Indoor Play Area..your Thoughts

[Clarabelle]

hi everyone,

I'm a new owner of two sisters who are in a 6ft covered hutch in the garage, whilst they have a lovely space outside, we want to bring them in on a regular basis for a couple of hours play time. So I'm looking for a temporary play area that can be easily moved in and out on a daily basis. Also one where we can have easy access to them to begin the bonding process with them. I've exhausted all possible options (I think) on line (can't afford c&c, puppy pens the sides are too high) and am thinking outside the box with an idea of using a dog paddling pool (without the water!) it's non inflatable, folds up for storage, fully water /wee proof. It will be lined with fleece, tunnels, cosies, hay tray etc there are two sizes 120cm & 160cm diameter. I've attached pics. Is this a stupid idea or will it work? What do you think?

 

[flowerfairy]

C and c is expensive but so lovely and flexible. You can get shoe racks made of plastic in wire grids which are waay cheaper but do a similar job. This kind of thing, cheaper on ebay and amazon but didnt want to link to my accounts

Buy HOME 8 Interlocking Shoe Storage Boxes - White at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Hallway storage, Hallway furniture, Home and garden.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Have you got any other animals? It could work, I'm not sure if they'd be able to jump out of it though?

As for C&C stuff have you looked on other sites? I usually get my C&C stuff for £20-£30 depending on deals from Wayfair.com so there are definitely cheaper options than the official sites

Just looked and a 20 piece kit is £30.99 on Wayfair atm

 

[Clarabelle]

Thank you

Have you got any other animals? It could work, I'm not sure if they'd be able to jump out of it though?

As for C&C stuff have you looked on other sites? I usually get my C&C stuff for £20-£30 depending on deals from Wayfair.com so there are definitely cheaper options than the official sites

Just looked and a 20 piece kit is £30.99 on Wayfair atm

Thank you, I've tried looking but these options don't include the correx? So would need to buy this and I can't seem to find an option to do this cheaply? I don't really want too much faff of putting down waterproof sheets etc that take more time in removing. I've got no other pets or small children, so it's nice and quite.

 

[Clarabelle]

C and c is expensive but so lovely and flexible. You can get shoe racks made of plastic in wire grids which are waay cheaper but do a similar job. This kind of thing, cheaper on ebay and amazon but didnt want to link to my accounts

Buy HOME 8 Interlocking Shoe Storage Boxes - White at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Hallway storage, Hallway furniture, Home and garden.

Thank you but I would still need to buy the correx which isn't easy to find on line?

 

[sport_billy]

for a play area you wouldn't need correx. Put down a plastic sheet with fleece on top then use grids.

Take a look at this video below, the run is setup up in background is just c&c grids cable tied together, they fold up when not in use too

 

[Swissgreys]

Just a word of caution.
Depending on where you live, bringing them in and out during the Winter months may not be feasible (or fair).
Temperature changes of more than a few degrees,place a lot of stress on a guinea pigs system, so if they live outside and it is cold where you are, then it would be better to leave them where they are for the time being.

 

[Clarabelle]

Just a word of caution.
Depending on where you live, bringing them in and out during the Winter months may not be feasible (or fair).
Temperature changes of more than a few degrees,place a lot of stress on a guinea pigs system, so if they live outside and it is cold where you are, then it would be better to leave them where they are for the time being.

Thank you for your response, is this really a big issue with them? I would never want to knowingly cause any harm. I'm just really struggling with them being outside, as there is not much interaction, as it's not very pleasant spending time in the garage with them & they just hide in the hutch. I feel having an open space where we can sit for periods of time beside & slowly build up the contact will help them bond. I've got no where indoors to keep them permanently, except maybe the conservatory but I've read that the humidity in a conservatory isn't suitable & there really is quite a lot of temperature change in there (although I can heat it, it's not very cool in the summer!) I'm starting to stress over this because I want my girls to be pets and loved not just stuck in a hutch all day, it's so tricky to know what's right!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Thank you



Thank you, I've tried looking but these options don't include the correx? So would need to buy this and I can't seem to find an option to do this cheaply? I don't really want too much faff of putting down waterproof sheets etc that take more time in removing. I've got no other pets or small children, so it's nice and quite.

I got my correx off eBay and I think it was about £9? It's sold as carpet underlay which is how I bought it.

You're right, having them inside definitely does help bonding considerably. But as others have said temperature changes this time of year can affect them as it's so cold outside. Mine live indoors all year round so it makes it easier for floor time and bonding etc. It's hard to find the space I agree, my 5 have half my sitting room now haha but it's worth it if you can find the space

With my original 2 I managed to fit a 2x4 C&C under my stairs

 

[Katiedid]

Wicks do cheap correx too it’s used a floor protector for the building trade.

 

[mshappy89]

C and c is expensive but so lovely and flexible. You can get shoe racks made of plastic in wire grids which are waay cheaper but do a similar job. This kind of thing, cheaper on ebay and amazon but didnt want to link to my accounts

Buy HOME 8 Interlocking Shoe Storage Boxes - White at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Hallway storage, Hallway furniture, Home and garden.

Have you tired the argos shoe racks? Was wondering what they were like strength wise

 

[flowerfairy]

Have you tired the argos shoe racks? Was wondering what they were like strength wise

Yes. I use them as the sides and back of the c and c cage. They are ok for strength but not as good as the grids.

 

[rome_italy]

hi!
My suggestion for you is this one below; very cheap, easy to fold up and does not take time for being removed. I have been using this method since when my male piggie arrived and the cage I had built before for my two sows (with correx and a plastic fence) looks now too little for the trio. I have no room for a larger cage, hence I decided to put an extension to the main cage at least for the night and part of the morning. In the afternoon my piggies live free into the kitchen, especially when I fold up the extension cage.
This extension is made of two runs bought on Zooplus:
Metal Run for Small Pets | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!
These runs can be joined together and when folded are flat. I use them also outside.
On the floor you don't need anything special but an old blanket, maybe a plastic sheet and a fleece; under the fleece you can put newspapers; the wet spots of the paper can be removed every day. I add some picture just taken; the cage and extension are empty because the hideys and other stuff are still in the kitchen with the piggies .
It takes two minutes for assembling all the stuff because, as you can see from the pics, I just roll the blanket+papers while the fleece is hung out to dry.
- the orange cage has now large holes cut on the sides, so that piggies can pass through, but you don't need it. have a glance only at the extension:



below you can see the layers: there is a soft (old) blanket, a cloth (that is waterproof, but it is not necessary) and on the cloth there is the paper which absorbs the wee.


Then I roll everything in only one minute and I put the roll under a piece of furniture
Actually I don't roll the fleece; I have done it now for taking the pic only (the "bed" is ready for the night now)

the paper I use (also into the cage) comes from the supermarkets and is free

 

[Clarabelle]

hi!
My suggestion for you is this one below; very cheap, easy to fold up and does not take time for being removed. I have been using this method since when my male piggie arrived and the cage I had built before for my two sows (with correx and a plastic fence) looks now too little for the trio. I have no room for a larger cage, hence I decided to put an extension to the main cage at least for the night and part of the morning. In the afternoon my piggies live free into the kitchen, especially when I fold up the extension cage.
This extension is made of two runs bought on Zooplus:
Metal Run for Small Pets | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!
These runs can be joined together and when folded are flat. I use them also outside.
On the floor you don't need anything special but an old blanket, maybe a plastic sheet and a fleece; under the fleece you can put newspapers; the wet spots of the paper can be removed every day. I add some picture just taken; the cage and extension are empty because the hideys and other stuff are still in the kitchen with the piggies .
It takes two minutes for assembling all the stuff because, as you can see from the pics, I just roll the blanket+papers while the fleece is hung out to dry.
- the orange cage has now large holes cut on the sides, so that piggies can pass through, but you don't need it. have a glance only at the extension:
View attachment 78470

View attachment 78471
below you can see the layers: there is a soft (old) blanket, a cloth (that is waterproof, but it is not necessary) and on the cloth there is the paper which absorbs the wee.
View attachment 78472

Then I roll everything in only one minute and I put the roll under a piece of furniture
Actually I don't roll the fleece; I have done it now for taking the pic only (the "bed" is ready for the night now)
View attachment 78473
the paper I use (also into the cage) comes from the supermarkets and is free

Fab explanation and pics, thanks for the ideas!

 

[Pigwhisperer]

Is your conservatory tiled? I use mine partly because it is, and so I can just put several layers of newspaper on top & wipe the floor after, and partly because the temperature in there is closest to the temp in the outdoor hutch - or the garage where they are at the mo for the freezing nights. Then I've got a pet play-pen that my husband found half price in a pet shop.

 

[Libby Louise]

hi!
My suggestion for you is this one below; very cheap, easy to fold up and does not take time for being removed. I have been using this method since when my male piggie arrived and the cage I had built before for my two sows (with correx and a plastic fence) looks now too little for the trio. I have no room for a larger cage, hence I decided to put an extension to the main cage at least for the night and part of the morning. In the afternoon my piggies live free into the kitchen, especially when I fold up the extension cage.
This extension is made of two runs bought on Zooplus:
Metal Run for Small Pets | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!
These runs can be joined together and when folded are flat. I use them also outside.
On the floor you don't need anything special but an old blanket, maybe a plastic sheet and a fleece; under the fleece you can put newspapers; the wet spots of the paper can be removed every day. I add some picture just taken; the cage and extension are empty because the hideys and other stuff are still in the kitchen with the piggies .
It takes two minutes for assembling all the stuff because, as you can see from the pics, I just roll the blanket+papers while the fleece is hung out to dry.
- the orange cage has now large holes cut on the sides, so that piggies can pass through, but you don't need it. have a glance only at the extension:
View attachment 78470

View attachment 78471
below you can see the layers: there is a soft (old) blanket, a cloth (that is waterproof, but it is not necessary) and on the cloth there is the paper which absorbs the wee.
View attachment 78472

Then I roll everything in only one minute and I put the roll under a piece of furniture
Actually I don't roll the fleece; I have done it now for taking the pic only (the "bed" is ready for the night now)
View attachment 78473
the paper I use (also into the cage) comes from the supermarkets and is free

Thank you for the zooplus tip, that's the cheapest I've ever seen those fences! Just bought two in an attempt to keep my Morty away from the skirting board, as at the moment he needs hawk-like supervision to stop him eating my flat...

 

[rome_italy]

Thank you for the zooplus tip, that's the cheapest I've ever seen those fences! Just bought two in an attempt to keep my Morty away from the skirting board, as at the moment he needs hawk-like supervision to stop him eating my flat...

I also am satisfied with the quality and the price of that fence; two pieces allow you to create different closed areas, as they can join together you can delimit a zone using also a wall. I do that outside in my balcony. Piggies cannot climb the wall, although they try to do that sometimes...