Raising/Elevating outdoor hutches? What do you use?

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Joggers

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Hi all,
New about-to-be owner, currently looking for a pair of rescue piggies and getting my outdoor setup sorted in the meantime. Has anyone attached table legs to a heavy hutch? I have a H&R 5ft Hutch-over-run which is in great condition and just needs a clean up. However, I'm keen to try the pigs on one level and not trouble them with the ramp. Also there is no cover option for the run below so I'm thinking of detaching it, closing the hatch off, and maybe reattaching the run to the side of the hutch via a tunnel. In order to do all this, I'd need to raise the hutch (and run if I use it). The patio we have for it is nicely sheltered but when it gets wet the ground does stay damp for a while, so I need to raise everything a good foot or 2. I've looked for garden tables to raise it all on but it can't be wood or the same problem will happen. I worry that whatever I raise the hutch onto will make the whole thing a bit unsteady. I found a tressle table but it looked super wobbly... any advice or pics welcome! Thankyou :)
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Hello and welcome. How exciting to be getting a pair of piggies.

First thing I want to mention is that rescues are not likely to agree to rehome to outdoor housing at the moment. If piggies have not been living outside, they would not have had time to get used to the change in temperature. In order to live outside, they should be outdoors once temperatures are 16-18c at night. Is it possible to keep them indoors until the nights warm up? Or could you put the hutch in a heated shed or outbuilding?

As for legs, my hutch was custom built and just has four legs that raise it off the ground. Perhaps you could get some treated wood that’s strong and screw it on to form the legs? Or a metal bracket screwed onto a piece of wood for reinforcement? Sorry I don’t really have any ideas!

Lastly, if possible, I would use the run completely separate from their hutch. That way you don’t have to make access for them (shouldn’t be used on cold days) and could them move it around on the grass (if you have some). The latter would save you having to raise it as you’d need to fashion a base for it as well.

Sorry if I’ve thrown more confusion into the mix! We look forward to seeing your new additions when you get them 🙂
 
The only thing I can think of is to custom make a table to put it on. I think if you were to buy a table or raise it up etc, then you are probably always going to face a stability issue. Plus length may be an issue if you were going to remove the run and use it beside separately via tunnel as you mention.
I'm also wondering if buying/making a table is even cost effective?

I have looked at the assembly instructions for this and I can see that the hutch and run are two separate sections. Provided you can get the hutch off it still (it may depend on how long it’s been built as to how easily it comes apart and remains in tact), then you may be able to raise the hutch up on a concrete block on each corner. You may be able to bolt the hutch to the blocks perhaps. That way it may be more secure than being out on a table and won’t need to be raised up so high it becomes at risk of tipping over.
Then you could perhaps rewire the hole in the top of the run where the hutch used to be. The run can then be completely separate. I would not worry about a tunnel system between the two. An outdoor run can’t be used year round anyway and they should only be in it when supervised in summer.
My lot live in hutches in my shed. I then pick them up and take them to their runs for lawn time in summer. I did look into a tunnel system from the shed to the runs but for the amount of times they could actually have free access like that to the run, then it wasn’t worth the cost to me!
 
Welcome to the forum, how exciting but I agree, it’s really far too cold for them to go straight outside at this time of year, they need to acclimatise and grow a thick furry coat. My offer concern is the stability of the hutch itself if it’s placed on high legs, they become incredibly unstable in strong winds and gales. I wouldn’t raise it much higher than say a foot/12” but it’s a good idea to separate the run from the hutch. It will make a nice separate run in summer with some shading. Good luck with your woodwork and looking forward to seeing your little piggies when you get them.

You can block up the ramp hole with wood and then cut apices if Lino for the base, it makes the hutch easy to clean and stops any rot too
 
Thanks everyone. I guess with the run section feeling like an extra (I also have an omlet run for supervised time on the lawn), I felt I needed to make use of it, but I do agree that the hutch should be sectioned off from the run bit, as it would give the pigs more room for running and it's warmer and safer for them. I have an unheated but strong brick shed that I might initially put the hutch in (if I can tidy up all the gardening gear and bikes!), but will happily wait a month or so till I pick up the pigs. I'd rather take the time now to get their housing all nice for them :) Initially we were hoping to get a pair of young sows but seeing the vast amount of boars in rescue, my heart breaks for all those boys, so I think we are now looking at a pair of 1yr/2yr old boars. Hopefully at that age they will be bonded and past the hormonal fighty stage... will keep you all updated! Thankyou for the warm welcome x
 
Joggers said:
Thanks everyone. I guess with the run section feeling like an extra (I also have an omlet run for supervised time on the lawn), I felt I needed to make use of it, but I do agree that the hutch should be sectioned off from the run bit, as it would give the pigs more room for running and it's warmer and safer for them. I have an unheated but strong brick shed that I might initially put the hutch in (if I can tidy up all the gardening gear and bikes!), but will happily wait a month or so till I pick up the pigs. I'd rather take the time now to get their housing all nice for them :) Initially we were hoping to get a pair of young sows but seeing the vast amount of boars in rescue, my heart breaks for all those boys, so I think we are now looking at a pair of 1yr/2yr old boars. Hopefully at that age they will be bonded and past the hormonal fighty stage... will keep you all updated! Thankyou for the warm welcome x
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It’s so lovely you are willing to look into boars! They are just brilliantL
Having the hutch in a shed is a very good idea and advised for winter keeping. My four boys live in a hutches in my shed. Still takes a lot to keep them warm enough but being out of the elements goes a long way.

Do get in touch with rescues first, if you haven’t already.
First, because even in a months time it is still too cold for indoor piggies to be moved out. It’s around the end of April/May before that can happen - all risk of frost needs to have stopped.

Also, discuss housing, if you haven’t already, with the rescue before getting it sorted out. It would just be a shame for you to go to all the effort of sorting it out and then find its not accepted by the rescue. Boars can do better in a 6ft hutch - boar pairs need more room than sow pairs.

Keep us posted on how things go!
 
You will find in general a well bonded pair of boars are the best. They tend to be more friendly, enjoy a cuddle and are really fun filled and incredibly daft. When you are all ready ask the rescue for a well bonded pair, post teenagers. It’s such a shame more people don’t go for boars
 
Bill & Ted said:
You will find in general a well bonded pair of boars are the best. They tend to be more friendly, enjoy a cuddle and are really fun filled and incredibly daft. When you are all ready ask the rescue for a well bonded pair, post teenagers. It’s such a shame more people don’t go for boars
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What sort of age would they be in their teenage years?
 
Joggers said:
What sort of age would they be in their teenage years?
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Teenage months are between 4 - 14 months. This is the tricky time for boar bonds as they are ruled by their abundant hormones. After that age they are considered adults and once past 3 years they gradually start to mellow with age
 
Thanks again all! Latest update: There's a possibility we might be going to visit a pair of boars that need rehoming. Only thing is, their age is completely unknown. Has anyone else taken on boars of unknown age? Surely there is some way of determining roughly which life stage they're at! From the photo they're not babies, but other than that, very difficult to tell. They've had very little handling from their previous home so would need some trust building up i think. I just hope they're not fighters or biters!
 
Exciting stuff! I think it’s hard to pinpoint how old they may be though. What you can look at may not necessarily be clear.

Are the boys currently indoors or outdoors? And what are their names? 😊
 
Often their nails can give you a clue as to how old they are. Young piggies tend to have very soft and nice look8ng feet. As they age their become more thick and harder
Are these piggies in a rescue? usually a rescue will be able to give you s9me info. beware of online ads/free sites as some owners will tell you all sorts of lies or half truths to get rid
Good luck, hope these boys are lovely
 
I agree with the others above. In adult piggies there is very little way of knowing their age. Youngsters tend to have sharper thinner nails.

Are they from a reputable rescue?
If not, then please go in with your eyes open. Sex the piggies yourself and be prepared for all outcomes. It doesn’t mean everybody who has to rehome their animals privately are dishonest but we see enough stories on here od people taking on privately homes animals to find their bond isn’t stable and they fight upon arrival at your homel. Or, that they have health conditions which weren’t disclosed and were the reason for them being got rid of and you then find yourself with hefty vet bills from the off with no recourse back to the original owner.
With a rescue you are secure in knowing their bond is stable and that they are healthy.

As Siikibam has eluded to, if they are already living outside, then you can have hem outside. If they are currently indoors, then they won’t be able to live out until April or May time as they won’t have had any time to acclimatise to the cold conditions.
 
Thanks for all your advice, folks! We are going to visit the 2 boars on Weds (hopefully), and should get a feel for things when we go. The rescue is run alongside an independent pet shop, and they do educational visits and events as well as pet boarding. They're a really reputable and well-known business round our way, and so I do trust them. (I get the feeling they give their 'for sale' animals as much care and attention as their rescues.) Anyway, with us only have a 5ft house for the pigs, we are prepared for the rescue possibly saying to us that we dont quite have the space for these boys, and if not then we'll see what sows need rehoming. But overall we are just wanting to give some unwanted piggies a new home, so don't mind terribly who we get, so long as they're healthy and well bonded. I'm still deliberating over the hutch setup, but will be taking the top section apart from the run tomorrow, giving it a good clean up and seeing how things look. With it still being February, I'm not hurrying things along as it's not warm enough just yet. Will keep you posted and will definitely share photos once we've made our decision!
 
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