Piggy Playhouse ordered - any layout suggestions?

[netutopia]

I am so excited! I have just ordered this:

http://www.waltons.co.uk/waltons-snug-playhouse-4x4

for 2 of my piggies to live in (it is the biggest size that we can fit into an allocated space for them).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to best use the space inside - I would like to make them 2 levels (like we have for our bunny shed).

Does anyone have any piccies of inside a playhouse that has been adapted?

Thanks

 

[FluffyFriends]

I would go for a large full width shelf across the back of it under the height of the window and a ramp with sides (to prevent falls). I would have the food up there and water so its easuer for you to change.

At the bottom I would have some plastic large pipes (P@H sell bunny tunnels and I am sure other places do or B&Q and other DIY shops to dranage pipes. I would make some fluffy fleece beds, hammocks or somthing alone those lines to snuggle up in.

I would also put some mash inside the door so it can be opened without them escaping on hot days.

I would get a shallow plastic crate / large litter box for hey as mine love those trays of hey to play in and eat. Maybe try a corner litter tray a well for peeing, mine use one and it really helps.

What are you doing for flooring? Grass may not survive in there due to lack of water and light. I opted for concrete base and grow litter boxes of grass LOL. Also the concrete hels keep claws short and in good order.

I would get some willow balls as wood can be very invitiing to chew on and it may help prevent them chewing the house.

I use to take everything out evey so often and get in there with a hose pipe to do a clean out and sweep up in between.

Sheds can be a bit cool so fleece houses and beds are really good. You can buy soft fluffy kitten / puppy beds or just make some out of fleece.

Oh and those little plastic stools from the pound shops are excellent little hides and gives them another thing to climb on.

I think your going to have some very happy piggies

 

[netutopia]

Thank you so much for your very helpful suggestions. I will certainly be giving some of them a try. I have about 6 of those plastic stools from the £1 shop - every time I see them I buy another - my hubbie laughs at me but they are so handy for standing on to reach things or as you say the piggies (and my bunnies) love them.

Have you managed to litter train your piggies then? I have never tried, my bunnies are very clean but I didn't really think about trying the piggies.

In my bunny shed I have a black rubber matting and it is great to clean so will probably use that in the piggie palace too!

I also grow grass in seed trays as we don't have much lawn, my neighbours think that I am potty!

Do your piggies live outside all year? Did you line your playhouse with anything? Think I may do that when it arrives.

 

[FluffyFriends]

My guinea pigs are inside till we get the new shed (recently moved). The rabbit will then go in this shed and the guinea pigs will have the brick built work shop thats already in the garden (was hear when we moved in). It has heating and lighting. Bunny is in there currently.

For my rabbit I do not line it but he is very big and has always been outside all year round. If it gets extreem I do bring him inside (well did in the old house).

I did litter train the piggies (well my older group, still working on the younger ones). All I did was put a corner litter tray in every courner of the cage and put a bit of used (dirty) wood shavings in it. After a while I saw which was most used, removed the others and filled the courners with toys, food bowl and a bed so they could not pee in those courners. It seems to have worked well.

I like your idea of the rubber flooring, makes it a bit warmer under foot

 

[netutopia]

Thanks - will give the litter training a go when they move into their new home!

 

[Vanessa]

We put an upper layer in ours but they didnt use it so I took it out again (its hard to catch them and clean out when you have to bend under a shelf). I use the bottoms of carry boxes upside down for hidey holes and aluminumum tubes. We also cut a hole in the side for a attached run.