havent done to keep them nice and warm! They are beautiful girls too, very unusual colours!

The tent is such an amazingly smart idea I'm about to fall over from the sheer brilliance of it... I just ordered a nylon puppy run at 15 times the prize. I suppose it has a few more features, like a removable bottom for summer grazing but WOW. I'm spreading the word on my Swedish piggie blog if that's ok with you :). Can I borrow a picture?
 
Haha good to see that you've got your Guinea Pig Games calendar up in the background! Mine's in the kitchen pride of place :))
 
skrikopanik said:
I think your girls are just fine... I don't think there's anything you havent done to keep them nice and warm! They are beautiful girls too, very unusual colours!

The tent is such an amazingly smart idea I'm about to fall over from the sheer brilliance of it... I just ordered a nylon puppy run at 15 times the prize. I suppose it has a few more features, like a removable bottom for summer grazing but WOW. I'm spreading the word on my Swedish piggie blog if that's ok with you :). Can I borrow a picture?
Click to expand...

Of course you can use the pictures :) By the way, the tent cost £6.99. You can fold it down in to a very large cross as taking the entire thing apart is a bit of a pain. It's fine having it as a giant cross if you have room to store it :))
 
The hutch looks great and I'm sure that the girls are very toasty and warm at night!

I love the play tent idea its great! :))
 
I should think they'd be lovely and warm in their hutch! As for the tent what a marvellous idea!

Wonder if the kids would part with one of their tents hmmmm......

Where did you get the gate thing you have put across the tent?
 
Ahhh, very spoiled little piggies, love the play tent, it's fab. Some people also use kids paddling pools as play pens, lined with fleece.
 
AWWW - your girls are looking VERY toasty and protected. x)

And that play tent is a really good idea! :))
 
chilwell said:
I should think they'd be lovely and warm in their hutch! As for the tent what a marvellous idea!

Wonder if the kids would part with one of their tents hmmmm......

Where did you get the gate thing you have put across the tent?
Click to expand...

I got it from tesco about a year ago for £4 it's a small animal play area. You can buy them from P@H but I think they're about £11
 
Your hutch sounds very toasty! I'm sure your girls are just fine in there - sounds warmer than our house! :))

Love the tent too... Hmm must go to Ikea (when the stupid snow has gone!) :))
 
Very good. I bet they are toastie in there.

Great idea too - the tent is cool and they look like they love running about in there!
 
I can't believe no one has thought of the play tent idea up until now lol. What a brilliant idea Claire :) Will be buying one of them very soon!
 
I think its great Claire & will bet the girls are lovely & toasty. Have to say i am loving the tent!
 
Awwww! x) Very lucky piggies and i'm loving the tent! How much if you don't mind me asking? I'm off to ikea soon and that is a fabulous idea! :) It was also very nice of your hubby's friend to make the shelter for you, it's great! ;)
 
Hiya, loved the tent idea. We have just got 2 gorgeous piggies but they are indoors at the moment. They have a run which is in the garden but at the moment that is under about 2ft of snow. I was thinking of what I could do so they could have a wee change of scenery and a run and when you mentioned the tent idea, I realised one of the kids had a pop up tent that they don't use anymore. I put towels down on the floor of it and put them in this morning. They were popcorning away. They loved it. What a great idea. Thanks for that. The tent had been lying there all the time but I would never have thought of it if it hadn't been for you. Thanks again and my piggies say thankyou too. :))
 
Thanks so much for the brilliant idea of using a play tent as a play area. I'm getting my first piggies on Sunday and haven't got a play area for them. Now i've seen this i can get the play tents out of the shed and make great use of them.
I would NEVER have thought of it, so thanks for solving my problem :)
 
Claire W said:
Because my piggies live outdoors, I am always worrying about them especially in this weather. My hubby asked his friend to make them a kind of hutch shelter for their hutch. It doesn't look much but it keeps the bad weather off the hutch and keeps the wind away. There are brick walls either side of the hutch which you can't see on the photo's so at least they are well sheltered. They feel nice and toasty when stroked so I must be doing something right.

Hugger cover cover rolled up
DSCF1035.jpg


Hugger cover rolled down
DSCF1036.jpg


Their hutch at night: As well as the fleece, they have a carpet tile underneath the fleece, mountains of hay, a dome and warm snugglesafe 24 hours a day. They also have a hutch snuggle underneath the hutch hugger and a thick layer of cardboard between the two and are well sheltered.
DSCF1069.jpg
Click to expand...

just an idea...maybe you could put sides on it and maybe put a sheet of plastic on the front, from the wooden 'shelf'.But it looks very snug!
 
Fudge and Rainbow :) said:
Awwww! x) Very lucky piggies and i'm loving the tent! How much if you don't mind me asking? I'm off to ikea soon and that is a fabulous idea! :) It was also very nice of your hubby's friend to make the shelter for you, it's great! ;)
Click to expand...

It was £6.99 :) and thank you for the tip Gaile. The reason it doesn't have sides on it at the minute is because it is rather huge and wouldn't have fit in the car as hubby had put it together when he brought it home. That is an idea to be thinking about though, thanks :)
 
This is such a fantastic idea! :<> I keep coming back to look at it! ;) Do you mind if i use your idea and buy a tent like this? It's just such a great idea! :)
 
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