Piggies in the run - what's your setup?

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Liane

Liane

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I was just out tending to my pigs in the garden and I wondered how much run time other people's pigs have, what sort of run set up they have and that sort of thing. rolleyes

I've got two runs: one for the boys, and then a larger one for my five girls. I don't usually include a house for them unless its a cool day, or like today a windy one. This is because I know that even on a boiling day, they're likely to sit in there and slow roast (though I include the houses when introducing pigs to the run). I also include their ordinary food bowls and stuff.

How long do your pigs stay out? Mine go out as early as the conditions allow - as soon as the grass is dry and its a reasonable temperature - and then they go to bed between 9pm and 10pm. Because of the good weather we had early in the year I was able to put them out sooner, and I'm hoping for a mild start to autumn so they can have as long a time as possible out in their runs.

What about rain? My pigs stay out if its a light shower. They've plastic and wooden covering over the top of their runs and on some of the side so they stay dry (there was one unfortunate time when I got caught out and there was no cover and it was a mad dash to get them inside). Sometimes I put the houses in.

The other day I was faced with a dilemma: it was really hot and stuffy and humid, but we were due a thunderstorm. I didn't know whether to put them away in the hot hutches, or leave them out with their cover in the thunderstorm. I ended up doing the second option. (Don't worry, they were entirely covered and I made sure they weren't bothered by the thunder!) What would you have done? :)
 
doglovinpiggylover said:
i darent put mine in the garden, its over run with ants these days :(
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We had an ant problem earlier in the year - but they were in our conservatory! Luckily we don't have any beasties in our garden, just Mylo the Menace (my brother's kitten).
 
Plonk the run on the grass, chuck ummm in - that's the routine basically ;)

They go in for half hour when I get home from work. Or if it's rainy or damp they come in for floor time.
 
BeautifulBoyz said:
Plonk the run on the grass, chuck ummm in - that's the routine basically ;)

They go in for half hour when I get home from work. Or if it's rainy or damp they come in for floor time.
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LOL. I have to go out at regular intervals to move the runs (mainly just the girls because they eat non stop) and change the position of their shade. They have 'sunbrellas' and everything! :))
 
I moved house last winter and have just put grass down for them which I'm waiting a month before I can put the piggies out. Its a grassy 4x4 run with a 4x2 foot 2 storey hutch attached.

This summer their 'outdoor' playtimes been in the summer house which hasnt been the best for them .... they want grass :))

x
 
^ My pigs always want grass. You put them down and their feet have barely even touched the floor and they're chomping away! Glinda doesn't even wait to be put down, she hangs off my hands and starts eating! :))
 
Liane said:
LOL. I have to go out at regular intervals to move the runs (mainly just the girls because they eat non stop) and change the position of their shade. They have 'sunbrellas' and everything! :))
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Awwww bless you, what a lovely owner you sound.

Don't tell Freddie and Marmalade... they'll be protesting for better rights/care!

I only have grass in the front garden so I do keep checking them and they are in a shady part anyways :)
 
I just have the basic run about 5ft sq because of Maisie's gut problem they only have a maximum of an hour a day although they have lots of floor time. Basically if I or my daughter is home than they are out.
 
Mine have a 5ft run; the covered bit has a proper floor and a partition with a doorway that I fill with hay, so on fine days they spend all day out there. I reposition them throughout the day when I notice all the grass has gone :).

My husband pretends not to be the slightest bit interested in them but I've just caught him posting a clump of freshly picked dandelion leaves through the bars of the run :)).
 
I haveboars and sows so the boys get 9-3 and the girls get 3-9. At some point when i move house and have a bigger garden fingers crossed! The piggies will get a run each.
 
My 2 piggies have a 5'6 by 2'6 run; about a third of it's covered so they can hide/shelter at one end. Plus they have toys like their plastic igloo where they can hide, and gnawing toys as well. They have a cat litter tray with hay in it, so they can sit on that if the grass is damp.

They go out in the morning, once the grass is dry, and they stay out till about 7:30/8pm in the summer.

They always go straight to the covered end when I put them in the run, then after a while they start to march up the run, chomping up the grass like little baby lawnmowers! It's so cute! :))
 
I put my two out about an hour after they've eaten breakfast until about half an hour before I give them tea (assuming weather is good). So on a good day about 9ish to 4.30ish. I've started leaving them out if it's just a light shower, as they do have a covered area with fleece cosy to snuggle in (although covered area isn't brilliant and leaks a bit, so I wouldn't like to leave them out in anything other than a very light shower).

I'm home all day and the run is easily seen from the patio doors so I can keep an eye. They're mostly active 9-12 then go inside to snooze and come out again round 3ish :) Never knew guinea pigs had siestas before :))
 
Oh, meant to say, it's a 5ft apex-style run and I make sure they have some toys and cover in the grassy part too.
 
Guineas

I have my guinea pigs out in the run 8ish till 7ish but they have lots of hideaway boxes and shelter so can stay out for a light shower but i wouldnt dream of leaving the out in a storm or if its tipping it down! :p
 
Caramel&Fudge said:
I have my guinea pigs out in the run 8ish till 7ish but they have lots of hideaway boxes and shelter so can stay out for a light shower but i wouldnt dream of leaving the out in a storm or if its tipping it down! :p
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I was so anxious about leaving them out in the storm, but I think it was probably the best thing for them that day. They didn't seem to mind - they carried on chomping as normal! :))
 
:( I don't have a garden so my piggies have a whole room to roam.

I do take them up to my parents when I can and they get free range time in the garden with me
 
Mine are inside piggies and only go out in the garden occasionally. I would like to put them out more but they hate the wind and I don't like to put them out if its too hot, windy or might rain.
I usually put some tunnels, plastic stalls in there for them to hide/play in and then cover the top over with a towel so they have some shade.
 
My piggies are out in their run nearly all day when I'm off work to supervise them. My run is 18 foot long x 10 foot wide, it has a small hutch which they can run into to hide, it also has a load of toys and 3 scramble pipes to hide in and also a pet carrier to have a sleep. It's shaded by the garden shed and also has a couple of water bottles.
 
I have 2 runs one for oscar and his wives and one for alfie and his.
one is 6ft by 4ft for the 3 piggies and the other is 8ft by 4ft (newly extended from 4ft square) for the herd of 4.
I put them out at 12 if I am at work and earlier if not. They stay out till about 6 or 7 depending on what I am doing in the evening.
They have tunnels, a few hideys, water and they get their veg about 4 oclock (poppy usually reminds me about the time and starts them all off wheeking) both have Scratch and Newton run shades for sunny days or to protect from showers.
 
I wish my piggies were able to have some outdoor time. My family lives in a town home with shared grassy space, and I am unable to erect even a temporary structure. Also, the lawns are maintained by contractors that use fertilizers and I just don't trust that my lil ones wouldn't become ill. grrrr So, they are given floor time when I am able to, but how I wish they were able to be out in the sun!
 
From July onwards they go out for a few hours every day when I am around, when depends on how busy I am and how warm it is. They could go out more when I am not around, but despite it being a big and very heavy run with shelter at one end and fully covered, I just cannot bring myself to leave them alone for even five minutes! Before July they get restricted to an hour or so as I am fortunate and have very lush grass and I worry about bloat.

They have their dry food, a hay ball and tunnels and bridges to play in but mostly they eat and sleep!zzz

At the end of the day I put their carrier in and they all run in on cue (I never need to catch them...very cute) and off they go back to their shed.

When mine go in after a day out, they all collapse in an exhausted heap and sleep it off for an hour or so as if they have been out on the booze!zzzzzz

I do cut their fresh evening feed by half when they have been out on grass for a long time...I just think they get too much vegetation otherwise. Does anyone else do this or am I being overly cautious?
 
Rhinerah said:
I wish my piggies were able to have some outdoor time. My family lives in a town home with shared grassy space, and I am unable to erect even a temporary structure. Also, the lawns are maintained by contractors that use fertilizers and I just don't trust that my lil ones wouldn't become ill. grrrr So, they are given floor time when I am able to, but how I wish they were able to be out in the sun!
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Ah that must be annoying but to be honest I think mine would be quite happy not to be out and just fed copious amounts of grass that have been individually cut by me rolleyes I think they find being outside far too scary with all those birds and things and are always ready to come in. So I am sure yours are fine don't feel too guilty!
 
mrs_tommo28 said:
I haveboars and sows so the boys get 9-3 and the girls get 3-9. At some point when i move house and have a bigger garden fingers crossed! The piggies will get a run each.
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Do the boys not start fighting after smelling where the girls have been? :^-

Just wondering, as I have to put the boys on a separate area or all hell breaks loose grrrr - perhaps it's just my boys mallethead rolleyes
 
My girls have a 7x4 run. One end is covered and waterproof. They have waterproof boxe
s and an igloo in it with a couple of tubes in. They are living out for the Summer and loving it. I cover them over at night or in rain but leave one side open for ventilation. There's been some
heavy rain but they've been dry. Working well.
 
The Highway Man said:
My piggies are out in their run nearly all day when I'm off work to supervise them. My run is 18 foot long x 10 foot wide, it has a small hutch which they can run into to hide, it also has a load of toys and 3 scramble pipes to hide in and also a pet carrier to have a sleep. It's shaded by the garden shed and also has a couple of water bottles.
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That's like - the size of my entire living space in this flat - and I'm not even exaggerating! :x

Edit: Infact, I'd say its bigger!
 
i dont have a garden :( but my piggies have half of my lounge to run around and they love stretching their legs popcorning :))drool and tearing around like little dogs LOL LOL LOL makes my day seeing them run around so happy:))

roughly 7 x 7 c&c grid space
 
LordBernieBouffant said:
Do the boys not start fighting after smelling where the girls have been? :^-

Just wondering, as I have to put the boys on a separate area or all hell breaks loose grrrr - perhaps it's just my boys mallethead rolleyes
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My boys don't care, to be honest. They can have their hutches pretty much touching and they wouldn't notice.

I let my boys roam free sometimes, and they nosy at the runs, but they're not interested! The girls get all excited like "Boys! Boys!" and the boys just swagger past like "Can't touch this" rolleyes

Nelson is too busy jumping Freddie. Dad jokes that they are a happy gay couple. :))


Freddie is named after Freddie Mercury. rolleyes
 
I have a 6ft x4ft run atm and I put the girls in it for some of the day then rotate the boys, I need another run reallyrolleyes
 
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