Guinea Pig runs

[Witchcat]

Hi

We have just got two new Guinea pigs (Harvest and Pigley) and a hutch from pets at home. I like the hutch but now we need to get a run.

Can anyone please give me advice as to the best run to get or what you use and where did you get it?

Also do they get ill if they are out in a run when it rains or the grass is wet?

Sorry its the first time we have Guinea pigs

Congratulations on getting piggies - they are wonderful.

I have indoor pigs but I know that getting cold and wet can make them very ill. I expect someone will come along with more information

The best run we had was a old big oblong fireguard on its side, with the cage at one end and a railway sleeper at the other. We wouldn't leave them out if it was tipping it down, but they could cope with a bit of dampness as they could always go in to nice dry hutch.

They were fabulous as pets, hope yours are too. And I think the Olga da Polga books are still in print, if you want some nice g piggie reading

I would advise a run that you can put a "top" on iyswim.

I think getting wet isn´t too much of a problem-it´s getting cold as well.

But make sure that they are dry before being left in the hutch for the night.

Hi

Thanks for your replies.

We got an A-Pex run today it looks good quality as it has a floor and wood cover at one end so it looks like a hutch and then metal on the other so we can see them and opened on the bottom for grasing.

My Husband has told me not to put them in the run if it is or has been raining as they will get ill and only put them out if its sunny or fine. But we live in England so i cant see them going in run very often if this was the case!

Im enjoying looking after them but i enjoy watching my son laugh and point when he see them in hutch and when he gives them food its great he loves them

I should also say that son is only 18 months so it doesnt take much to please him.

I think they are more for me than him

Oh thank goodness I thought you were talking about a GP with the runs and that can be bad news!!!

Yes, just make sure they are safe (nothing can get in to them) and dry/warm at bedtime (bring them and dry them with a towel in the warm if need be - they LOOOOOOVE this!) adn move the run about a lot so the grass doesn't get stale.

Have fun with your piggies - I've had them/bred them for years and our last one died 2 weeks ago - of old age. I'm agitating dh for us to get a new pair - I love them!!!

Hello, we have just got guinea pigs too!!

Haven't got a run yet, dh is going to make a hinged thing probably when he goes back to work in a week... We got an extra big hutch with a run on the bottom so they can get enough exercise though.

The kids love them too - ours are called Pearl and Pilot .

Hi, we got a GP today. Do they prefer company? Should we have got 2? Our is called Flora. We got an outdoor hutch, and a fold out run - no roof so only for fine days.

I had to towel-dry our girls earlier as they accidentally got wet (it was clear blue skies when we put them out in their run but we went out for most of the day and it had obviously rained by the time we got home ). We put extra straw in their hutch tonight and I hope they will be ok!

Glucose - yes, they do prefer company. Flora needs a little piggy friend, I think.

The run ours has has a mesh top-doesn´t protect against the rain (they have a little house for that), it´s to protect against predators.

They do like company, but that said, there will probably be a time when there is only one unless you intend to replace ad infinitum!

How much attention will piggy be getting?

Please don't let your pigs get wet in their run it does make them ill. They are not hardy creatures.

Have a look at these sites

www.freewebs.com/cavylover1/guineapigcare.htm

www.cavymadness.com/carehabitats.html

Also, GPs should not be alone you need at least two ...