I'm going off to buy my pigs their hutch on thursday

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Hi

Some people line the bottom of the hutch with off-cuts of lino flooring, like you use in a bathroom, or with correx (like For Sale signs are made of).

If you're using a good layer of newspaper and something absorbent for bedding it should be ok

Sophie
x
 
Ahh lino! yes thats a good idea, would it be bad if they nibbled it?

Is there any safe paints that can be painted on?

I was planning on using a thick layer of newspaper and lots of hay
 
Pets at home sell a pet-friendly hutch stain, but I think that's meant for the outside of the hutch - might be worth a look though.

Not sure about nibbling lino - probably best if they don't! :)
 
When i got my new hutches from cavy lover she had painted them. I have emailed her to see what paint it was. It is fab and preserves the wood as well.
 
I have just worked out the area and would be concerned that it is not big enough. It is only 7.5 sq ft. Is the run able to be permanently attached?
 
you could attach a run to it ... perhaps a bit of diy on yourside ... maybe cut out an enterance on the side and attach the run to the side of the hutch some how
 
fi.cantillon said:
I have just worked out the area and would be concerned that it is not big enough. It is only 7.5 sq ft. Is the run able to be permanently attached?
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Is 5ft too small for 2 guinea pigs? No the run is seperate and is to go in the garden for daily use. Pigs will live in the outhouse when its warm enough. (they are indoors at the mo

I was led to believe attached runs werent great due to dampness etc
 
4' x 2' is the recommended size for 2 pigs, but most hutches are not 2' wide, usually 18".

The advice on the P@H site is silly - it says they need to be in the run outside for 4 hours a day minimum! They're just covering themselves I suspect. Mine don't go out in winter, although I do have an indoor playpen for floor time

Sophie
x
 
It is the area squared that is the important factor and how you achieve this is up to you. This hutch is 5ft long but only 1.5ft wide giving an area of 7.5ft squared. If it has the height you could create extra room by adding another level with a ramp. I personally do not have a problem with attached runs but the wood will need treating annually. It also depends on your piggies. If you have lazy piggies that will sit in the wet then no but if they go in the hutch when wet not a problem. You say that the piggies will go in the outhouse. How big is the out house and is it suitable for them to run around the whole area? That may solve your difficulty and save you money so you can spoil them even more than you already do :)

If the hutch was 2 ft wide then there would be no problem.

I am sure others will advise for you as well.
 
Ahh width.. I'm still going to look around town before commiting to a hutch on thursday anyway so might see a better one in one of the other pet shops. Its just pets at home was convenient and could see pictures online iykwim

They are fairly active pigs but not keen on ramps

The "outhouse" is a large concreted storage area. it is gated and enclose and dry so could be used with the run

we shall see what we find on thursday.

But back to the original question! There is a paint available to make the floor of the hutch mopre resillient? I would hate for them to be in a damp smelly hutch (thats the only thing that puts me off wooden hutches)
 
I think that is a fantastic hutch so long as your piggies get floor time daily. My 2 girls live in our outhouse all year round and are perfectly happy. In the bedroom I put in lots of newspaper and hay and in the living area I put in lots of newspaper followed by a layer of wood shavings followed by lots of hay and this seems to do a good job of absorbing the pee. They do however pee up the sides of the hutch (I don't know how they managed to do it as its pretty high up the sides) and this tends to stain. When it comes to the summer I'm going to completely scrub their hutch and get rid of the stains. Luckily, they have just moved in to a new hutch so it is still nice and clean.
 
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crazycavies said:
I'm getting a 5ft one level one and a seperate run

I was just wondering if there was anything I can do to make the base extra waterproof. I hate how some hutches go all yucky looking with piggy wee!

I'm probably getting this one

http://www.petsathome.com/find/keyword-is-guinea+pig+hutch/product-is-22478
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This is the same hutch that I am considering getting, I would have thought it was more than big enough for 2 piggies, after all pets at home do have a smaller one,http://www.petsathome.com/find/product-is-22477, but even I think this is way too small. My 2 girls are currently indoors in a cage 100cm and are completely happy, they have never lived outside but have decided now to put them out and give them some extra living space.
 
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