New Guinea pig owner advice on a hutch

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Hmason_uk

Junior Guinea Pig
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I posted on the "new forum" but wanted some specific advice on housing.

We just got a four month old solo girl guinea pig, although intend to add a friend when she has settled. At the moment she is in a plastic indoor cage but once settled we want to keep her in a secure outdoor hutch which we move somewhere warmer in the winter. What do you think of these options?
The 5 ft single chartwell -
Home & Roost | Deluxe 5ft Chartwell Single Guinea Pig Hutch
The 4 ft double chartwell
Chartwell Double Hutches
We have bought a separate run for exercise time
 
I would say the chartwell double hutch . We have a single girls outside atm as her cage mate is about to pop and gearing aggressive towards her .. just make shire u also get a insulated cover for cold nights . My reason for the double is when it's raining and she can't get out in her run she has 2 levels to run her energy out on x
 
I've heard good things about Chartwell hutches and agree with Jomundy on the double and about the insulating cover. I'm no expert, but I've heard ramps in most outdoor hutches are too steep for guinea pigs and usually need adapting, not just to reduce the angle, but to make them safer by adding sides and/or a cover over the top and applying a surface to it which they can better grip, like carpet tiles.
 
Personally I’d go for the 5ft single level hutch. A lot of guinea pigs manage ramps perfectly fine, but some don’t. Given in winter they spend a lot more time in their hutch/cage, I’d go for the biggest amount of single level floor space possible.
 
I’d go with the single level one. The ramp on the double level, which not all pigs like, takes up a lot of space (big hole in the top floor) and could need adapting as it looks very steep. Both look like good quality hutches though, so you can’t go far wrong!
 
I have a 6ft double Chartwell Hutch for my 5 piggies and we all love it. It is a good quality hutch. The hole in the top floor is only 42cms x 15cms and there is a little trap door that comes down to cover the hole if necessary. My piggies are fine with the angle of the ramp too but it took them a bit of getting used to. The insulating covers are a must. I have the hutch snuggle with bye bye fly screen and the hutch hugger (which is thermal) over the top to keep out the rain. I prefer the double hutch cos then my piggies can have time out on the top level if they need to.
 
I would go the biggest you can afford. I have the chartwell double 6ft but in future want the other half to build me a single level raised one as getting in the bottom to clean out is a pain. The ramp isn't too steep but mine was too slippy. I added a wooden side to it and some carpet and mine all use it and charge up and down
 
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