Outside space

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

We have this outside space that we created for the girls when we first got them, originally it was all grass, I having never owned piggies, didn't appreciate how much they would eat grass! Last year we put down the slabs for the hutch to stand on and some turf that didn't take and was eaten rapidly, so we ended up just putting down some foam mats so they weren't continually on the mud, we have a large metal run that they spend time in for grass. Today my daughter is cleaning the area up in preparation for when they will be moving out of the shed. Obviously that won't be for a while yet because of temps overnight, we chose this spot in our garden as it is sheltered quite well from the elements and we can plug in their heater when they first go out.
My thoughts are that maybe we should slab as much of the area as possible but then is it ok for them to be on hard surface all of the time? I don't want to be turfing it every year either. When it rains the girls stay in the hutch and are covered but when the weather is better they have free run of the area with tunnels and hides etc with regular/daily time in the metal run for grass. (See second pic for reference - they have the small house and the main hutch just out of shot to play in)
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Siikibam]

I think if you turf it you would still need bedding of some sort in the floor. But I’m not sure if it would be essential as such. When the boys used to go on the concrete part of the garden, I put fleece down for them even when it was warm enough. Alternatively you could use the mats, as long as they won’t be chewed. And you’d still need something to absorb any wee.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I think if it was me, then I’d slab the area, at least that way it isnt going to be muddy but they will still need a bedding or something soft to walk on. I think the foam mats would be absolutely fine to stop them from walking directly on the slabs but what happens with the urine? Does it soak through them or just sit on top? Mine occasionally have to go on our patio slabs (theyre on grass all the time normally but when we cut the lawn for example they move onto the patio for a little while) but I thrown down a fleece or spread hay everywhere if it coincides with hutch clean day (so i just use the hay which I’m about to throw out). You won’t want them walking on slabs for long periods of time.

 

[Spaghetti & Noodles]

Thank you, it's a double height hutch so overnight they stay in the top area and we put puppy pads on the lower part. I had thought about fleece over the slabs or possibly the mats too, the mats are currently down for them in the shed and covered with pads which is fine inside but not practical outside. Last year we just lifted the mats and scrubbed them whilst the girls were on the lawn, the urine didn't seem to pool so maybe soaked in a bit but it didn't seem to be a problem.
I'm Just trying to avoid the mud!

 

[Betsy]

When I put mine on the patio, they go on an old duvet which I wash every 2 days (I turn it over the days I don't wash it).