MOVING BUNS OUTSIDE - HOW TO DO IT? please help :(

Hi

I have two indoor buns - male neutered & vaccinated against vhd and myxi, and have always lived indoors. they live separately - but hopefully will be getting a girlfriend each. They wont be going outside until they have bonded - if they dont then they live indoors. I would like them to live outside from now on in hutches with a run so they can get regular exercise. I also have four guinea pigs (2 sets of two) and would like them to go outside too.

I know nothing about hutches, sizes, or when they should be put outside. I know nothing about runs... well very little. Can they stay outside all year even in winter?

I am also worried about them being attacked by foxes or birds, i had a friend who lived three streets down from me, and her bunny got killed by a stalk... i dont know what type of hutch it was in... but i dont want this to happen to me.

Can anyone direct me to a hutch that i can buy that is of good size, and with a run or do i have it separate. :?

I have a bonded pair who are still inside at the moment, but their outdoor hutch is a 2 storey(hutch ontop, run below)5'x3'x2'(H)..each section is 2'high.I have a small run attached to that which is 5'x3'x2', so the total floor space is 45sq ft. The hutch/run set up is on the patio so nothing can dig in or out and the mesh on both the hutch and run is foxproof. They have 24 hr access to the run. As well as that I have a 6x4x3 covered run on the grass in which they spend almost all daylight hours during the Spring and Summer. As long as the hutch is warm and dry, and positioned in a sheltered area they will be fine outside all year round. If you can afford a seperate run to go on the grass it's a good idea because you can then move it around every day so that the buns get a fresh area to graze on (kinder to the grass as well!!).

Hiya,

It all depends on how much space you have as to what sort of set up you get. If you are limited for space, consider getting a double hutch with a run attached, but don't get anything too small because you will regret it later. Go for the largest you can afford! If you have lots of space, consider getting a shed or playhouse instead of a hutch, they work out similarly priced but are much more spacious and can easily have a run attached to them. I originally got quite an expensive hutch/run combo but was not impressed with the size and so bought a poppy playhouse and attached the run to it -
It's always best to place the run on something solid like paving or decking to stop any digging in/out. Mine is on decking squares which I prefer to concrete slabs because it's less abrasive on the hocks!
My two are outside throughout the year, but I always ensure they have lots more straw bedding during colder spells. I also give them a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel when it's very cold.

Thanks for your replies, you have been very helpful. Could you direct me towards some foxproof runs of the correct size as i dont know where to begin looking... and as for the runs i dont know where to look either.

Thanks so much
And that playhouse is amazing.,. id love one but again dont know where to look.

I think if you just do a search for Poppy Play House in google a lot should come up. I think they sell them in Focus and B&Q as well. Can't help much more then that. I think ebay is where alot of people get their hutches from. I think happy hutch is meant to be good. Hope that helps a little bit

My Rabbit and 3 guinea pigs lived in a Playhouse I bought from B&Q called Poppy Playhouse. It was painted with a wood paint safe to animals prior but only lasted 2 years before the floor and some lower pannels started to rott.

I replaced the Poppy Playhouse with a new Playhouse especially made at a local wood yard. I've had the replacement house for just over 2 years and it still looks brand new and is very warm inside.

It maybe worth while looking at a wood yard that specialises in playhouses. My house cost a little more than the original B&Q house but is far superior quality.

My playhouse is fine, it's on a slightly raised platform which allows air to circulate underneath it and it has an anti-weed sheet under it. I can't imagine it ever becoming rotten or damp :?

My lot live in a playhouse too (although I am thinking of moving them into a shed for extra room but a bit worried about ventilation, so any advice welcome).

My playhouse was £70 when I bought it on special offer at Focus, I think it is a 'Bunny'(appropriate) one. It has an opening window which is very useful.

I think they are much warmer then hutches and mine has a shelf across which my two like to sleep on. I also think they are a bit more secure.

As for fox proof runs. You can either buy the proper mesh from a place like Jolleye's (sp?) or you can try aviary panels. They come ready stretched if you like, and you can literally just screw them togther and make a lid.

Incidentally, if you are putting the guinea pigs outside, you will need somewhere warm and dry, they don't tolerate the damp at all well.

My run is from Aviary Accessories. Slightly pricey but well built and with the extra security of the wood panels at the bottom. http://www.aviaryaccessories.co.uk/rabbit.htm

Mine are in a hutch/run combo from the Happy Hutch company (bought online). Here is a pic from the side:



As you can see, I keep it on concrete, which stops them anyone from digging in or out. I also have a run on the grass, for supervised time grazing. I've been really impressed with the sturdiness of this particular hutch/run - on a very windy day, a brick fell on it, but didn't cause any damage. To make it more secure at the front, I've put bolts on.

In terms of when to put them outside, I'd say the weather is too changeable at the moment - I'd wait a bit longer, so that they can adapt to the colder evenings. My 2 don't seem to mind about the cold at all, and grow thick winter coats.

I've never had guinea pigs outside (mine are indoor), but I know lots do. I personally think rabbits are more hardy than pigs, but others will probably disagree with me. As I understand it, it's the damp that affects guinea pigs more than the cold.

SarahP said:

Mine are in a hutch/run combo from the Happy Hutch company (bought online). Here is a pic from the side:

As you can see, I keep it on concrete, which stops them anyone from digging in or out. I also have a run on the grass, for supervised time grazing. I've been really impressed with the sturdiness of this particular hutch/run - on a very windy day, a brick fell on it, but didn't cause any damage. To make it more secure at the front, I've put bolts on.

Click to expand...

is that the 6ft one thats 112 or something on ebay ?


EDIT
its ok just seen it on their site :lol:

It's the 6 ft one with the run extension.

Perhaps the playhouse would be better for the guinea pigs.... as its warmer.. quite cheap though.

I looked at that run combo sarah - thats the one i was thinking of getting - id need two though - 2 sets of buns to be...

Any more pics of your housing and links would be great

Thanks so much for all your help. You are all great

Hi, if you have foxes about, you should shut them in a hutch at night. I have a field that backs onto my garden and my neighbour tells me he has seen foxes running down my drive. I shut my rabbits in at about 10pm at night. My hutch is next to the house so that the sight and smells of humans deters foxes. I also cover my hutch with felt over the door in summer and put a big board against the hutch so that they can't see out so they don't get frightened. In winter, I put loads of blankets over the hutch and cover with a tarpaulin and board it up. My rabbits have lived outdoors for a year and they seem happy.

Hi

What does your hutch look like and does it have an attached run that you can close at night?

anyone know the best time to put them outside?

Hi I have the hutch/run combi from happyhutch company as well & it's been great.

I don't think you can buy a run that is 'foxproof' but the quality of the wire makes a difference, & happyhutch co's is pretty good.The ladder access to the run is removable and it comes with a trapdoor that you can use to shut the buns in.

Extra advice I recieved was to add locks rather than just the plastic catches that come on it, and you can get more wire from B 7 Q or somewhere and put another layer on, so it's double thick. Also, your buns will be a bit safer, and feel so, if you cover the hutch up with a tarpauline at night (i got 1 from Poundland, it's supposed to be for inside your car boot so it has a bottom and four sides, I snipped up the joins for one of the long sides but left the others, sp it just sits nicely right over the front of my hutch, mine is only the 4ft version though and ideally the 6ft one is better). Placing it on concrete also helps so they can't be dug into to, or dig their own way out.

I let mine out whenever I have to get up in the morning, any time between 6.30am and 10am, and put them in roughly 10.30pm at night, but earlier if it's really rough weather. To be honest in the summer when it's really warm I do leave them with access to the run over night but still put their tarpauline and that down over the hutch, but that would be up to yourself to decide if your area was safe enough to do this or not. I live in a town and my garden's pretty well protected, but that's not to say there hasn't been foxes through it so adding extra protection to hutch is a good idea.

Ps 1 of your buns is my Honey's double

oh and the locks I bought are called 'hasps' or sumthing I think, rather than bolts, they'r the pnes with a big loop on one edge that goes over a little loop on the other, then you put a padlock through it, to also protect mine from any nasty people that might be going about

Thanks lucyj I thought about putting locks on - in case any nasty people are about. You dont happen to have any photographs of the hutch with the tarpaulin (sp?). I think i will be getting the 6ft one... hopefully there will be enough room, and they will be on concerete. Honey is gorgeous... and does look alot like Oscar!!! and Harley is also a cutie x
Thanks for your advice x