Hideouts and housing!

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Hello!

I have been slack getting on this forum as I find the days are racing by…. yet I am not accomplishing much? lol. I was wondering what’s everyone’s doing doing for hide outs. I have fabric and fleece hideouts from like temu and SHEIN. I find with 6 girls there’s so much washing. Everyday washing whether it’s pee pads or actual houses. My question is would it be still be enriching to just have wood/plastic hideouts with pee pads? If anyone has ideas or has any ideas please let me know. I’ll show you what my current set up is like… I also feel like washing mainly pee pads will take up way less room and time. There’s also another set up with 2 boys. Sorry if I’ve added too many photos

 

[Roselina]

Hello what lucky girls you have
I use a variety of fleece tunnels but I also have a log tunnel with a fleece inside it ( I have a skinny pig and he did scratch himself on it ) and Hop Inn wooden hidey
I love those photos

 

[piggieminder]

I have mostly given up my fleece hides and gone over to wooden wooden ones with a pee pad inside. I only have one elderly boar with fleece now as it's what he is used to and at age 7 I'm not going to deny him his comfort. I was finding using fleece beds with 9 piggies rather a lot of washing and they take ages to dry.

 

[flowerfairy]

I have cut out all fleece bedding as from today (oh except for a washable mattress on their ikea bed). They now have cardboard, straw and loads of hay to see them through the winter.

Your lucky guinea pigs are inside. Their set ups look amazing.

Those hammock hides look good. I have ordered one from viovet. They can be used with beds or soft mats under them (squeak dreams on youtube does that).

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

I have mostly given up my fleece hides and gone over to wooden wooden ones with a pee pad inside. I only have one elderly boar with fleece now as it's what he is used to and at age 7 I'm not going to deny him his comfort. I was finding using fleece beds with 9 piggies rather a lot of washing and they take ages to dry.

I’m very very very much feeling like I’m spending more time washing and cleaning and trying to make everything perfect then I am getting to appreciate and spend time with them. Thank you! I’ll think I’ll follow in your steps

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

I have cut out all fleece bedding as from today (oh except for a washable mattress on their ikea bed). They now have cardboard, straw and loads of hay to see them through the winter.

Your lucky guinea pigs are inside. Their set ups look amazing.

Those hammock hides look good. I have ordered one from viovet. They can be used with beds or soft mats under them (squeak dreams on youtube does that).

Unfortunately all you guys in the UK have the best goodies! There’s only really 1 reputable site that has a good supply of piggie things. I feel like Australian’s have an attitude of “it’s a rodent and stays outside” attitude even though our mosquitoes are really bad here

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

I have cut out all fleece bedding as from today (oh except for a washable mattress on their ikea bed). They now have cardboard, straw and loads of hay to see them through the winter.

Your lucky guinea pigs are inside. Their set ups look amazing.

Those hammock hides look good. I have ordered one from viovet. They can be used with beds or soft mats under them (squeak dreams on youtube does that).

The set up is good except now all the girls have worked out the best spots to avoid handling I keep telling them rent is due (rent is a cuddle) but apparently they have what we legally have in Aus is “squatters rights”! . I have to say I find boys a lot more nicer than girls and actually a lot cleaner! But I’m not sure if it’s because I got them as 4 year olds

 

[thewheakybeans]

All of my piggies over the last seven years love nothing more than the humble cardboard box especially when it’s stuffed with hay! It’s free and as soon as it gets dirty, just throw it out and put in a new one. Extra brownie points if you create lots of entrance ways for them as they tend to fight over the most exciting one…although it’s just a cardboard box!

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Also guys it needs to be noted that all my Guinea pigs washing is already washed and put away but my own washing that needs to be put away keeps piling up

 

[AidaB]

Our boys love a cardboard house, with at least 2 door ways cut out.
Which gets many alterations made by the piggies, before being declared structurally unsound & put in the recycling bin! (Less washing)

Like piggieminder we have pee pads under each house (on top of the big pee pads).

I also don’t worry about too much hay mess, everyday is minimum poo pick twice/ check for wet patches & change pads.

We currently have visiting piggies and with 4 separate homes, the washing machine has been on everyday. I keep asking everypig to pee a little less, but of course none of them listen, anywhere is a toilet!

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

All of my piggies over the last seven years love nothing more than the humble cardboard box especially when it’s stuffed with hay! It’s free and as soon as it gets dirty, just throw it out and put in a new one. Extra brownie points if you create lots of entrance ways for them as they tend to fight over the most exciting one…although it’s just a cardboard box!

Would you by any chance have a photo of how I should do it?! As in entrances and that! It can wait until you do it next time thank you

 

[thewheakybeans]

Just cut a hole on each side of the box so they can come and go as they please and label accordingly. Poop HQ is always in action!

 

[thewheakybeans]

Also, ask friends and family to stockpile any boxes that might be a useful size. I find the Gousto and Hello Fresh food delivery ones are perfect and also the boxes they get if they buy beer or wine in bulk!

 

[AidaB]

Here are a couple of the boy gang.
Visiting Sir George pig, in a cardboard house.






Wally werepig, with a giant box, on its side in the playpen & full of hay.
The box was huge, but he still had a nap with his bum in the doorway!



I recently picked up a few empty wine boxes at the supermarket.

 

[fluffysal]

I know a few people use plastic footstool as hideys.

 

[piggieminder]

Brillo loves a hay box, a fleecy bed, a footstool and a fleece tunnel which I don't seem to have a photo of. He gets away with them all at once, the others get all the non machine washables!

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

This is what I’ve done without cardboard boxes (I’ll need to collect some) I do have a plastic hidey but I’m not sure whether I should add it in or not because this is the most room to run around in the girls have had in ages (6 of them) but most of them always park there butts underneath the ramp or in the hay/up the loft anyway). So if I should add an extra one let me know everyone!! Thanks to all for helping me

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

This is what I’ve done without cardboard boxes (I’ll need to collect some) I do have a plastic hidey but I’m not sure whether I should add it in or not because this is the most room to run around in the girls have had in ages (6 of them) but most of them always park there butts underneath the ramp or in the hay/up the loft anyway). So if I should add an extra one let me know everyone! Thanks to all for helping me

 

[AidaB]

You have a lovely space for your piggies.

I think the general thought is, there should be a minimum of one hidey for each pig, all with multiple exits to prevent anypig getting trapped.

 

[Loveatfirstwheek]

Thank everyone for the cardboard ideas. Especially with the hay! We have a winner! I also put some corn husks in as a forage too because atm it’s too hot here to have anyone outside for more then hour.

 

[Posyrose]

Mine love cardboard boxes too and I have quite a store of potential boxes. Some piggies are chewers and need boxes replacing frequently, others keep their boxes in good shape for ages. Nice colourful boxes there!

 

[flowerfairy]

Mine have a much loved cardboard box in their hay tray which has a snuggle safe inside it.