Hutch advice

[Piggieslave]

My two pigs spend the warmer months in a large single storey hutch in the garden (with lots of time in their run of course). They are now in for the winter in their indoor home but it has occurred to me that I think I will need to replace their outside hutch before next Spring as its a little worse for wear. I originally got it second hand and it's spacious and very well made- its lasted quite a few years.

I will keep a look out for local second hand hutches for sale but failing that, does anyone have any recommendations for new hutches? Is there any major reason why single storey/double storey is better? One problems I have encountered with our current single storey hutch is piggies escaping. This has happened twice before with young piggies when I have been trying to feed them- and happened even though I had the door open just enough to put my arm in and was trying to block the remaining space. Thankfully on both occasions I managed eventually to get them back but it was awful at the time. While one of my pigs is now more sedate, one of them is still very timid and very hard to 'catch'. Also, it may be that I will have a youngster again one day.

It has occurred to me that with a double storey I might be able to leave them in the lower level while I cleaned or put food in the top and vice versa... but then I have heard stories of pigs who won't use the ramp...

Any advice much appreciated, and also while I'm at it- any advice for catching a skittish GP, particularly in a large hutch, without them making an escape?

[EvenMoreFuriousVexation]

I am a rat owner but have had GPs in childhood. I would say the bigger the hutch, the better. Do you have someone else in the house who can distract them while you top up food bowls etc? My son and I breed pet rats (just hobby not business) and cleaning the cage is always the big job. If we're both around, we can decant the animals into a smaller temporary cage, and know they are all safe and accounted for while we change their bedding, food, water, any cage accessories.